Caffeine May Help You Lose Weight
By Randi Morse
Struggling with obesity is difficult, quite often people find that they have a very difficult time losing weight and getting healthy. A new study is showing that there may be hope for people who are struggling with weight gain. As amazing as it sounds, the study is showing that there is a good chance that caffeine could help offset some of the more unhealthy consequences of a diet that is considered to be obesity-inducing.
The study was completed at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Scientists gave rats a diet that was high in sugar and high in fat. They gave one group of rats caffeine that was extracted from tea while giving the other rats decaffeinated tea. They discovered that the rats in the caffeine group experienced a 16 percent less weight gain and a 22 percent less body fat gain than those who had the decaffeinated tea.The study took place for 28 days and the amount of caffeine the rats were given equals what humans would ingest from having about four cups of coffee a day.
Yerba Mate Tea
The caffeine extracted that was given to the rats came from yerba mate tea. Yerba mate tea has become very popular in South America due to its reputation as being a protective barrier against conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Scientists also tested to see if different types of caffeine would affect genes that connect to obesity. They discovered that all three of the types of caffeine they tested, caffeine from yerba mate, caffeine from traditional coffee, and synthetic caffeine, altered the genes considerably.
Drinking More Caffeine
So what does this study tell us about the connection between caffeine and obesity? There is still a lot of testing to be done, but so far research is showing that individuals who struggle with obesity but drink healthy caffeine may be able to help push back the effects of obesity. Keep in mind that the caffeine the rats were given did not contain any sugar, so in order to get the true effects of caffeine that you would need to have something like yerba mate tea without adding any sweeteners. As always, it is a good idea to contact your physician before dramatically changing your diet. Adding a few cups of yerba mate tea to your daily routine should be fine for most people, but if you are unsure if you will have any reaction to the tea, it doesn't hurt to contact your doctor.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Santa Rosa, Calif.