Green Coffee Bean Extract: Fat Burning Favourite...Fact or Fiction?

You and your gym buddy have probably read about green coffee bean extract in the media as a supplement that can help people lose weight. So what's the deal? Is all the attention and hype supported by facts and research or is this just another gimmick?

'Green coffee' refers to the raw or unroasted seeds of Coffea fruits. These seeds are prepared, roasted and ground to produce what we know as filter coffee. The difference between the seeds and coffee is the presence of the ever important chlorogenic acid. According to Dr. Oz, various studies have suggested that chlorogenic acid slows absorption of fat from food intake and also activates metabolism of extra fat. By roasting green coffee beans, the raw bitter taste is limited, but this process also removes a significant portion of chlorogenic acid. So you can see why green coffee beans have been praised as a natural fat burner over your traditional cup of morning brew.

As far as research goes, the most recent study on the green coffee bean was published in January 2012 in the journal, Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity. The researchers followed a group of 16 adults who supplemented with a special green coffee bean extract of chlorogenic acids for 12 weeks. All 16 adults were considered overweight, with a BMI of greater than 25. The research revealed that the subjects lost an average of 10% of their overall body weight and 4.4% of their overall body fat.

So what about short term effects? Dr. Oz conducted his own study over a two week period to see  if green coffee beans had a positive effect on weight/fat lass. The show's medical unit enlisted 100 women between the ages of 35 and 49 who were overweight with BMIs between 25 and 45 to partake in a study. These women received either the green coffee bean extract or a placebo, and were instructed to take 400 mg capsules, three times a day, 30 minutes before each meal. They were also instructed to not make any change to diet/exercise. After two weeks, the group of women were weighed and those who took the green coffee bean extract lost, on average, two pounds. However, the group of women who took the placebo lost an average of one pound – possibly because they were more aware of their diet for that two weeks because of the required food journal.

So long term or short term it looks like you and your gym partner may benefit from integrating green coffee bean extract into your supplement regime. However, it isn't the be all end all for fat loss. It is much more important that you make all the right food choices, ensuring you maintain a good balance of nutrients and partake in regular exercise.

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/green-coffee-bean-project