You might want to think again before ordering your next double espresso, that’s at least according to a 12-week study recently published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
Kevin D. Croft, PhD, co-author of the study and researcher at The University of Western Australia School of Medicine and Pharmacology remarks: “Our hypothesis was that the coffee compound would reduce weight gain and improve insulin sensitivity, clearly this is not the case.”
This statement is based on the study which examined three groups of mice, the first of which were fed their usual diet, the second a high-fat diet, and the third a high-fat diet also containing high doses of chlorogenic acid or CGA, which is an antioxidant found in coffee.
Throughout the duration of the study, the mice who ate the high-fat diet without the CGA showed far healthier readings, greatly contrasted by the mice who were fed the high-fat diet with the CGA; these mice exhibited increased insulin resistance, glucose sensitivity, and subsequent fat gain, all of which are precursors to type 2 diabetes.
It is important to note that the doses of CGA these mice were being fed are equivalent to around five or six cups of coffee every day.
Lower doses of CGA have actually been shown to prevent weight gain and increase insulin resistance so don’t worry, you won’t have to kick your coffee habit just yet!
If you want to get the most out of coffee without the possible negative side effects, consider limiting your intake to just two or three cups or 16-24 oz a day; this will be more than enough to provide you with around 200mg of caffeine to carry you through your day, and will also give you a hefty dose of antioxidants.
Please note, this is just a general guideline and can vary significantly from person to person depending on your sensitivity to caffeine, your body mass, and your current body fat levels.
If you ever begin to feel “jittery” sensations of anxiety or a feeling of tightness in your chest, or if you experience digestive discomfort while drinking coffee, you should stop drinking immediately and call it a day. ')}
