[as seen in the Oxford Review June 21, 2012] It is possible that there just might be a bean that can actually help you lose weight.
I read a lot. It is very important to me to make sure that I have good information for my clients and their families. When I heard that there might be a bean that could help people lose weight I was my usual skeptical self. Supposedly you can take this bean in its raw state (or as an extract) and get dramatic results. I usually don’t ever recommend any pills or supplements to help people specifically lose weight because I firmly believe in a holistic approach. If you are interested in long-term results you must change your lifestyle. Not just pop a pill.
And yet, what if you are doing most things right and need a little help to get back in the groove of shedding those extra pounds. (I can’t believe I am about to write this). There just might be a supplement that can actually help. It turns out that the coffee bean in its green form, which is raw and unroasted, can actually help people kick start weight loss in a very scientifically valid way.
Here’s the rest of the story.
A recent study published in January of this year points
to the green coffee bean as a possible weight loss intervention. Joe Vinson, the lead researcher, reported in the Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity journal that he and his team followed a group of 16 adults who supplemented with an extract of green coffee for 12 weeks. Over the course of the study, the subjects lost an average of 17 pounds each. In the personal training and wellness world we are less concerned with lost pounds and more concerned with the actual loss of body fat. So what did the subjects lose as a percentage? They lost an unbelievable 10 percent of their overall body weight and 16 percent of their overall body fat! I am loathed to tell you that the participants in the study changed nothing about their lives. They did not exercise more, nor did they eat differently.
After reading about these results I just had to know more. Not just a little bit more, but much much more.
So I dug into the science of raw green coffee beans with the question, “how does the green coffee bean work to support weight control?” Believe it or not, the key is not the caffeine. As it turns out the fat-blasting active ingredient is a very important natural compound called Chlorogenic Acid. Chlorogenic Acid works by inhibiting the release of glucose in the body while at the same time boosting the burning of fat in the liver (amazing isn’t it!). The research shows that these two mechanisms when combined work together to inhibit the absorption of fat and also initiate the burning of fat leading to weight loss (more specifically fat loss).
You might wonder, as I did, if you can get the same effects from your morning coffee. The answer is a solid no. Why? It has to do with the roasting of bean. Turns out that when you roast coffee beans to give them a distinct color, aroma and flavour, you are also removing the Chlorogenic Acid. Since this is the key to the weight loss potential of the coffee beans they must be, and remain, green. In contrast to roasted coffee beans, the green beans have little aroma, are bitter, and contain over 50% Chlorogenic Acid. BAM! That is a lot of Chlorogenic Acid. This resonates with me since I believe in whole food nutrition. Green coffee beans are raw and they are whole foods – and what better way to lose weight that with an actual food.
If you are interested in supplementing with this raw whole food there are some things you should know – like the dosage – so take 800mg (2 capsules) twice, or three times, a day and 30 minutes before meals with a large glass of water. I found out, while researching, that if you take a green coffee bean supplement, aside from the fat-blasting Chlorogenic Acid, you are taking in about 23 mgs of caffeine per serving (about the same as a normal cup of green tea). The standard cup of coffee here in North America has about 100mg of caffeine per cup and a “venti drip” can actually have as much as 400mg per cup.
I have green coffee beans in field-testing as we speak. I won’t talk about the results just yet, but what I will tell you is that I am impressed so far. What I am doing is using them with my clients who need a little extra help. I have also taken them myself to make sure that they are digested easily and cause no discomfort. One of the interesting things about the study mentioned above is that there were no observed negative side effects reported by anyone who was part of the study. My experience, so far, reflects that – I have not witnessed any of the common things associated with coffee – like the jitters, nervousness, or even elevated heart rate. Actually, many people in the study saw a decrease in heart rate, and blood pressure. I find it amazing how potent whole foods can be.
So if you are looking for a weight loss boost – this product may be for you. I know of one store in Woodstock that carries this product. The store is called InsideU Health and is located at 682 Peel Street here in Woodstock. I believe they will ship to anywhere in Canada on orders over $70.
Please remember that a holistic approach is always best. Use this as one of the tools in your quest for health. Until next time – Eat Healthy. Sweat lots. And Smile!
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