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Can Coffee Help to Cut Weight?
Coffee is always in and out of the media spotlight for one reason or another. For a beverage that is consumed in such large amounts around the world, it is a wonder that more conclusive research has not been completed to give us the absolute pros and cons of coffee drinking.
What we do know through research is that coffee drinking has been positively linked to a reduced risk of diabetes, stroke and some cancers as well as improved heart and liver function. These studies showed that it was not only caffeine, but perhaps other components of the coffee drink as a whole that are beneficial.
When it comes to weight loss, the jury is out on whether it is the caffeine component only or whether coffee as a whole can help shed the kilos. It is previously known that caffeine can help to stimulate weight loss thus it is included in a number of weight loss pills. Some research has suggested there may be other components in whole coffee that are actually inhibiting the weight loss effect of caffeine. Scientists are yet to conclude what many of these components, such as cafestol, kahweol and melanoidins (the compounds that give coffee its colour) actually do to the body.
A recent study conducted in Queensland gave participants either caffeinated coffee, decaffeinated coffee or a pure caffeine tablet with breakfast and monitored satiety through to lunch. They found that only the caffeinated coffee drinkers showed a decrease in hunger and increase in fullness. This study would suggest that whole coffee and not caffeine alone had a positive effect on satiety. However, the very act of drinking a beverage with a meal is likely to incite greater satiety. The fact that decaffeinated coffee drinking did not increase satiety may be due to the caffeine or other compounds in the coffee. Cleary more research is needed before we can start recommending coffee drinking as a weight loss method.
What we as dietitians can suggest is that coffee can be a part of a healthy weight loss diet. If drinking a coffee between meals gets you from breakfast to lunch, then lunch to dinner without the need to snack on high Kilojoule or high fat snack foods, then this is certainly a good weight loss tool. It is important to remember that not all coffee is equal in terms of fat and kilojoules.
The best coffee to choose, with negligible fat and kilojoules is black coffee. If you prefer it milky, a dash of skim or low fat milk will add very little in the way of fat or Kilojoules and is definitely the best option. Avoid full milk coffees such as cappuccinos and lattes. Even if low fat or skim milk is used, a full sized coffee will add a fair number of Kilojoules to your overall intake and not assist with weight loss. Some good advice is to space out meals and coffee drinking. Have breakfast, and give it an hour or so until you have your coffee or tea (with a dash of low fat milk). You may find you do not need to snack as frequently or require a smaller snack between meals.
Added to site on : Monday, 14 October 2013