A green coffee extract is an extract of unroasted, green coffee beans. Green coffee extract has been used as a weight-loss supplement and as an ingredient in other weight-loss products. A craze for green coffee bean extract has hit the weight loss supplement world all due to a compound contained in green coffee beans called chlorogenic acid which seems to have beneficial effects on metabolism for weight loss.
When coffee seeds or “beans” are roasted, their antioxidant levels increase, but one natural substance called chlorogenic acid decreases. This chemical is thought to block fat accumulation, boost weight loss, curb carb absorption, and help regulate post-meal blood sugar levels. In addition, green coffee extract does not taste or smell like coffee, a supposed benefit for those who don’t enjoy java.
Essentially, the Green Coffee Extract helps you shed fat by:
- Blocking Fats – The fats blocked are the fats the body cannot use for energy.
- Absorbing Carbohydrates – The absorbed carbs help your body use the available fats more efficiently.
- Regulating Blood-Sugar Levels – The regulation of blood sugar helps avoid the extremes some people experience which either cause them to consume more sugar to keep their perceived energy levels up or they experience the “crash” when their sugar drops significantly.
The main idea is that you can take these pills before meal to help control and regulate your body’s functions and still eat the diet you are most comfortable to consume. Some people don’t prefer to increase their activity levels or they can’t do so due to their health issues.
Dr. Oz encourages those who wish to use this extract to look for certain quality factors:
- Look for 45 percent Chlorogenic Acid in the product for the best results.
- Look specifically for GCA (which stands for Green Coffee antioxidant) or Svetol. If neither is present, opt for a different product.
- Accept no fillers or artificial ingredients.
- The word “pure” is often used just as a marketing strategy and means nothing, just ignore that.
Unfortunately there is no standardization when it comes to supplements. In other words, manufacturers don’t have to follow a specific formula, so one green coffee extract product could be made completely differently than another, and one brand could contain significantly more caffeine than the bottle next to it. That concerns me because concentrated doses of caffeine can cause headaches, GI upset, nervousness, insomnia, anxiety, ringing in the ears, and irregular heart beat, or even more serious problems in some people. In addition, using caffeine-based weight-loss supplements and then stopping them has also been associated with withdrawal symptoms including headache, fatigue, depression, trouble concentrating, nervousness, muscle tension, and a flushed face.
Finally, caffeine-based supplements can react with other supplements. For example, taking one with another stimulant (like guarana or mate) can trigger a synergistic effect that could increase blood pressure to dangerous levels. A high caffeine intake can also trigger the loss of calcium and magnesium. And there’s a long list of prescription medications that interact with caffeine, from diabetes and blood pressure drugs to meds used for depression.
