While there is much talk about the good and bad effects of coffee, the green version of it, or green coffee as we know it, is also the subject of research, controversy, and opinions. First up, green coffee bean extract comes from coffee beans that haven’t been roasted while the regular coffee is from beans that have been roasted. Coffee beans contain antioxidants and pharmacologically active compounds such as Chlorogenic Acid which has made them a preferred ‘pick me up’ drink. These compounds have antioxidant effects, help lower blood pressure, and help lose weight, providing more reasons for coffee-lovers to favor the drink.
Green coffee as a weight loss supplement
However green coffee has a more weighty claim to fame as a weight loss supplement in recent times and being featured on TV shows. Chlorogenic acid is the specific compound that aids weight loss and in green coffee, it is retained to a large extent while roasting coffee reduces the chlorogenic acid content in the regular brown coffee. Therefore the unroasted beans and the green coffee made from it have more weight loss effects than the regular brown coffee. Now the question would be- does green coffee extract actually promote weight loss? This is a valid and relevant question since obesity is a major concern and there are many supplements, diets and techniques on offer with different claims and levels of effectiveness. Anecdotal evidence suggests that green coffee is helpful in losing weight and of course green coffee bean extract in form of tablets have made their way into the market.
Trials, Tests and Results
But we would need decisive results from lab studies on green coffee and their effectiveness as weight loss supplements. My reviews of the market and human studies indicate that green coffee may have the potential to help with weight loss. I would still say that more research is needed for specific and decisive proof of weight loss.
Human studies and randomized controlled trials on green coffee have thrown up some interesting results such as the one with 30 overweight individuals that went on for 12 weeks and featured two groups, one consuming regular coffee and the other consuming green coffee. The graph here shows the weight changes in the two groups, across the 12 week period
The group taking green coffee lost 11.9 pounds (5.4 kg), while the group taking plain coffee lost only 3.7 pounds (1.7 kg). The test also revealed that body fat percentage went down by 3.6% in the group consuming green coffee, against 0.7% fat loss in the other group.
Any such positive research indications have been on a small scale. We can take the larger indicators and results from them, although they are not rigorously tested and proven. I would point to the following:
Green Coffee: Expectations
Green coffee contains elements and substances that speed up fat metabolism in the body, thus helping to get rid of excess weight. Chlorogenic acid in green coffee helps burn fat by causing the liver to process more glucose than normal and to regain the glucose the body burns fat cells.
Green coffee prevents obese appearance. Green coffee also cleanses the body of toxins and excess fluid. Another way green coffee helps to lose weight is by dulling the appetite and when the person eats less, lesser is the weight gain.
- Green coffee has chlorogenic acid that normalizes blood sugar levels with its high content of antioxidants, thereby increasing the overall health
- Improves body metabolism due to the presence of chlorogenic acid in beans that in turn increases the rate of fat burning.
- Green coffee helps in reducing blood pressure and cholesterol levels, thus helping prevent cardiovascular disease and improves the heart and blood circulation throughout the body. Regular consumption of green coffee in recommended doses thus reduces the risk of such afflictions as stroke, high blood pressure or heart failure.
- Like the brown counterpart, green coffee brings about an improvement in energy levels, alertness, mental activity and the ability to learn and in logical operations;
- An important antioxidant ingredient/component of the green coffee bean is beneficial for hair and reduces damage to it.
- Green coffee has been seen to lower the high levels of sugar in the bloodstream and is thus beneficial in treating Type 2 Diabetes and curing Diabetes Mellitus Type 2.
- Green coffee enhances the immune system by eliminating all types of toxic and damaging elements in our body by removing free-radicals while also treating dull and acne-prone skin.
The Reality
Such studies and several medical experts have acknowledged the effects of green coffee but at this point of time, it is also important to be realistic about the expectations and be tuned to a reality that is moderate in the absence of adequate scientific support. There needs to be more research on the effectiveness of green coffee bean extract in the context of the different claims and expectations.
It pays for the customer to be educated and skeptical about claims. I would suggest that you check Phytotech’s GreenKoffee if you plan to try green coffee as part of your weight loss plan. It is worth a try but it is also important to check with your doctor, in the context of your health conditions, especially any conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes. Surely, green coffee is a good support and supplement for long-term weight loss but it is also about adopting a healthy lifestyle.
