Green Coffee- Is it beneficial?

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world. Whether you prefer a cup of cappuccino or a glass of iced coffee, the coffee industry has you covered. While some coffees have already established a niche audience, others, such as green coffee, have only just begun gaining attraction, especially in the health and fitness community. With the emergence of more health consciousness, health-centric foods like green coffee are steadily finding their way to the table of consumers. But is green coffee really healthy? We will find out in this post. But first of all, we should have to know – What is this new form of coffee?

WHAT IS GREEN COFFEE?

Green coffee is completely raw, unroasted coffee beans. It tastes quite different from regular roasted coffee as it has a milder, more ‘herbal’ flavor. Green coffee extract is often used as a dietary supplement, but it can also be used as whole beans to make a delicious hot beverage. Their extract is popular as a dietary supplement, but it can also be purchased in whole-bean form and used to make a hot beverage, much like roasted coffee.

Bear in mind that a mug of this light green drink will not taste like the roasted coffee you’re used to, as it has a much milder flavor. It’s said to taste more like herbal tea than coffee.

What’s more, its chemical profile is quite different than that of roasted coffee, though their origins are similar.

It boasts an abundant supply of chlorogenic acids — compounds with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that may provide many health benefits.
Roasted coffee products also contain small amounts of chlorogenic acid, but most of it is lost during the roasting process.
Proponents claim that green coffee, its extract, and supplements offer a variety of health benefits. While primarily used for weight loss, it may help regulate blood sugar and improve cognitive and memory skills in older adults.

Is It Beneficial For Health?

Coffee beans contain a compound known as chlorogenic acid. This compound boasts of potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that may provide many health benefits. In fact, chlorogenic acid accounts for 5-10% of coffee beans, which is a larger amount than caffeine, which accounts for 1-2%. However, upon being roasted, most chlorogenic acid is lost in the process. Since green coffee is made from unroasted beans, it retains the beneficial compound and may, therefore, provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
Some research suggests that the retention of chlorogenic acid in green coffee is largely responsible for the health benefits.

Although research is limited, there is evidence that green coffee can stimulate metabolism (the conversion of calories and oxygen into energy). Metabolism doesn’t only imply digestion; it dictates how well all cells in the body function, including those of the heart, lung, kidney, liver, and brain.

Here is just some of what the current research says about the benefits of green coffee:-

Weight loss

Green coffee may be moderately beneficial to those trying to lose weight. Studies conducted on mice being fed coffee bean extract found that it significantly reduced total body weight and fat accumulation. However, many health experts have refuted the theory since there is not enough scientific evidence to prove that green coffee has the same effect on humans. Research in this regard remains inconclusive, but regardless of that, green coffee extract remains a popular weight loss supplement.

May reduce the risk of some chronic diseases

Green coffee may have health benefits other than weight loss. Chlorogenic acids present in its beans might be able to reduce the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. An eight-week study was conducted on fifty people with metabolic syndrome (people with risk factors like high blood pressure and blood sugar that increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease). They were given 400 mg of decaffeinated green coffee beans twice every day. Those who took the extract experienced significant improvements in fasting blood sugar, blood pressure, and waist circumference, compared with a control group.

Although these results are promising, still larger studies are needed.

Possible risks and side effects

It does not affect you any differently than regular coffee does. Caffeine is the culprit that is responsible for most problems that stem from drinking coffee. Both, roasted and unroasted coffee beans contain the same amount of caffeine.
Much like roasted coffee, green coffee beans naturally contain caffeine.

Although moderate caffeine intake is likely safe for most healthy people, too much could lead to negative symptoms, such as anxiety, sleep disturbances, and increased blood pressure, etc.
One cup (8 ounces) of either black or green coffee provides roughly 100 mg of caffeine, depending on the variety and brewing method.

Because a small amount of caffeine may be lost during the roasting process, green coffee may contain slightly more caffeine than black — but the difference is likely negligible.

Meanwhile, its supplements usually offer 20–50 mg per capsule, though some are decaffeinated during processing.

As with regular coffee, green coffee may cause side effects, particularly those with caffeine sensitivity. These include:

• Insomnia
• Nervousness
• Irritability
• Stomach upset
• Nausea
• Increased heart rate
• Headache
• Ringing in the ears

There is some concern that the long-term or excessive consumption of this coffee may increase the risk of homocysteinemia (the excessive buildup of the amino acid homocysteine linked to heart disease and miscarriage).

There are no known drug interactions with this type of coffee.

Dosage and Preparation

There is no standardized dosing recommendation for green coffee extracts or supplements. Insufficient data exist on it to establish clear dosing recommendations.

That said, at least one study used doses of up to 400 mg of green coffee extract twice daily, reporting no negative effects. Generally speaking, it is best to stay within the recommended dose on the product label if only to avoid side effects. If you’re considering taking this extract, consult your healthcare provider to ensure that you’re taking a safe amount.

Where to look for it?

Green coffee can be found in many natural food stores and some grocery stores. Many come in single-serve packets. Unlike regular coffee, whose aroma and flavor are the result of roasting, green coffee is almost entirely without aroma and has a slightly bitter taste.
Green coffee extracts and supplements can also be found online and in stores specializing in dietary aids. Some of the extracts are packaged as tinctures, which you take using a dropper. Others come in tablet or gel cap formulations. There can be significant differences in quality and doses between one brand and the next.

The bottom line

Green coffee refers to the raw beans of the coffee plant.

Its extract was popularized as a weight-loss supplement. It may promote healthy blood sugar and blood pressure levels, though research on its effectiveness is limited.

Few adverse effects have been reported, but its caffeine content may cause side effects.

If you’re considering adding this variant of coffee to your routine, consult your healthcare provider to make sure it’s safe for you.

You can also use the whole beans to make a hot beverage.

If you’re interested in trying this coffee or its extract, you can shop for it locally or find whole beans and supplements online.

I hope that you enjoyed this post as same as you all liked my former posts. I’ll be back with another new topic and with new content in my next post. Till then stay happy and healthy.