Green coffee has gained popularity as a drink for people looking to lose weight. Avid coffee lovers are unlikely to wait for the inviting and invigorating aroma of real coffee from this product. Depth of flavor is also difficult to judge by analogy with a strong espresso.
Marketers claim that the drink helps in losing weight. We must say right away that this is really so, but only when it comes to real grains that have not undergone heat treatment. What is offered in stores and on the Internet today does not always have the properties declared by advertising. The fact is that fresh green coffee does not reach us, and what we are dealing with is dietary supplements, where the percentage of chlorgenic acid (the very substance about which everyone talks so much) is negligible.
Does green coffee exist and what does it consist of?
Few people understand what green coffee really is and how to prepare it properly. In fact, these are ordinary coffee beans that have not been heat treated.
In research, scientists concluded that green coffee contains chlorgenic acid, which has a number of beneficial properties that override the benefits of caffeine. It is preserved precisely due to the absence of heat treatment. Although the caffeine content in green beans is three times less than in roasted beans, scientists decided that it could be reduced even more so that the beneficial properties of the acid were manifested better. Therefore, sometimes additional processing is carried out - decaffeinization, i.e. removing caffeine. This is fundamental to the health benefits of green coffee. According to research by scientists and doctors, 300 mg of caffeine is the maximum daily dosage for humans.
Chlorogenic acid is a powerful antioxidant capable of rejuvenating the cell by balancing redox processes in it. It has a number of positive properties:
- promotes detoxification;
- expands the walls of blood vessels;
- restores the proper functioning of the liver and protects this organ;
- lowers blood pressure readings.
Thanks to chlorogenic acid, cells increase insulin sensitivity. This helps to slow down the absorption of sugars from food, thereby reducing the risk of developing diabetes, even with constant overeating.
In addition to a small amount of caffeine, the product contains the beneficial substance tannin. Its action is almost identical to the first, but the drink contains even less of it:
- tannin increases blood pressure as a result of vasoconstriction;
- reduces capillary permeability, increases their stability, prevents the risk of hematomas and bruises;
- has antiseptic properties, inhibiting the growth of pathogenic microorganisms;
- accelerates wound healing, as blood clotting increases.
Thanks to the combined action of caffeine and tannin, a person feels cheerful after drinking the drink. Still, chlorogenic acid plays a major role in the benefits of the finished drink. 1 liter of green coffee contains approximately 300-800 mg of the substance. The quantity is directly related to the way the coffee is brewed.
The acid prevents the absorption of fast carbohydrates and inhibits the process of fat accumulation. This is an important detail for people looking to lose weight. Just like caffeine and tannin, acid stimulates the central nervous system, filling a person with vigor and energy. In addition, this substance is an antioxidant that prevents free radicals from attacking cells in the body. This property prevents the development of cancer.
The positive properties of green beans
Due to its chemical composition, green coffee provides the body with many-sided benefits. The increased content of antioxidants and trace elements contributes to the tonic effect. Chlorogenic acid helps to actively fight extra pounds, cellulite, fungal diseases, and cleanses the blood vessels. Has a pronounced antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory effect. Green coffee extract is used to strengthen hair and skin elasticity.
Useful qualities appear only if the product is properly collected, stored and prepared. If the technology is violated, all the declared properties are lost.
Having properly prepared and consumed the drink, observing proportions and a sense of proportion, you can achieve the following results:
- Improving performance, physical endurance. Energy is channeled in the right direction thanks to the increased production of adenosine. It relieves nervous tension from cells.
- Increase in blood pressure indicators with persistent hypotension due to the normalization of the cerebral vessels.
- Stimulation of metabolic processes and the production of gastric secretions. Coffee is contraindicated in this case for patients with gastrointestinal problems.
These effects will appear if the daily rate is not exceeded. In case of an overdose, a negative effect and unpleasant consequences for the body may occur.
Side effects, contraindications and harm of green coffee
Green coffee has a strong effect, so you need to be extremely careful when using it.
Overdose is fraught with unpleasant side effects:
- disruption of the digestive tract;
- irritability;
- headaches and dizziness;
- lack of sleep;
- sudden mood swings;
- prostration.
Even a small amount of caffeine can become addictive over time. That is why you need to be careful with this product.
There are a number of contraindications for drinking green coffee:
- hypersensitivity to caffeine (as a rule, it manifests itself in nausea, increased blood pressure, general weakness and arrhythmias);
- apnea;
- diseases of the digestive system;
- nervous disorders, hyperexcitability or depression;
- high blood pressure;
- period of breastfeeding;
- childhood.
In large quantities, green coffee can cause uncontrolled diarrhea. In turn, this will lead to a number of unpleasant consequences for the body.
Green coffee and weight loss
Scientists from the United States have identified the benefits of unroasted coffee beans for weight loss. Having found in its composition a high content of chlorogenic acid, they concluded that it can help in the fight against excess weight. The fact is that acid has the ability to regulate blood sugar levels by lowering glucose levels. This makes the processes that burn excess fat work. In addition, the chromium found in grains reduces cravings for sweets and baked goods, and also reduces appetite and hunger.
However, the use of a food additive disguised as green coffee is ineffective. The products offered in pharmacies today are not a real product, but only a dietary supplement that contains a small amount of green coffee extract. By itself, it does not contribute to weight loss, except in conditions of a proper diet and dosed physical activity. No more.
To achieve the slimming effect, you need fresh grains that have not undergone heat treatment.
How to drink green coffee?
In order for the drink to really show the beneficial properties that we wrote about above, it must, of course, be real, but the ways of its storage and preparation are no less important.
To begin with, the grains can be fried a little in a dry pan, no more than 15 minutes. Then grind them. For a standard serving, usually take 1-1.5 tablespoons of coffee per 100-150 ml of water.
Water is heated in a Turk or ladle, but it is not brought to a boil. Then ground grains are placed there and cooked over low heat, stirring occasionally. The foam that appears indicates the readiness of the drink. Boil it for a couple of minutes and then remove it from heat. In this case, the water will be colored green. The coffee is poured into a cup through a sieve.
Green coffee differs significantly from the usual black drink in taste and aroma. However, it is useful, especially if you drink it half an hour before meals - in this case, it manages to start all vital processes and set a person up for vigorous activity, giving vigor and energy.
