Drinking coffee can help fight obesity
Caffeine, the main active ingredient in coffee, could help burn calories by stimulating the release of oxytocin, a hormone that affects both appetite and metabolism. This is the conclusion reached by researchers in China: their research was published on Tuesday 27 in the scientific journalNature(1).
About Caffeine
The level of caffeine in your cup of coffee will depend largely on the type of coffee you drink: filter coffee, pod coffee, capsule coffee, etc. For 100ml of coffee, count 50mg of caffeine for filter coffee, and 150mg for capsule coffee.
For an adult, it is generally recommended not to exceed 400mg of caffeine per day (for pregnant women, this figure is lowered to a maximum of 200mg of caffeine per day).
Nevertheless, the researchers’ experiments revealed that mice fed (very) high doses of caffeinelost weight and ate less. This even made the mice more active (the mice were spinning on a wheel).
The scientists said the findings could lead in the medium to long term to the creation of acaffeine-based anti-obesity pill.
Explanation of the phenomenon
Professor Guo Zhang, from Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Wuhan, China), said: “Administration of caffeine suppresses appetite, increases energy expenditure and reduces body weight in mouse obesity through diet.”
Professor Zhang and his colleagues said that drinking coffee has already been linked to weight loss, but the reasons remained a mystery (we had already published on the subject, including in April 2014at this address).
Caffeine, in both humans and mice, affects what is calledadenosine. Adenosine is a substance released by neurons. This substance plays a fundamental role in the production of sleep and energy because it is partly “because of” adenosine that your nervous state slows down, and you want to sleep. However, drinking coffee can “counter” this substance.
When caffeine was given to the mice in large doses, they blocked their adenosine receptors in an area of the brain called the hypothalamus (the central regulator of energy balance in mammals). This blockagethen triggers the release of oxytocin. And this is good because this hormone (oxytocin) helps with weight loss.
Professor Zhang said, “Consumption of caffeine, one of the active ingredients in coffee, tea and soft drinks, has been linked to long-term reductions in body weight gain, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown.«
The mouse experiment lasted two weeks. At the end, the weight of the obese mice was considerably reduced, just as the tolerance to glucose was improved.
Professor Zhang said: “We found that caffeine significantly reduced food intake and increased physical exertion in obese mice. ”
Nevertheless, the researchers used particularly high doses since 60mg/kg of caffeine was injected into the mice every day. This would be the equivalent, in humans, to between 24 and 36 cups of coffee!So much more work is needed to turn this into real therapy .
Researchers have gone so far as to say that caffeine can help maintain the correct BMI (Body Mass Index, calculate yours here ) and live longer.
Protection against cancer
The study also revealed that drinking a cup of coffee a day had particularly beneficialEffects on hepatocellular cancer (primary liver cancer): drinking a cup of coffee a day reduces the risk of developing this cancer.
Hindsight and precautions to take
However, we must also not forget that daily coffee consumption also has negative effects on health: insomnia, anxiety, palpitations and increased risk of bone decalcification and also see an increased risk of a myocardial fracture dear some individuals .
Too much caffeine is also bad for the liver and can lead to depressive behavior.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.