Drinking Black Coffee: Weight Loss

Drinking Black Coffee: Weight Loss
Photo Credit cup of black coffee image by Bartlomiej Nowak from Fotolia.com

If you take your coffee black you may speed up your weight loss efforts, along with your energy. Avoiding sugary flavorings in your coffee that are packed with saturated fat and simple carbohydrates such as syrups and powders allows you to receive optimal weight loss benefits from your cup of Joe. The caffeine in coffee that provides you with an extra burst of energy is also the reason for coffee's weight loss contributions.

Appetite Suppression

Coffee temporarily suppresses your appetite, which can benefit weight loss by alleviating cravings for foods that are harmful to diets and health such as fast food, sugary desserts and salty snacks such as chips. It can also be beneficial for women who experience an increase in appetite during premenstrual syndrome. Also, if you are an emotional over-eater, it can help suppress your desire to over-consume when you're not even hungry. Coffee is not a permanent weight loss solution, however, and you should not consume more than 600 mg of caffeine in a day. Coffee generally contains approximately 95 mg to 200 mg of caffeine in an 8-oz serving.

Diuretic

Black coffee contains enough caffeine to have diuretic effects on your body, which can lead to short-term, overall weight loss, according to Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D., at MayoClinic.com. Caffeine stimulates urine output, which increases the amount of fluid your body releases throughout the day. This can be particularly beneficial for people who experience constipation or bloating after eating and drinking certain products. Make sure to consume plenty of water with your coffee to avoid dehydration.

Calorie Burning

Black coffee can increase the amount of calories you burn per minute in more than one way. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, which speeds up your metabolic rate helping your burn more calories whether your sprinting or sitting. It also increases the amount of calories your body burns while generating energy and heat from digesting food, or thermogensis. Additionally, if you feel sluggish or fatigued, coffee provides a boost in energy levels, which you can utilize to burn even more calories by getting in an extra few workouts per week. Weight loss is achieved by burning more calories than you take in, so coffee can increase your calories burned. If you have pre-existing heart problems or high blood pressure, ask your doctor if you can consume caffeine before workouts, because it can increase or cause abnormal heart rate.

Warning

Do not overindulge in coffee, because it can lead to potential psychological side effects such as irritability, anxiety, nervousness and insomnia. It can also cause physical side effects, including headache, muscle tremors and stomach upset. Just as coffee brings your energy up, it can also cause a crash in energy, so be careful not to over-consume when you experience a crash in an attempt to keep bringing your energy levels back up.

References

Article reviewed by GlennK Last updated on: May 12, 2011

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