Green coffee bean extract is the latest coffee-derived product lauded as a the solution to quick weight loss. According to Dr. Oz, it's the chlorogenic acid, a component of caffeine that may be the key to weight and fat loss. The extract cannot be consumed by drinking coffee, as roasting coffee beans removes a significant portion of chlorogenic acid. Green coffee beans are not akin to green tea leaves. Green coffee beans are simply the raw, unroasted beans of Coffea fruits.
In a study by "Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity" researchers gave a group of overweight participants GCA (green coffee antioxidant), which contains chlorogenic acids and hydroxycinnamic acids. The participants were successful, losing an average of 10 percent of their overall body weight.
Will it work for you? Maybe. Dr. Oz recommends that any adult who wants to try this daily supplement needs find one with 400 to 800 mg of GCA or Svetol. There are many caveats regarding this latest weight loss craze:
1. The study only followed 16 participants. "And we really have no idea how this might be working. For example, the patients were allowed to continue with their regular diet. But did this extract in any way influence their hunger and what they wanted to eat, and then what they actually ate? We don't know. What we have here is basically just a hypothesis that there's something about this compound that could be helpful," said Lona Sandon, a registered dietitian.
2. These supplements, like many others, are unregulated.
3. Long-term effects have not been studied.
There are other healthy weight-loss tips you could use which have long-term results:
Pay more for nutritionally-dense foods - We all want to save money at the grocery store, but cutting corners on nutrition takes a toll on our family's health and weight. Instead of relying on pasta or rice integrate a grain with fiber, protein and iron, like quinoa.
Good fats, not no fats - When trying to lose weight it can be hard to resist the "no-fat" approach. The real key to healthier eating is to substitute good fats for bad fats. Our bodies need fats and eating fats can help control weight according to WebMD. Eliminating all source of fat will only lead to a diet meltdown. Add avocados, nuts like almonds, walnuts or cashews, sesame seeds, olive oil, salmon or flax seed.
Maintain a regular exercise routine - Dr. Oz rightly advises that "no pill is more effective than maintaining a regular exercise regimen and a healthy diet." Instead of spending money on the trendiest supplement, invest in a gym membership, a pedometer, exercise equipment, or whatever you need to help you commit to a regular exercise routine.
Sources
"Could Unroasted Coffee Beans Help You Shed Pounds?" University of Utah Health Care
Maria Vultaggio, Dr. Oz: Green Coffee Bean Extract Helps Speed Weight Loss Up To 2 Pounds A Week
Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD, Skinny on Fat: Good Fats vs. Bad Fats , WebMD
Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D., "Caffeine: Can it help me lose weight?" Mayo Clinic
