6 Myths (and Facts) About Weight-Loss Supplements
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MYTH: Green-tea supplements burn fat
FACT: “Green-tea extract may promote weight loss,” says Anding. But taking a green-tea supplement—or drinking cup after cup of the tea itself—isn't likely to produce significant or lasting weight loss.
"Any effect you see from green tea is probably due to the caffeine," says Tod Cooperman, MD, president of the independent testing company ConsumerLab.com, although a compound called EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) may also be at work. “A stimulant will cause you to burn calories if it causes you to move more,” Dr. Cooperman explains. “And green tea contains a fair amount of caffeine.”
If you’re sensitive to caffeine, steer clear of caffeine-based supplements, as too much can affect heart rhythm and disturb your sleep.
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