Why Use Polyphenols?
Polyphenols are compounds found in plants and have been shown to support weight loss and weight management as well as reduce vascular inflammation.
Key Polyphenol-Rich Foods and Sources
● Green Tea (EGCG)
● Berries & Fruits: Blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries contain anthocyanins.
● Soy Beans
● Cocoa/Dark Chocolate: Rich in flavanols (max 1 oz daily).
● Olive Oil
Effective Dose/Time: Best results were observed at doses under 220 mg per day for at least 3 months.
At Why Weight, we often avoid the fruit sources during the initial weight loss period in order to avoid the simple sugars in the berries, which can, undesirably and unintentionally, raise insulin levels and calorie intake. There are supplements available that do not contain the simple sugars, but due to most coming from fruit, the supplements usually are fruit flavored.
Key Mechanisms for Weight Loss
● Increased Metabolism: Polyphenols, such as green tea, can stimulate energy expenditure .
● Reduced Fat Absorption: They can inhibit digestive enzymes (amylase and lipase), limiting the amount of fat and carbs absorbed.
● Fat Cell Regulation: Polyphenols like resveratrol (found in Metabolic Xtra and other combination products) improve insulin sensitivity and help regulate fat cell
● Population Difference: Some studies indicate better results for patients under 50 and the Asian population.
● Gut Health: Acting as prebiotics, they improve and support the GI “healthy” bacterial balance, which can improve metabolic health.
● They work especially well in combination with GLP1s by helping allow calories to not be absorbed (calorie “bypass”), whereas the GLP1s make you feel full quicker and reduce appetite thus decreasing food intake, but they GLP1s facilitate increased absorption of the food that is eaten by slowing food transit. (This is actually a role of the GLP1s naturally found in our bodies).