Photo (c) Drazen Zigic - Getty ImagesWhile many consumers worry about their coffee intake, recent studies have found that the popular morning beverage could come with countless health benefits, including fighting obesity.
Now,
researchers at Anglia Ruskin University have found that having two to
three cups of coffee per day could help women keep off excess body fat.
“Our
research suggests that there may be bioactive compounds in coffee other
than caffeine that regulate weight which could potentially be used as
antiobesity compounds,” said
researcher Dr. Lee Smith. “It could be that coffee, or its effective
ingredients, could be integrated into a healthy diet strategy to reduce
the burden of chronic conditions related to the obesity epidemic.”
Health benefits of caffeine
To
understand what health benefits consumers can reap from coffee, the
researchers evaluated responses to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention’s (CDC’s) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
They looked specifically at how coffee consumption affected consumers’
trunk fat and overall body fat.
Overall, greater coffee
consumption was linked with a reduction in body fat, but more
significant changes were seen in women than in men.
The
researchers learned that body fat was nearly three percent lower
overall for women who drank two to three cups of coffee per day, but
older women benefitted even more from the extra boost of caffeine. For
those in the 45-69 year-old age group, having two to three coffees each
day was linked with over four percent lower body fat, whereas for
younger women, body fat was lowered by roughly 3.5 percent.
The
study also found that it didn’t matter whether the participants drank
decaf or fully caffeinated coffee, as the results remained consistent.
Because
caffeine affects everyone differently, it’s important that consumers to
know how much their bodies can handle before upping their coffee intake
each day. However, for those that can manage adding an extra cup or two
each day, coffee could help maintain a healthy weight.
Kristen Dalli is a New York native and recent
graduate of Marist College. She has worked as a writer and editor for
several different companies and publications, including Thought Catalog,
The Oddysey, Thomas Greco Publishing, and several travel blogs.
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