By John Raven
Pure green coffee bean extract is made from the raw beans, or seeds, that are contained within the red berries of the coffee plant. In normal production, these are roasted prior to going on sale, giving the traditional beverage. The extract, however, is prepared from beans that have not been roasted, in order to preserve certain essential compounds. There has been an explosion of interest in this preparation in recent years, due to its usefulness as a slimming aid and to its antioxidant properties.
The high levels of caffeine found in the normal drink account for its use as an aid to achieving weight loss. It acts as a stimulant that helps burn up calories through greater physical and mental activity, but many people are concerned about its side effects. The beneficial effects of the green beans are not due to caffeine, which is present in much smaller quantities, but to another natural compound.
The active ingredient is thought to be chlorogenic acid. Despite the name, this compound does not contain chlorine. The name comes from an ancient Greek word meaning "green", and refers to the green color the acid produces when undergoing certain chemical reactions. Roasting the beans destroys chlorogenic acid, which is why normal coffee does not provide the same benefits.
The strong antioxidant properties of chlorogenic acid are well documented. Antioxidants help to suppress oxidation reactions, which, when they take place in the body, can produce harmful free radicals. These are implicated in the aging process and their interactions with DNA can cause cells to become cancerous. Thus chlorogenic acid may help to counteract the effects of aging and prevent the development of cancer.
Most of the recent flurry of interest in green coffee beans has been due to their ability to reduce body fat and help with weight loss. At least one clinical study found a significant effect. Two groups of volunteers, one taking the extract and one taking a placebo, were studied over a number of weeks. At the end of the study the group taking the extract were found to have experienced an average weight loss of 16%.
So how does it work? It seems that chlorogenic acid slows down the rate at which glucose is released from the food we eat. Glucose is a simple sugar that is produced by the breakdown of more complex carbohydrate molecules. It provides the body with energy, but when energy requirements are low it is converted to fat. In other words, carbohydrate intake needs to be balanced by exercise to use up the glucose before it turns to fat. Chlorogenic acid makes this easier by reducing the rate at which glucose is produced.
Chlorogenic acid may have some additional health benefits. It appears to help the body burn up fat more quickly by stimulating liver metabolism. There is also evidence that it helps to stabilize blood sugar levels.
Pure green coffee bean extract is made by soaking raw beans rather than roasting them. This ensures that the active ingredients are not destroyed. The extract can be purchased online in capsule form.