If you are one of the approximately 75% of Americans who regularly drink coffee, you will probably be interested to hear about a study I recently came across. In it, doctors in Japan randomly assigned overweight adults to drink one cup of black coffee per day with the only difference being that half the participants were given coffee low in chlorogenic acids, and half were given coffee high in chlorogenic acids (I will explain what this means momentarily).
After 12 weeks, the group receiving the higher chlorogenic acid coffee had lost a little bit of weight, and crucially, shrunk their visceral fat (the type of fat that most increases the risk for diseases such as diabetes and heart attacks), whereas the group drinking the regular coffee had not. Though this a relatively small study and only lasted for 12 weeks, the results are very promising, because it was a well-done randomized controlled trial, meaning that – other than the type of coffee being consumed – there really was no difference between the two groups. They were not otherwise instructed to exercise, change their diet, or do anything else that might have led to weight loss or improved health. Hence, it appears that consuming coffee high in chlorgenic acids might lead to a little bit of weight loss and to some metabolic health improvements. You can read the full study by clicking here.
Now, you are probably thinking: what the heck is chlorogenic acid? And how can I get my hands on some? Read on.
