Is Coffee the Answer to Weight Loss?

One of the most common questions that dieters ask themselves is, is coffee the answer to weight loss? There have been plenty of buzzes lately about how drinking coffee can speed up your metabolism and help you burn more calories, as well as increase your energy levels and make you feel more awake. However, some people are concerned that drinking coffee will dehydrate them and lead to excessive bathroom trips. This article takes a detailed look at how coffee affects your weight.

Can caffeine help lose weight?

Firstly, we need to know that there is a small amount of brown adipose tissue in the human body, mainly located in the neck, clavicle, kidney, and spinal cord. Brown adipose tissue, also called brown fat, is unique body fat activated when cold. Brown fat produces heat to help maintain your body temperature in cold conditions. Only ten grams of this tissue can account for one-fifth of the daily basal metabolic rate.

Caffeine is the "engine" in brown fat that burns calories to produce heat. Just a cup of coffee can increase calorie burning and reduce weight.

Is there a limit for caffeine intake?

A daily intake of caffeine between 300 mg and 400 mg is safe for the average healthy person, equivalent to 3-4 cups of coffee. However, patients with heart disease and high blood pressure should pay attention to the intake. It is recommended to control the amount below 2 cups (200 mg) per day. At the same time, you should not consume more than 200 mg of caffeine per day during pregnancy. Because caffeine itself can pass through the placenta and enter the fetal blood circulation system. Therefore, it is necessary to control the intake so as not to cause an additional burden on the baby's heart and liver and increase the risk of miscarriage.

In addition to coffee, can tea also increase the calorie-burning effect?

Various teas, such as Greentea, Longjing, and Oolong tea, can burn fat and increase metabolism. Catechins can reduce fat oxidation and inflammation in the body and reduce the risk of the fatty liver caused by obesity. Fermented teas, such as black tea, are less irritating to the stomach and are suitable for people with weaker gastrointestinal tracts.

But it must be noted that many tea products on the market have added sugar. Your selection will offset the effect of caffeine in increasing metabolism directly. Therefore, it is recommended to select sugar-free products. 

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