The relationship between coffee and weight loss attracts attention

The "coffee loophole" diet trend rises, and the relationship between coffee and weight loss draws attention.

According to a report by Scientific American magazine on August 13, since the beginning of 2024, the "coffee loophole" diet trend and recipes have gradually become popular, stimulating new interest in coffee for weight loss. The "coffee loophole" refers to adding household spices or commercial supplements to coffee to enhance the weight loss effect. Ideally, the mixture is poured within 7 seconds when hunger strikes.

Coffee has become a symbol of modern urban life, and the per capita annual consumption of coffee is also increasing. However, coffee's effect on weight loss is limited. Moderate coffee consumption has moderate benefits for weight loss, but the effect is not significant. Excessive consumption can bring negative effects such as sleep difficulties and anxiety.

The principles by which coffee affects weight loss include: promoting the operation of the digestive system. Caffeine accelerates the contraction of colon muscles to stimulate defecation. It is also a diuretic that can increase urine secretion, resulting in weight loss from water. But these effects are short-lived and cannot lead to permanent weight loss. Although long-term coffee consumption does not lead to significant weight loss, it can prevent weight gain. Compared with those who do not drink coffee, people gain less weight for each cup consumed. Coffee is also associated with a small reduction in body fat and can stimulate "brown fat", whose activity helps improve blood sugar control and blood lipid levels.

The caffeine in coffee can stimulate food-induced thermogenesis, increase the metabolic rate and increase calories. Short-term studies show that 80 - 150 more calories are consumed each day, and more in the long term. Caffeine can also stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, block adenosine receptors, causing an increase in heart rate and alertness, and increase fat oxidation to break down stored fat in tissues to obtain energy. In addition, polyphenols in coffee, such as chlorogenic acid, help maintain stable blood sugar levels and may affect hormones (ghrelin) that control appetite and hunger. But evidence shows that the effect of coffee on appetite and hunger varies from person to person.

Frank Hu, the director of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said that coffee has moderate benefits for weight loss, but don't expect to lose weight significantly by drinking a lot of coffee.

Pay attention to the amount and type of coffee consumed. Although long-term coffee consumption has benefits, not everyone is suitable for increasing the intake due to these effects. Consuming more than about 400 milligrams of caffeine per day may cause problems such as sleep difficulties. The sugar, cream and other flavorings that people often add can offset the weight loss benefits of black coffee. Different types of coffee have different effects on health. Decaffeinated coffee and ground coffee are beneficial for cardiovascular health, while instant coffee is not as effective, and instant coffee may shorten telomere length.