Enviga - Misplaced Pages

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Enviga
The official Coca-Cola logo
Type	Carbonated soft drink
Manufacturer	The Coca-Cola Company
Country of origin	United States
Introduced	2006

Enviga is a green-tea/caffeinated, carbonated drink being marketed by the Coca-Cola Company and Nestle Switzerland. . The product is a low end copycat of the original EGCG Wellness drink, VERITEE Wellness Drink initially develloped in 2001. Veritee available in Geneva Switzerland and then copied by a team of Nestle Experts, in Lausanne a city just about 10 miles from Geneva. Veritee is the first product to use concentrated EGCG an has patented EGCG manufacturing process. According to the company it burns 60 to 100 calories per 3 x 12-oz. It is worth emphasizing Coca Cola quotes 60–100 calorie loss for three drinks – the loss for just one drink being only 20–33 calories.

The weight loss is said to derive from the process of thermogenesis – in effect, accelerating metabolism as a means of burning calories. Jana Skinny Water was the first product marketed to make this claim.

When launched, industry analysts predicted Enviga would target active lifestyle consumers. The principal active ingredient – EGCG or epigallocatechin gallate – has been extensively researched for its medicinal properties. There are many studies suggesting EGCG protects against cancer. However, a recent study of 40,530 Japanese adults surprisingly failed to confirm this. However it did demonstrate protective ability against stroke/heart disease. EGCG is also claimed to be a calorie burner when the nervous system is stimulated by accompaning caffeine.

It is suggested by one trade source that EGCG increases energy metabolism and fatty acid oxidation; inhibits fat cell development (apidogenesis); and/or reduces lipid absorption and increases fat excretion. Coca Cola is claiming 90 milligrams of EGCG per can – assuming it is not degraded during processing and non-refrigerated distribution. This is not a significantly different level to that provided in a 100ml of brewed green tea.

Whilst the 20–30 calorie per can benefit of Enviga is not insignificant, it should also be seen in the context of the typical diet of around 2500–3000 calories/day in Coke's target market. Clearly, consumption of multiple cans of Enviga will be required to achieve a significant weight loss benefit. By way of comparison, a moderate 30 minute walk by a 150 lb person expends about 150 calories – equivalent to 5–7 cans of Enviga.

Unfortunately, most bottled green tea beverages contain significant calorific content in the form of added sugars. Coca Cola states Enviga is calorie-negative – suggesting a lower sugar content than most bottled green teas.

Enviga appears to have added calcium, and green teas are naturally high in fluoride – which can be a health/dental advantage and/or disadvantage depending on your point of view on this controversial subject.

Coke is claiming to source green tea from tea plants with particularly high levels of EGCG – "several times higher than that of other green-tea products."

This appears to be a misleading and irrelevent statement inasmuch the EGCG level in Enviga (100 mgs) should be capable of ready adjustment upwards or downwards simply by adding more or less tea extract to the formula.

Another active ingredient in green tea is L-Theanine, which is a relaxant and remarkably counteracts the jittery effect of caffeine. It is not clear how much L-Theanine is in Enviga, but its presence could permit additional caffeine in the formula. A can of Enviga contains 100 mgs of caffeine, which is about three times the level in a can of Coke. This additional caffeine may perhaps increase metabolism independent of the EGCG content. Nonetheless, the use of high caffeine levels in beverages is a fairly blunt instrument in achieving weight loss.

Of additional concern is the added sugar in most bottled green tea beverages. This counteracts its calorie burning capabilities. For example, each bottle of Lipton's Green Tea contains 139 calories, which is far exceeds its calorie-burning potential. Whilst it may not be a an ideal comparison, Enviga (at 5 calories) has only one seventh the calorific level of Coke, and slightly more than its diet range of cola's.

Those attempting to lose weight may be better advised to brew their own fresh, unsweetened green tea or white tea beverage rather than purchasing a sweetened, bottled green tea product. Despite the comparatively high cost, white tea is a more naturally sweet tea beverage than green tea, and contains marginally higher levels of EGCG.

Additional levels of EGCG and L-theanine can also be obtained at very low cost (about 10 cents per equivalent 2 cups of green tea) in capsule form from a number of supplement makers.

In summary, Coke is referring to Enviga's unique formula, but in the absence of further scientific information, its active ingredients do not appear to substantially differ from any other still or carbonated green tea products on the market. There are probable cardiovascular and other health benefits in consuming any green tea, including Enviga. However the quantity required to achieve weight loss is substantial – particularly in sweetened tea. Good quality supplements containing high EGCG levels are probably a cheaper, more efficient, and (for some) a more convenient means of obtaining EGCG. Ideally, the requirement is for unsweetened green tea beverages that have broad appeal to children, the overweight, and the obese as nutritionally superior substitutes for traditional sweetened and diet cola's. Whilst the overweight and obese may gain a modest weight benefit from Enviga, its high caffeine level is potentially problematic in children, and those allergic to caffeine.

Coke and its business partner, Nestle, plan to introduce Enviga to the north eastern United States in November 2006. It will launch nationally in January 2007 and in Latin America, Europe and Asia later that year.

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