Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a primary catechin found in green tea, has been shown to inhibit the secretion and production of octanoylated ghrelin (the active form of the hunger hormone ghrelin) https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/bpb/41/4/41_b17-00805/_html/-char/en
. EGCG significantly reduced the octanoylated ghrelin level in AGS-GHRL8 cells. In mice, three days of treatment with TEAVIGO®, which contains 97.69% EGCG, lowered the plasma octanoylated ghrelin level by 40% from that in control mice. In addition, TEAVIGO® reduced the mRNA expression of ghrelin and prohormone convertase 1/3, an enzyme responsible for the processing of proghrelin to mature ghrelin, in the mouse stomach, suggesting that the reduced expression of these genes may contribute to the inhibition of octanoylated ghrelin production.
hmm ... I think it does work! I used to not like green tea because of the tannins creating a headache but this is due to the serotonin increasing. Serotonin increasing means the vagus nerve is activated to the stomach....
The vagus nerve serves as a critical communication bridge between the stomach and the brain, transmitting sensations of fullness (satiety) to stop hunger.
Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a compound in green tea, can increase serotonin (5-HT) levels in the hippocampus,
fascinating!!
The key is to drink TONS of water when drinking lots of green tea - otherwise ...
Serotonin increases cause headaches primarily by affecting blood vessels and triggering nerve inflammation. High serotonin levels cause cerebral blood vessels to shrink (vasoconstriction), reducing blood flow and triggering pain, while an abrupt drop in levels later causes vessels to swell,...serotonin syndrome, a dangerous condition that causes headaches, along with muscle rigidity, fever, and confusion. Pain Modulation: While low levels are associated with higher pain sensitivity, sudden spikes disrupt the brain’s regulation of pain, causing a paradox where high serotonin brings on headache symptoms
Serotonin (5-HT) acts as a potent vasoconstrictor (shrinking blood vessels) through direct action on vascular smooth muscle, even though it can simultaneously activate the vagus nerve, which generally promotes relaxation and vasodilation. The contradictory effects arise because serotonin acts on multiple receptors, with the constrictor effect often overriding
High levels of serotonin, particularly in the context of serotonin syndrome (toxicity), lead to significant sympathetic nervous system overactivation,...Lower doses or specific 5-HT receptor activation can, in contrast, result in sympathoinhibition (lower sympathetic tone).
Low (0.2 nmol) 5-HT doses lowered mean arterial pressure, heart rate and renal nerve activity consistently..... dosage hard to tell due to precursors and digestion, etc.
Tea and tea polyphenols are promising chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agents against a variety of tumors including prostate cancer (CaP) (1, 2).
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3363324/
green tea, likely through its main polyphenolic components, the catechins, exerts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, making it an ideal dietary component or functional food ingredient for preventing and/or managing chronic disorders characterized by a high involvement of oxidative stress and inflammation.
Coffee in turn triggers peristalsis much faster than tea... why?
- Caffeine: Acts as a stimulant for gastric acid secretion (GAS) via bitter taste signaling in the stomach and mouth.
- Roasting Compounds/Polyphenols: Compounds developed during the roasting process are thought to be strong stimulants for gastrin release.
- Bitter Compounds: Other bitter substances in coffee, such as chlorogenic acid derivatives, are thought to contribute to this effect, ... These compounds stimulate G-cells in the stomach, which produce gastrin, and act on bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs)
- Secretion is stimulated by peptide/amino acids in the stomach, vagal stimulation, and stomach distension.
- Inhibitors: High levels of gastric acid (low pH) inhibit further gastrin release through somatostatin.