Most people think coffee is bad for you.
After all, anything that’s addictive can’t possibly be good for you, right?
Not so fast…
Just because caffeine is addictive doesn’t mean that coffee is bad for you.
In fact, there are lots of ways coffee can support a healthy lifestyle, including to help you lose weight. And after reviewing the evidence, we think coffee might just be the most powerful weight loss elixir on the planet!
But only if you drink it the right way. More on that in a moment…
First, let’s review the 4 reasons why coffee is the bee’s knees for shedding pounds.
When you hear “good” fat, you might think of butter or coconut oil.
That’s not what I’m talking about.
Instead, I’m referring to brown fat — one of the two types of fat found in humans. Unlike white fat, which comes from storing excess calories, brown fat actually helps you BURN fat.
It does this by burning calories to generate body heat.
And studies have shown that lean people have more brown fat, while obese people have less brown fat.
Which makes sense, right?
It’s one of the reasons scientists suspect some people can easily stay lean while others can’t help but gain weight no matter what they do.
Well, in a recent study at the University of Nottingham, researchers found one cup of coffee was enough to stimulate the body’s brown fat reserves, leading to more calories burned!
As you’ll see, this is just one of the ways coffee can help you expend more energy.
Coffee can also help increase your basal metabolic rate (BMR). This is a measure of how many calories your body burns at rest.
But that’s not the only way coffee can boost metabolism, either…
Coffee also directly increases your fat oxidation, meaning it forces your body to break down and metabolize more stored fat for fuel.
One study of men and women over 70 found that drinking one cup of coffee before an hour-long cycling workout led to a major increase fat oxidation.
So, if you’re looking to squeeze a little more out of your workouts, carve out some time to have a cup of Joe before you head out.
Because caffeine is a stimulant, it comes as no surprise that coffee also gives you more endurance.
That means you can push yourself harder and for longer when you exercise.
And the best part?
This added endurance seems to kick in no matter what type of exercise you do! It’s been observed in clinical studies with test subjects performing aerobic exercise (like jogging), anaerobic exercise (like high intensity intervals, or H.I.I.T) and even strength training.
Bottom line is, coffee can help you get the most out of your workouts in more ways than one.
The most surprising benefit of drinking coffee?
It can increase your testosterone levels by up to 12%!
And whether you’re a man or a woman, testosterone is important for burning fat and maintaining muscle mass. Especially as you age.
So there you have it…
4 reasons why coffee might just be the most effective weight loss elixir on the planet.
But not all coffee is made equal.
And if you’re drinking coffee the WRONG way, you’re missing out on all of its fat-burning benefits.
So let’s talk about…
Take a look around at your local coffee shop, and you’ll see all kinds of fancy coffee drinks.
The only problem?
Most of them are loaded with so much fat and sugar that they’re more like a milkshake than a coffee!
Take a look at the Starbucks menu, for example, and you’ll see some options, like the Cinnamon Dolce and Cocoa Cloud Macchiato, have almost 50 grams of carbs in them:
That’s like having two pieces of buttered toast — except in liquid form!
So, are these drinks tasty?
You bet.
But none of the benefits listed above apply to drinks like these. The sheer amount of fat and sugar in them will quickly override any of coffee’s natural weight loss benefits.
So, here’s the trick:
In order to take advantage of coffee’s full fat-burning power…
Avoid adding milk, sugar, or cream to your coffee.
Instead, take it black with a calorie-free sweetener.
It may take a little while to get used to it, but once you do, you can rest easy knowing that cup of Joe is actively helping you keep the weight off.
Plus, you might find you can enjoy a steaming hot cup of coffee even more once you can actually taste the blend!
One last tip…
Buy organic coffee whenever possible This ensures you avoid any GMOs and pesticides, which is always a good idea when it comes to optimizing your health.
Now, we want to know where YOU stand.
Will you keep taking your coffee with milk and sugar? Or did this article change your mind?
Comment below and let us know what you think!
References
1. Mapping of human brown adipose tissue in lean and obese young men https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5559032/
2. Could coffee be the secret to fighting obesity? https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/06/190624111622.htm
3. Caffeine: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of its thermogenic, metabolic, and cardiovascular effects in healthy volunteers. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2333832
4. Metabolic Effects Of Caffeine Ingestion And Physical Work In 75-year Old Citizens. A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Cross-over Study https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16886964
5. Caffeine https://examine.com/supplements/caffeine/
6. Caffeinated Chewing Gum Increases Repeated Sprint Performance And Augments Increases In Testosterone In Competitive Cyclists. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20737165
doodles
April 24, 2021 at 6:22 am
I do find this helpful. I am hooked on the Instamix by Bulletproof but will change my routine to black coffee initially, power walk, then later4 my BP coffee.
Chaz Shively
April 26, 2021 at 10:38 am
That’s perfect, Tamara!
Todd Wissler
April 24, 2021 at 7:46 am
Thanks for an informative article. First question: to get the fat-burning effects should I drink coffee on an empty stomach? If so, how long should I wait until eating?
Second question: if I drink it before exercising how long should I wait to begin working out?
Third question: I do drink organic coffee. To get the full effects of its fat-burning and antioxidant benefits is it best to buy it in whole bean form and grind it myself instead of buying it after it has been ground possibly months before causing the benefits to have dissipated by the time I drink it?
Chaz Shively
April 26, 2021 at 10:54 am
You bet. It shouldn’t matter if you’re drinking coffee on an empty stomach or not. For exercising, test out what works for you. If you drink to close to exercise, you could get jitters…or could feel great! Great you’re getting organic coffee…and it shouldn’t matter if you grind the coffee or it’s pre-ground. Thanks!
Mike Hannan
April 24, 2021 at 10:13 am
I already drink black coffee and rarely more than one cup (these days) but I have no idea if it’s organic or not. I’m proud if any comment I make helps you to do this with out some 40 minute video and “must buy something” Thank you.
Chaz Shively
April 24, 2021 at 4:23 pm
Awesome. Slightly better if it’s organic, but likely not a huge deal either way. Glad you like our articles!
JBrading
April 24, 2021 at 11:17 am
I don’t know… I do like my coffee strong but completely black EEEKKK! That’s not enjoyable. Maybe three times a week to try it out but I can’t take away the joy of drinking my cafe’ forever. So here’s how I enjoy my coffee; how bad is it? Strong, with 1 sugar and cream (sometimes half a cream. Go ahead, let me have it.
Chaz Shively
April 24, 2021 at 4:22 pm
You know, a bit of cream is no problem…and a touch of sugar probably won’t hurt much if it’s not much 😉
Debra
April 24, 2021 at 4:43 pm
I drink it black, maybe I should drink a cup a day
Chaz Shively
April 26, 2021 at 10:37 am
Perfect!
Robert Taylor
April 8, 2023 at 5:28 pm
At 85 years of age, having drank one cup of Starbucks French Roast Cafe Negra (NO additives at all), I maintain my BMI at normal levels.
I walk along our waterfront every morning, after my coffee for 1.5 hours.
I have never tested for high BP, Heart issues, Diabetes, Lung or Cancer issues etc. as I have never smoked in my life, consumed alcohol to any extreme and I have always been physically active.
As well I have always been upbeat and happy.
Both sets of grandparents and my parents lived into their mid 80s hence, I expect I will live another 10 to 15 years.
Chaz Shively
April 9, 2023 at 8:04 am
So great, Robert!