Are you one of the millions of people who can’t start your day without a cup of java? Are you also trying to lose weight? Well, you may be doing yourself a fitness favor that you didn’t even know about. Science is coming out with new discoveries all the time, and the most recent (and surprising) data on coffee’s inherent exercise and fat-burning benefits is no exception.
Breaking Down Coffee’s Health Benefits
First off, coffee contains a compound called Chlorogenic Acid, or CGA. If you’re familiar with green coffee weight loss formulas, you probably know a great deal about this fabulous botanical extract, because CGA is the active ingredient in nearly all green coffee diet supplements.
The Health Benefits of CGA
CGA is great for your body in a number of different ways. For starters, it is an extremely potent antioxidant. It also falls into a class of antioxidants called polyphenols, which are largely derived from plants. CGA specifically protects liver health – and boosts your metabolism – by flushing toxins out of the organ while controlling your body’s insulin levels. The more stable your insulin levels are, the less likely you are to suffer from a buildup of bad cholesterol, develop type 2 diabetes, and store excess fat around your midsection.
There are some other lesser-known benefits of CGA which also deserve an honorable mention. For starters, it can have a gentle, natural laxative effect similar to that of prunes. CGA can also reduce inflammation in the body, which lowers your risk for autoimmune diseases.
What About Caffeine?
Another naturally occurring compound present in coffee is caffeine. This mild, natural stimulant can help boost your fat loss goals in the following ways:
- By increasing your metabolic rate. Your heart rate is one of the major factors which determines how fast or slow your metabolism works. For anyone who wants to lose weight, a higher heart rate means that you will burn more calories during the day. The more calories you burn, the more quickly you will burn off excess fat. And since caffeine is known to accelerate your heart rate, it is also a known metabolism enhancer.
- By breaking down your fat cells. The unique chemical properties of caffeine react directly with the fat cells in your body, pulling fatty acids out of the cell in order to use them for necessary metabolic processes.
- By giving your brain and your body more energy. Drinking caffeine increases the amount of dopamine and norepinephrine in your brain cells. When these neurotransmitters are in plentiful supply, it helps elevate your mood and increase your energy levels. You can maximize this benefit to the fullest by drinking a cup of coffee within an hour of starting a strenuous workout.
- Helps you push your workout further by dulling pesky joint and muscle pains that might otherwise hinder your workout. It’s almost like a mild dose of your typical over-the-counter pain reliever, but much healthier for you!
Maximizing the Effects of Coffee in your Diet
Keep in mind, though, that not all coffee beverages are created equal. For your fitness and weight loss purposes, stick to plain, black coffee. The more sugar, cream, and/or milk that you pour into your drink, the less effective it will be. This is because of the extra calories that you will have to work off, as well as the detrimental effect sugar can have on your insulin levels and overall metabolic function.
You should also be wary of the fact that the human body builds up a tolerance for caffeine very quickly. In order to maintain coffee’s effectiveness, as well as protecting yourself from becoming dependent, make sure you take a break and cycle off of the java every few weeks or so. The good news is that it only takes about 3-5 days of caffeine free living for the body to lower its tolerance, so you won’t have to cycle off for long.
As delicious as it is to drink coffee in its roasted, liquid form, the green coffee supplements we discussed earlier will give you the most beneficial amounts of both CGA and caffeine. The best green coffee supplement we’ve found is Ultimate Green Coffee. Not only does it contain optimal levels of both compounds for effective weight loss, but it also has green tea and raspberry ketone extracts for added thermogenic and antioxidant benefits. Try it today!
