There are many ways for obese people to overcome the problem of being overweight. In addition to medical treatment, therapy and consumption of herbal medicines are also often chosen, including the use of herbal medicines green coffee which is claimed to be able to lose weight quickly.
Green coffee beans do not mean beans from green coffee, but beans from coffee cherries that have not been roasted. Green coffee beans have high levels of chlorogenic acid (CGA) and are claimed to have a number of health benefits. One of them is losing weight.
Research on Green Coffee
A number of animal studies have shown that CGA can provide antidiabetic effects related to the effect of improving insulin resistance, anti-obesity effect which is indicated by a decrease in the subject's abdominal circumference, and antilipidemic effect which is indicated by a decrease in blood lipid levels.
In addition, studies by giving CGA to animals also show a reduced risk of a number of diseases associated with being overweight, such as cardiovascular disease (heart and blood vessels), liver disease, and cancer.
In studies conducted on humans, administration of green coffee extract had an improved effect on people with high systolic blood pressure, insulin resistance, and abdominal obesity. In addition, giving green coffee extract can also reduce appetite.
Even so, the results of the research above still need to be tested further to prove the benefits of green coffee for diet and body health, including effectiveness, optimal dosage, and level of safety.
Difference between Green Coffee and Regular Coffee
In the manufacturing process, green coffee does not go through a roasting process that can damage the chemical content that is beneficial to the body. This is what makes the CGA content in green coffee more than regular coffee.
According to research, about 45–54% of the CGA content of coffee breaks down when roasted at 230°C for 12 minutes. In addition, more than 99% of the CGA content of coffee is lost when roasted at high temperatures, for example at City Roast at 250°C for 17 minutes or at French Roast at 250°C for 21 minutes.
The coffee brewing process also affects the CGA content. The same study revealed that unfiltered coffee had more CGA content than filtered coffee. In addition, it was also found that the amount of CGA chemical bonds in espresso coffee was higher than that of filtered coffee.
Green Coffee Side Effects
Although it has a number of benefits for health and weight loss, green coffee is also at risk of side effects. Like coffee in general, green coffee contains caffeine which can cause insomnia, nervousness and restlessness, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and increased heart rate and respiratory rate.
To be safe, you should consult with your doctor first if you want to consume green coffee as a complementary supplement to a weight loss program. In addition to avoiding the risk of side effects, consulting a doctor can make your weight loss program more effective.
Written by:dr. Diani Adrina, SpGK (Clinical Nutrition Specialist)
