Is green coffee really the weight loss miracle we’ve been waiting for? This is what a nutritionist has to say

Ladies, it’s time to clear the air and find out if the hype around green coffee and its weight loss properties have any truth to them.
green coffee
Green coffee might not be as delish as its darker version, but it sure has some benefits to offer. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Sonakshi Kohli Published: 22 Jun 2020, 13:00 pm IST
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You know how attaching prefixes like ‘organic’, ‘diet’, ‘low-fat’, and ‘sugar-free’ automatically makes all things edible appear healthy? So much so, that we end up choosing sodium-laden packets of nutritionally-zilch “diet” chips over a pack of fresh berries packed with vitamins, fibre, and a zillion micronutrients for snacking. Such is the power of these gimmicky adjectives. 

Not so long ago, another entrant made its way into this list and changed the way we looked at the much-needed caffeine dose from coffee. No points for guessing, we’re talking about ‘green’ coffee, which is somehow deemed as the better version of the regular coffee powder derived from roasted coffee beans that we use to make our daily cup of coffee.

Blame it on the ‘green-ness’ of these beans or simply the lack of processing they go through, green coffee has emerged as a weight-loss hero, defeating black coffee made from its roasted counterpart. 

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Can green coffee really help in weight loss? Let’s find out. Image courtesy: Shutterstock.

But, is green coffee really effective for weight loss?
We’ve practically spent our lives using roasted coffee to wake us up and get the day started in the morning, to kick laziness away in the middle of the day, to make for a refreshing summer drink, and most importantly—to get our heart rates up before a workout. 

FYI, the heart-rate acceleration can help you burn calories more effectively and boost your metabolism too. All this because of the presence of a chemical known as chlorogenic acid present in coffee naturally. Now, when you roast the raw coffee beans (green coffee), this chemical tends to get destroyed as well.

“Roasting the green coffee beans takes away most of the active ingredient, chlorogenic acid, present in them,” says Avni Kaul, nutritionist, wellness coach, and founder, NutriActivania Clinic, Delhi.

“Green coffee beans, thus, contain a higher quantity of the chlorogenic acid that acts as an antioxidant. It helps in controlling high blood pressure, aids weight loss, and maintains blood sugar levels in the body,” she further explains.

This means that the benefits of the green coffee pretty much replicate the scientifically-proven benefits of your regular coffee. This includes boosting your metabolism, curbing your appetite, activating fat-burning mechanism in your body, and helping your body flush out toxins. 

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Is your blood sugar level under control? Then try some green coffee. Image courtesy: Shutterstock.

However, with its potent properties still intact in raw form, green coffee tends to be much more effective in aiding weight loss, or so says a study published in the Indian Journal of Innovative Research and Development (IJIRD).

How should you consume green coffee?
Now that you’ve got your answer and have decided to replace your regular coffee powder with green coffee, you’ve got to know how to make the most of this rawness, right?

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“Ideally, you should have green coffee post your meals because post eating, your blood sugar levels usually spike due to the consumption of carbohydrates and proteins. Drinking green coffee can thus, regulate your blood sugar,” suggests Kaul.

She adds that the exact suitable dose of green coffee depends on various factors like the person’s age, health, and other conditions—and that at present, there is no scientific information to determine it as such. 

Hence, sensible experimentation can be your best bet here. Start with one cup a day, preferably after your breakfast or lunch and see how your body reacts. If you’re doing just fine and crave for another cup, try to add it when you’re feeling lethargic during the day. But make sure not to consume green coffee or any coffee for that matter 3-4 hours before your bedtime if you really want to sleep well.

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Also, watch out for these side effects
Kaul warns against the possible side-effects of green coffee such as headache, upset stomach, insomnia, restlessness, and anxiety. Hence, if you experience any of these symptoms after consuming green coffee, know that it’s not your cup of coffee, after all, and steer clear of it. 

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About the Author

Twenty kilos down and struggling to maintain the weight loss by preaching healthy eating, while eating unhealthy every now and then. ...Read More

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