Green coffee is considered by many to be the healthy version of coffee. This is because it is rich in many essential antioxidants.
It has also been associated with accelerated metabolism and increased fat burning during the day. In this way, including it in the diet can represent weight loss, as well as other series of advantages.
Properties
To begin with, it is necessary to explain what green coffee is. Green coffee beans are unroasted coffee beans. Since the roasting process reduces the amounts of chlorogenic acid (a natural antioxidant), the type of coffee we are dealing with on this occasion is considered to have more benefits for people's health compared to normal coffee.
Chlorogenic acid is thought to affect blood vessels and reduce high blood pressure.. It should be noted that green coffee is also ingested to treat obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and bacterial infections.
When it comes to beauty, green coffee has been associated with increased skin elasticity. It contains compounds that can help delay the signs of aging, such as wrinkles.
However, still more studies are needed on all these uses.
Green coffee to lose weight
Some experts point out green coffee as an ally when it comes to losing weight. It has even been stated that eating this food is enough to lose weight, not being necessary to combine it with exercise or any type of diet. The secret would reside in his ability to burn fat quickly.
The person responsible for this advantage would once again be chlorogenic acid. This would affect the way the body handles blood sugar and metabolism. Taking it on an empty stomach would help speed up metabolism and burn more fat during the day.
However, many experts are not very convinced about this benefit, mainly because it has not yet been fully understood how green coffee works in the body. Furthermore, they add the caveat that its long-term effects are currently unknown. In short, it does not seem that it will replace the classic recommendations of a balanced diet and regular exercise from nutritionists. But its properties are there and can be helpful for this purpose.
How to prepare it
Preparing a cup of green coffee is quite simple if we opt for the ground variety. Whole beans take longer, but the result tends to be more satisfying for heavy coffee growers, due to their intense flavor and aroma.
Ground green coffee
You can get the green coffee already ground or grind it yourself. It should be noted that to grind it at home you need a powerful grinder, since the unroasted beans are hard.
Add the desired amount of powder to a mug and pour hot water. Let it blend for about 10 minutes before straining it.
Green coffee in whole beans
The following method results in a green coffee with a much more intense flavor. than above:
Let the beans soak overnight. The next morning, boil them over high heat in the same water.
When the water comes to a boil, let them simmer for at least 15 more minutes before removing them from the heat.
Let it cool completely, then filter the flavored water into a mug. You can add warm water until you get the desired flavor if you find it too strong.
How is it taken
Usually, green coffee is sold as a food supplement in the form of capsules and ready-made drinks. However, it is also possible to get it in grain or ground, especially in health food stores.
The appropriate dose may vary depending on the age and health of the person. who takes it. Make sure to follow the directions on the product label or, for even greater safety, consult your doctor before using it.
Contraindications
Like regular coffee, green coffee contains caffeine. So this type of coffee can have similar side effects to the first. Caffeine can cause:
- Stomach ache
- Increased heart rate
- Headache
- Agitation
- Ringing in the ears
- Irregular heartbeat
- Restlessness
- Nervousness
Also, due to its caffeine content, green coffee can worsen a variety of disorders and illnesses, including:
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Bleeding disorders
- Diabetes
- Diarrhea
- Glaucoma
- Hypertension
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Osteoporosis
For its part, consuming a high dose of chlorogenic acid in a short period of time can lead to abnormally high homocysteine levels. This fact has been associated with an increased risk of developing heart disease.
Green coffee and pregnancy
It is a good idea for pregnant or nursing women to avoid green coffee.. The reason is that there is still not enough information about the safety of this food in such cases.