Reduce appetite
Coffee can stimulate thermogenesis (heat and energy) which in turn reduces our appetite and temporary need for food.
Sarah added: “Also, Chlorogenic acid, slows down the absorption of carbohydrates and supresses our hunger hormone, Ghrelin. This hormone is stimulated by carbohydrates, sitting in our stomach and growling at us to feed it more and more. Carbohydrates also shut off our leptin response – this is the hormone that tells our brain when we are full. By supressing ghrelin and stimulating leptin, we effectively reduce our appetite. It is also interesting to note that decaffeinated coffee still contains the important Chlorogenic Acid, and therefore could still produce an appetite supressing effect.
“However, as previously mentioned, some coffees can contain a huge number of calories and sugars, all of which contributes to weight gain as well as insulin and ghrelin. If you are opting for coffee to help lose weight, you are better off drinking black coffee or just with a little milk – no sugar or flavoured syrups.”
Give your metabolism a boost
Your daily coffee break can help boost your metabolic rate, stimulating thermogenesis, which can ultimately help you burn more fat.
Coffee also contains Chlorogenic acid, which helps slow down the absorption of carbohydrates as well as stimulating the hormone Epinephrine, which helps break down the fat.
Sarah advised: “Before you start guzzling coffee all day long, the fat burning effect diminishes the more coffee you have, and you could become intolerant to its effects, so it is actually better to choose your coffee wisely and drink only a few cups per day to ensure you enjoy all the benefits.”
Improve performance
Caffeine has been shown to help improve performance in the gym, especially amongst endurance sports or HIIT, which is why so many diet pills and sports nutrition contains elements of caffeine, due to its stimulant properties.
Sarah explained: “As caffeine helps burn more fat stores, it uses these as fuel; this means the traditional carb stores in your liver and muscles are depleted at a slower rate and can delay fatigue. Caffeine also stimulates the central nervous system, and this has been said to help make exercise feel less arduous when training. It is important that you monitor your reaction to the caffeine, as some people are more sensitive to the stimulating effects of caffeine than others, so you are your own guide to how much you can tolerate. I would advise to drink no more than three-five cups of coffee per day.”
But, Starbucks and other coffee sellers in California were recently forced to put a cancer warning on coffee.