Caffeine is one of the main ingredients found in weight-loss products. It's a central nervous system stimulant that boosts energy and alertness. Caffeine intake might also boost your metabolism, or the rate at which your body burns calories.
Fat Oxidation
Increasing your caffeine intake may boost weight loss, especially from your abdominal region, according to a study performed by researchers at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. They discovered that habitual caffeine consumers reduced their fat mass and waist circumference compared with low caffeine consumers. High caffeine intake increased fat oxidation, or fat burning, according to findings reported in the July 2005 issue of "Obesity Research."
Thermogenesis
Thermogenesis is the conversion of energy into heat in your body. This process increases calorie burning and raises your metabolism. Scientists from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark assigned participants one of the following: 500 mg of green tea extract, 400 mg of tyrosine, 50 mg of caffeine or a placebo. Researchers reported in the January 2009 issue of the "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition" that only the caffeine group experienced increases in thermogenesis.
Caffeine and Exercise
Ingesting caffeine prior to exercise might not increase your metabolism. Researchers at the University of Guelph in Canada assigned young men caffeine or a placebo before the men performed one hour of resistance exercise. They discovered that caffeine intake didn't alter carbohydrate or fat metabolism in muscle tissue during exercise compared with a placebo. The findings were reported in the December 2000 issue of "Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism."
Side Effects
Although caffeine might increase your metabolism, excess caffeine intake can lead to an array of symptoms, including insomnia and irritability, according to MayoClinic.com. If you experience any of these symptoms, cut back on your caffeine intake. Consult your health care provider before consuming caffeine for the first time, especially if you're taking medications.
References
- "Obesity Research"; Body Weight Loss and Weight Maintenance in Relationship to Habitual Caffeine Intake and Green Tea Supplementation; M.S. Westerterp, et al.; July 2005
- "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; The Effect of Caffeine, Green Tea and Tyrosine on Thermogenesis and Energy Intake; A. Belza, et al.; January 2009
- "Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism"; Does Caffeine Alter Muscle Carbohydrate and Fat Metabolism During Exercise?; T.E. Graham, et al.; December 2008
- MayoClinic.com; Caffeine: How Much Is Too Much?; March 2011
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