Green coffee is certainly one of the most advertised supplements in recent years for weight loss. The purpose of this article is to review this reduced role and talk about new studies and research that indicate its new benefits for the overall health of the individual.

Green coffee refers to the raw beans of the coffee plant. Its extract has been made extremely popular as a supplement for weight loss and the modulation of blood sugar and blood pressure regulation, although, at present, research regarding these effects is limited. Green coffee beans are simply ordinary coffee beans that have not been roasted and remain completely raw. Their extract is used as a dietary supplement, but green coffee can also be purchased in whole grains and used to make a hot drink, just like roasted coffee. Its chemical profile is very different from that of roasted coffee, although their origins are similar: it boasts an abundant supply of chlorogenic acids which, with their metabolites such as (ferulic acid), are phenolic compounds with powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects which, as we know, can provide many benefits for the health. It should be remembered that roasted coffee products also contain small amounts of chlorogenic acid but, unfortunately, most of it is lost during the roasting process.

Weight loss

Oral ingestion of green coffee extract can have an effect on weight reduction in people, particularly if they are overweight and obese.

The evidence comes from studies on both animals and human subjects. In men, green coffee intake has been reported inversely associated with weight gain. Coffee consumption has also been shown to produce changes in various glycemic markers in elderly subjects. Likewise, other research has indicated that green coffee consumption may lead to some long-term weight gain reductions, an effect that is likely due to the known thermogenic effects of caffeine intake. Green coffee has also been hypothesized to modify hormone secretion and glucose tolerance in humans. This effect is achieved by facilitating the absorption of glucose from the distal, rather than proximal, part of the gastrointestinal tract.

Effects on blood pressure

A study using green coffee extract (480 mg) with a chlorogenic acid content of 30.9% (140 mg) daily for 12 weeks in men with hypertension found reductions in heart rate (8%) , diastolic blood pressure (7%) and systolic blood pressure (8%): ​​all benefits appear to occur at week 4 and were sustained for 12 weeks and trended towards baseline 2 weeks after cessation.

A 360 degree health supplement

Green coffee may have health benefits other than the much hyped weight loss.

Its chlorogenic acids can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. In an 8-week study, 50 people with metabolic syndrome - with a number of added risk factors, including hypertension and high blood sugar rates - took 400 mg of decaffeinated green coffee bean extract twice a day. The result was that those who took the extract experienced significant improvements in fasting glucose, blood pressure and waist circumference, compared to a control group.

Side effects

Even if the side effects are few, and relatively few compared to the benefits, we must remember that its caffeine content, as well as for regular coffee, can cause - especially if taken in large quantities - the same adverse effects as:

  • Headache
  • Stomach problems
  • Anxiety

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