Green coffee beans are the latest thing to take the weight-loss world by storm. Like all products promoted for weight loss the question is always “How much of the claim is marketing hype and how much will the product actually help you lose weight?”. Just like many other promoted weight loss products, this isn’t an easy question to either answer when it comes to green coffee bean extract. Green coffee bean extract can be both hype and help for those seeking ways to promote weight loss; understanding how it may work will help you determine if it is right for you.
What is it?
Green coffee bean extract is made from unroasted coffee beans. The extract is thought to minimize the caffeine content of the bean while preserving the chlorogenic acid levels it contains. It is the chlorogenic acid that has shown promise in early clinical studies in promoting weight loss. The acid acts to increase metabolism and to slow the absorption of fat from food intake. When you combine a supplement with these properties with a controlled diet and exercise plan, you may see an increase in the rate of fat loss. Chlorogenic acid has not been confirmed as enough of an influence on metabolism and fat absorption to promote weight loss without the combined diet and exercise program. Unfortunately, it is often marketed as a wonder supplement that will allow you to eat anything, do nothing and still lose weight. There is no known supplement that can fulfill those claims.
How did it become popular?
If Green Coffee Bean Extract isn’t the answer for effortless weight loss, how did it rise to the top of the weight loss market so fast? One major factor is that Dr. Oz brought it to everyone’s attention on his show. You know Dr. Mehmet Oz…the board certified heart surgeon who first came to notice when Oprah introduced him on her show as ‘America’s Doctor.’ It is an understatement to say that Dr. Oz is a qualified cardiothoracic surgeon and physician. He is greatly respected in his field for his work and continues to perform surgery and do research while maintaining a presence on television with his own show. The criticism of Dr. Oz’s form of “medutainment” is that while he may promote certain supplements or practices, he very rarely endorses any as actually working. His audience misses this fine line. While Dr. Oz performed a limited test using 100 women over the span of 2 weeks on Green Coffee Bean Extract, the results were no different than if those women had simple walked 15 minutes a day and controlled their calorie intake. Regardless of this, if a product is mentioned on his show it gains much media attention and is assumed by the public to be endorses by him with the full weight of his professional standing. Dr. Oz has never endorsed Green Coffee Bean Extract as a weight loss method.
What are its benefits for weight loss?
Chlorogenic acid has been shown to have an effect on slowing fat absorption and increasing metabolism of fat. What remains a question is whether or not your body can use the chlorogenic acid in Green Coffee Bean Extract to an extent that taking the extract will provide you with a benefit. What is known is that even the most minimal effect on increasing metabolism and slowing fat absorption can provide huge benefits to people trying to lose weight as it can increase your energy and commitment to the rest of the program necessary to create weight loss. As more studies are revealing that there is truth to the old myth that some people just have a slower metabolism than others, supplements like Green Coffee Bean Extract are proving to provide more benefit than first thought. The key is understanding what benefit you should be expecting. Green Coffee Bean Extract can be a part of a very successful weight loss program when combined with diet and exercise. You should not expect to lose more than a pound or two a week with any diet program. Using supplements and weight loss aides that provide you with more energy can help, just be careful not to overdo it or the caffeine can make your jittery and nauseous. Before you buy anything, make sure you check with your own doctor – not just the one you see on TV – to make sure that Green Coffee Bean Extract is safe for you to take.
lisa says
I appreciate this article. I get dismayed by products that appear on to the market, touting weight loss claims. In all of the years I’ve dieted, there has never been a single antidote to losing weight. It is a multifaceted approach that must include exercise and healthier choices.