People who take supplements made with green – unroasted – coffee beans can lose a substantial amount of weight in a short period of time, researchers have found.
In a study presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society, researchers from the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania reported obese and overweight people who ate only “a fraction of an ounce of ground green coffee beans” lost 10 percent of their body weight in about six months.
"Based on our results, taking multiple capsules of green coffee extract a day — while eating a low-fat, healthful diet and exercising regularly — appears to be a safe, effective, inexpensive way to lose weight," said lead researcher Joe Vinson.
The study involved 16 people in their 20s who took capsules of the extract for 22 weeks. The study participants were monitored to be sure their overall diet and exercise habits did not change.
Researchers found participants lost an average of 17 pounds during the course of the study -- a 10.5 percent decrease in overall body weight and a 16 percent decrease in body fat.
Vinson said green coffee beans' effects likely are due to a substance called chlorogenic acid that is present in unroasted coffee beans.