What is catechin good for?
What Is Catechin?
Catechins, also known as tea tannins and catechols, are the general term for flavanols in tea. They are a class of phenolic active substances extracted from natural plants such as tea. Catechins are the most important type of tea polyphenols, accounting for 75% to 80% of the content of tea polyphenols.
Foods with high catechin content include tea leaves and fruits, among which tea leaves include green tea and black tea, and fruits include strawberries, apricots, peaches, cherries, mangoes, etc. In daily life, the above foods can be eaten appropriately to supplement catechins.
Catechins have a large number of hydroxyl groups in their structure, so they have antioxidant properties, can reduce cell damage, and have antibacterial activity. However, the polyhydroxy structure also makes catechins unstable under neutral and alkaline conditions. After being ingested by the human body, catechins will quickly undergo methylation or glycosylation under the action of biological enzymes. Studies have found that introducing other groups into the catechin structure can effectively improve its stability and bioavailability, and specifically enhance the pharmacological effects of catechins.
Catechins have obvious effects in promoting metabolism and can promote the excretion of harmful substances from the body. Catechins can increase fat oxidation energy supply, burn body fat, and have a weight loss effect. Catechins can inhibit the release of inflammatory mediators, play an anti-inflammatory role, and effectively relieve chronic periodontitis. Catechins can inhibit the bacteria that cause human skin diseases, and can also inhibit pathogenic bacteria and improve the distribution of intestinal microorganisms. According to clinical trials, catechins are effective in treating chronic periodontitis. Catechins can also significantly reduce dental plaque and prevent tooth decay. Catechins can inhibit the bacteria that cause human skin diseases and play a significant role in the treatment of eczema.
What Are The Functions Of Catechin?
1.Antioxidant effect
Catechin is an important component in tea. It belongs to polyphenols and is a natural oil antioxidant. It has high antioxidant activity and can scavenge free radicals produced by the human body and protect cell membranes. Catechin has high antioxidant activity and has the effect of delaying aging.
2.Reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease is really a major health killer in modern society, but catechin is a good helper in preventing such diseases! Studies have shown that catechins can significantly reduce LDL cholesterol levels in the blood, thereby reducing the risk of arteriosclerosis. This means that moderate consumption of green or black tea, which are rich in catechins, can help protect our heart health.
3.Reduce the risk of cancer
In terms of anti-tumor, catechins also have good performance. It works mainly by inhibiting the proliferation and spread of tumor cells. Catechin can reduce the formation of tumor blood vessels, cut off the blood supply to the tumor, and cause the tumor to gradually shrink due to lack of nutrients and oxygen. In addition, it can enhance the body's immunity and improve the body's ability to recognize and destroy cancer cells. These studies really make us excited about the potential of catechins!
4.Improve the fat-burning power of exercise
In addition to preventing cardiovascular disease and anti-tumor, catechins also have a significant role in burning fat during exercise! Studies have shown that moderate intake of catechin-rich tea drinks, such as Pu'er tea or matcha, before exercise can significantly increase fat metabolism. This means that during exercise, our bodies are able to burn more fat, thereby achieving weight loss and body shaping effects more effectively. For those of us who are pursuing a healthy body, this is really a major benefit!
What Is The Application Of Catechin?
Catechins are used in many fields and show great application potential:
1.Skin care ingredients: Catechins can reduce the damage of cells caused by environmental pollution and ultraviolet radiation, and have anti-aging, anti-wrinkle, anti-inflammatory and anti-pigmentation effects. They are often used as active ingredients in skin care products.
2.Health care products: Catechins are also widely used in the field of health care products. Due to its strong antioxidant properties, catechins can help remove free radicals in the body, reduce oxidative damage, slow down the aging process, promote metabolism, increase fat oxidation energy supply, and thus achieve a weight loss effect; it helps protect cell health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and other diseases. In addition, catechins also have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, caries prevention and eczema treatment effects, which make them an important ingredient in health care products.
3.Food additives: Catechins can be added to food as a natural antioxidant to extend the shelf life of food and maintain the freshness of food. It can remove free radicals in food and prevent food from oxidation and deterioration, thereby maintaining the nutritional value and sensory quality of food.
4.Cosmetics: Catechins can be used in cosmetics such as hair dyes and lipsticks, and have the effect of protecting hair and lips.
What Is The Difference Between Catechins And Tea Polyphenols?
Catechins and tea polyphenols are both main substances in tea leaves. Their main differences are: different effects, different structures, and different metabolic processes.
1.Different effects: Catechins have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and blood pressure lowering effects. In addition to the same effects as catechins, tea polyphenols also have cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protection and fat decomposition effects.
2.Different structures: Catechins are a yellow tannin compound, the main components of which are catechin monomers and catechin trimers. Tea polyphenols are a class of polyphenol compounds, belonging to monomeric tea polyphenols, and the main components are coffee flavonoids, monomeric catechins, etc.
3.Different metabolic processes: Catechins and tea polyphenols also have different metabolic processes in the human body. The bioavailability of catechins is usually higher than that of tea polyphenols, because tea polyphenols need to be transformed by intestinal microorganisms before they can play a role.