Green Coffee Bean Extract, also known as GCBE, has been a hot trend in weight loss over the past several years.
According to reliable research, green coffee bean extract burns excess body fat. It also boosts energy levels, regulates glucose levels and increases our metabolic rate.
When we have more energy, we tend to be more active. With balanced glucose levels, it is easier to lose weight. And, with a faster metabolism, we burn more calories.
Also, it potentially has several very significant health benefits and adverse reactions to the supplement are rare, though it can interact with some medication (see more below).
In this article on Green Coffee Bean Extract, we will look at what it is and why it can help you lose weight. We will also discuss its health benefits, research results, possible side-effects and more.
What is Green Coffee Bean Extract?
Green coffee bean extract is a derivative of unroasted coffee beans. Raw coffee beans are green. Once roasted, they turn brown. Along with changing color, after roasting, coffee beans lose most of their main fat burning component, chlorogenic acid.
While regular, roasted coffee beans contain a minute amount of chlorogenic acid, green coffee beans contain far more. So to be effective, the green coffee bean extract has to be processed before the beans are roasted.
How Does Chlorogenic Acid Work?
Along with its potential for preventing weight gain, chlorogenic acid has been found to promote weight loss. This is because it inhibits carbohydrate absorption. Chlorogenic acid also prevents the liver from releasing excessive amounts of glucose into the bloodstream following a meal. Glucose supplies energy, but when there is too much of it, our body stores the excess as fat.
Can anyone take Green Coffee Bean Extract?
Providing you are not allergic to it, almost anyone can take Green Coffee Bean Extract, including people who dislike the taste of coffee and those who find caffeine overstimulates them. This is because the flavor, aroma, and effect of coffee as we know it becomes evident only after raw coffee beans are roasted.
A high dose green coffee bean extract supplement contains less than a quarter of the caffeine of a cup of coffee. This means that feeling jittery and experiencing sleepless nights that can come from high doses of caffeine, should not be a problem.
*NB Read Green Coffee Bean Extract Side-Effects, Risks and Interactions (below), before buying this supplement. If in doubt as to whether it is suitable for you, check with your doctor.
Green Coffee Bean Extract Benefits for Weight Loss Studies
Over the past decade, researchers have conducted a number of studies into Green Coffee Bean Extract benefits for weight loss. We will look at a few of these, below.
A 2006 study examined the inhibition of fat accumulation and weight gain in mice given GCBE daily. The results were published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, with researchers noting that the mice had reduced visceral fat content and body weight. The conclusion was that green coffee bean extract might be effective against weight gain and fat accumulation, due to it preventing fat absorption and activating fat metabolism in the liver.
In 2011, Gastroenterology Research and Practice published a meta-analysis of 5 studies, which had examined the effectiveness of green coffee bean extract as a weight loss supplement. Researchers concluded that while further studies were needed, aggregate data showed a significant reduction in body weight of the participants who took GCBE, compared with those who received a placebo.
Another study followed sixteen overweight adults taking low-dose green coffee bean extract supplements, high dose supplements or placebos, daily. Small though the study was, the results were undeniable. Participants taking the higher-dose of GCBE achieved a weight loss of over 17 pounds. They also reduced their body weight by over 16% during the 22-week trial. Again, the study participants made no dietary or exercise modifications.
Reducing calories and exercising regularly while taking green coffee bean extract could result in greater and faster weight loss.
Green Coffee Bean Extract Health Benefits
- Blood pressure reduction
The benefit of taking green coffee bean extract doesn’t stop at weight loss. A 2006 study published in “Clinical and Experimental Hypertension” showed that participants who took 140 milligrams of green coffee bean extract daily, were able to reduce their blood pressure without experiencing side-effects.
- Mood enhancement
The caffeine found in green coffee bean extract has been found to have a positive effect on mood and brain activity. According to a 2008 review published “Nutrition Bulletin,” several studies confirmed that caffeine can improve our memory, focus, alertness, reaction time, fatigue resistance and vigilance, among other cognitive performance factors.
- Can slow aging
GCBE also balances blood glucose levels by inhibiting the release of an enzyme called G6P. Along with assisting weight loss, the chlorogenic acid found in GCBE combats free radicals, slowing the aging process and improving muscle tone.
Green coffee bean extract contains multiple antioxidants, compounds that protect us from the adverse effects of free radicals. This preventative function helps keep us healthier by reducing the damage and stress to our bodies cells. According to a 2004 study published in the “Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry,” chlorogenic acid antioxidants in green coffee beans may even prevent the proliferation of four kinds of cancer cells.
Green Coffee Bean Extract Side-Effects, Risks, and Interactions
Side-effects from taking green coffee bean extract supplements are uncommon. If you react adversely to caffeine, you may experience headaches, an upset stomach or feelings of mild anxiety. It is not advisable for children or women who are pregnant or breastfeeding to take GCBE.
High doses of caffeine can be detrimental to people suffering certain health problems. This includes bleeding disorders, anxiety, high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome, osteoporosis, diabetes, and glaucoma.
Herbal and other medicinal stimulants can interact with GCBE, as can blood thinners. Other possible interactions can occur when taking medication for osteoporosis, heart conditions, lung disease, depression, schizophrenia, and menopause. Green coffee bean extract should not be used in conjunction with other supplements containing caffeine.
Green Coffee Bean Extract Summary
When it comes to losing weight, a calorie controlled diet and regular exercise are paramount to success. However, research has shown that some supplements can improve our weight loss potential. One of these supplements is green coffee bean extract, which also has antioxidant benefits.
Some of the best GCBE supplements are manufactured in the US. Look for one that is organic and comes with a guarantee of the product’s quality and purity.
Click here to read about Acai Berry and its potential weight loss benefits
