Obesity has remained a major health concern all over the world due to the rising health-related issues it poses to humanity. This health condition is basically caused by the intake of high amount of calories especially diet high in simple carbohydrates, sugary, fatty and processed foods.
The problem is not just consuming these types of unhealthy foods but the failure to shed off the excess energy generated through physical exercises. This tends to store the excessive energy generated as fat in the body thereby leading to excess weight gain.
Prevention is better than cure thus it is preferable to take precautionary measures early enough in other to avoid being obese. It is worthy to note that apart from the physical body changes observed from this scourge, other critical health conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, type II diabetes, stroke and cancer can set in.
Moreover, obesity can utterly alter an affected individual’s ways and quality of life. With the pressing need to curb this cankerworm in the society, several weight loss plans and food supplements are in use today. However, the concern is if these food supplements do what they are acclaimed to do without causing any future risks to human health.
Despite the countless number of supplements out there, it is still better to stick to healthy weight loss plans such as; eating more vegetables, consuming supplements that are plant-based, sticking to 5-A-DAY plan, indulging in physical exercises and strictly avoiding any high-calorie foods.
Over the past years, one plant that has gained huge attention in the area of weight loss is the coffee plant. The coffee plant produces green coffee beans, which are the source of green coffee extract. There is no doubt that coffee is among the most consumed beverages all over the world but most people are still oblivious of its weight loss benefits.
Besides, some studies have applauded the efficacy of coffee and caffeine in preventing several degenerative diseases. It will interest you to know that the green coffee extract has gained so much recognition as an effective and healthy supplement for controlling obesity and for weight loss. But nevertheless, using the green coffee extract for weight loss purposes must be complemented with healthy eating habit, physical exercises and overall healthy lifestyle for a better outcome.
Green coffee extract has the brand name Svetol, which has gained huge popularity as a weight loss product. Green coffee extract is mainly extracted from green, unroasted coffee beans. The weight loss ability of the green coffee extract is attributed to its constituent of chlorogenic acid and caffeine. Dicaffeoylquinic acids (diCQA) and caffeoylquinic acids (CQA) are the main chlorogenic acids available and they are distinguished by their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
These active ingredients are undamaged while being processed because the coffee beans are unroasted.
Benefits of Green Coffee Beans Extract
Weight loss Effects
Using data from human clinical trials, Onakpoya et al., (2011) investigated the efficacy of green coffee extract (GCE) as a weight loss supplement. These researchers adopted both electronic and non-electronic searches to discover relevant articles without any time or language restrictions.
The meta-analytic result shows a significant difference in body weight in the green coffee extract as compared with placebo. The study concluded that the results from these trials are promising however, they recommended more thorough trials to ascertain these claims.
The result shows that the consumption of green coffee extract can foster weight loss. The weight loss efficacy of this extract is attributed to its constituent of caffeine and chlorogenic acid, which can potentially reduce body weight. The chlorogenic acid absorbs sugar from starch and synthesises body fat. The amount of Chlorogenic acid in the green coffee bean is quite high compared to that of the roasted coffee bean.
Inhibition of Fat Accumulation
Shimoda et al., (2006) carried out an epidemiological study in Italy, which showed that coffee contains the highest amount of antioxidants compared to other beverages. These researchers investigated the impact of green coffee bean extract (GCBE) on fat accumulation and body weight in mice.
The results show that 0.5% and 1% of the green coffee bean extract reduced the visceral fat content and body weight of the tested animals. Both the caffeine and chlorogenic acid exhibited high potentials to reduce visceral fat accumulation and body weight.
These results support that the green coffee bean extract is considered suitable for inhibiting weight gain and fat accumulation. This is achieved through the inhibition of fat absorption and activation of fat metabolism in the liver.
Antidiabetic Properties
Obesity is a leading contributing factor of diabetes. Bidel et al., (2006) reported that coffee contains many metabolic effects that can minimise the onset of type 2 diabetes. These researchers examined the impact of coffee intake on glucose, glucose tolerance and insulin levels. The results show that reasonable daily intake of coffee can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
How to Brew the green coffee beans extract
~ First wash and soak the green coffee beans in clean water for a couple of hours.
~ Add the green beans coffee in a teapot and allow to boil.
~ Bring down the boiled mixture from heat and allow to sit for at least 1 or 2 hours.
~ Sieve the coffee beans from the water and discard the beans.
~ Drink the green coffee bean extract alone or paired with honey, sugar or sweetener.
Side Effects of Green Coffee Beans Extract
Despite the promising benefits of the green coffee beans extract, certain side effects have been identified from its use. These side effects are attributed to the high amount of caffeine and chlorogenic acid present. While these chemical compounds are believed to be essential for burning fat and shedding excess weight, certain downsides are attributed to them.
1) Pregnant women and newborn mothers are encouraged to refrain from consuming this extract.
2) High intake of the green coffee beans extract can have a purgative effect thereby leading to loose stool and diarrhoea.
3) High intake of the green coffee beans can result in hypotension, which is a health condition marked by abnormally low blood pressure.
4) When consumed in high quantity, individuals allergic to caffeine can experience swift heartbeat, panic, restlessness and tremor.
5) The high stimulating reaction of caffeine on the central nervous system are believed to negatively affect the central nervous, endocrine and the cardiovascular systems.
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DISCLAIMER This post is for enlightenment purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for professional diagnosis and treatments. Remember to always consult your healthcare provider before making any health-related decisions or for counselling, guidance and treatment about a specific medical condition.
REFERENCES
Bidel S., Hu G., Sundvall J., Kaprio J. and Tuomilehto J. (2006), Effects of coffee consumption on glucose tolerance, serum glucose and insulin levels: a cross-sectional analysis. Hormone and Metabolic Research, 38(1), pp.38–43.
Farah, A., de Paulis, T., Trugo, L. C., and Martin, P. R. (2005), Effect of roasting on the formation of chlorogenic acid lactones in coffee. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry., 53(5): pp.1505-1513.
Madhava Naidu, M., Sulochanamma, G., Sampathu, S. R., and Srinivas, P. (2008), Studies on extraction and antioxidant potential of green coffee, Food Chemistry., 107(1): pp. 377-384
Onakpoya, I., Terry, R., and Ernst, E. (2011). The Use of Green Coffee Extract as a Weight Loss Supplement: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Clinical Trials. Gastroenterology Research and Practice, 2011, 382852. http://doi.org/10.1155/2011/382852
Pixabay (2016) Images from pixabay
Shimoda, H., Seki, E. and Aitani, M. (2006), Inhibitory effect of green coffee bean extract on fat accumulation and body weight gain in mice, BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, The official journal of the International Society for Complementary Medicine Research (ISCMR)20066:9, pp. 1-9.
Suzuki, A., Kagawa, D., Ochiai, R., Tokimitsu, I., & Saito, I. (2002). Green coffee bean extract and its metabolites have a hypotensive effect in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Hypertension Research, 25(1), 99-107.