Could green coffee bean extract be the long-awaited weight loss super pill? Recent research suggests that this may indeed be the case, providing a ray of hope for all those who have struggled to shed the extra pounds. The natural power of green coffee extract may enable people to lose weight safely and effectively, without requiring a change in activity or eating habits.
The benefits of coffee have been known for generations. In fact, green coffee bean extract has been sold in health food stores and big-box chains for years, marketed as a dietary supplement, a powerful antioxidant, an energy booster, an anti-hypertensive supplement, and a stimulant for healthy circulation.
However, the bold effects of green coffee extract on weight loss have surprised many. In a recent clinical study, conducted in India, participants lost over 10 percent of their body weight in 22 weeks, all with no change to their daily diet or fitness regimen. They shed whopping 17 pounds, on average, just by adding the green coffee supplement to their daily routine.
Safe and Effective
No significant side effects related to the supplement were reported in the study, indicating that green coffee bean extract is not only effective for shedding unwanted pounds, but also quite safe to consume. In line with common sense, higher supplement doses led to bigger weight loss, further validating the results.
Participants ranged from 22 to 46 years of age and were deemed clinically overweight. They ingested pills containing either 700 milligrams or 1,050 milligrams of the extract about half an hour prior to each meal, drinking plenty of water to counter the bitterness of the pills. By the end of the study, many returned to their normal weight.
While the initial study was quite small, with just 16 volunteers onboard, the consistency and scope of its discovery hold much promise for consumers and researchers alike. Larger studies are already being planned to confirm and extrapolate the findings.
Mechanism of Action
Derived from unroasted coffee beans, green coffee extract is typically available in tablet or capsule form. Some formulations may contain caffeine, but the amount per dose is usually less than what’s found in a cup of coffee.Therefore, caffeine is unlikely to be the active ingredient facilitating weight loss.
Just how green coffee bean extract contributes to weight loss is not well understood. Scientists speculate that it may speed up metabolism, decrease absorption of fat and glucose in the gut, lower insulin levels, or all of the above. Substances called polyphenols, which are present in a variety of plants including the coffee bean, have long been suspected to stimulate fat loss and may be the active ingredients promoting these venues. However, deducing their exact mechanism of action will require more research.
A substance called chlorogenic acid may also be part of the answer. Chlorogenic acid is destroyed during the roasting process, which may explain why drinking a cup of coffee does not produce the same weight loss results as taking green bean coffee supplements.
Promising Potential
With the promise of the clinical research findings in hand, green coffee bean extract has the potential to fight obesity like no other weight loss tablet on the market. Easily accessible and cheap to make, it is typically sold for under $20 for a month’s supply, leaving hardly any dent in anyone’s budget. As a dietary supplement, it also does not require any FDA approval or prescription from a medical professional.
Green coffee bean extract just may be the king of weight loss inventory available on store shelves today. Starting any new dietary supplement inevitably necessitates some caution, but anyone looking to shed excess weight ought to consider giving green coffee extract a try.
Sources:
Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3267522/
Hypertension Research: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16419643
LA Times: http://articles.latimes.com/2012/mar/27/health/la-he-green-coffee-weight-loss-20120328
