Green coffee, rich in health-promoting plant compounds, may assist in weight loss and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes.
Healthline explains that green coffee beans are unroasted, raw coffee beans. They can be used to produce a dietary supplement extract or brewed into a beverage resembling traditional roasted coffee but with a milder flavor, often compared to herbal tea.
Furthermore, WebMD states that green coffee has a lower caffeine content than regular coffee. A cup of green coffee contains approximately 25-50% of the caffeine found in a standard cup of regular coffee.
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Green coffee beans. Illustration photo by Pexels |
Although green coffee and roasted coffee originate from the same beans, their chemical profiles are significantly different. Green coffee retains a higher concentration of chlorogenic acids, compounds renowned for their strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which are believed to provide several health benefits, including:
Promoting weight loss
Green coffee extract is marketed as a weight loss supplement. Some studies involving mice have shown that it significantly reduces total body weight and fat accumulation.
However, more comprehensive human studies are necessary to draw firm conclusions. Most existing research on green coffee in humans has been inconclusive, often hindered by poor study design, small sample sizes, and brief study durations. Some participants did experience weight loss, but the findings are not universally consistent.
Reducing risks of diabetes and heart diseases
Chlorogenic acids in green coffee may help lower the risk of chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. For instance, a study on individuals with metabolic syndrome—a combination of factors that heightens the risk for heart disease and diabetes—observed significant improvements in fasting blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and waist circumference in participants who consumed 400 mg of decaffeinated green coffee bean extract twice daily.
Controlling blood pressure
Research documented in the U.S. National Library of Medicine indicates that consuming green coffee significantly reduces blood pressure, specifically noted in the healthy group of participants in the study.
