There’s already evidence that coffee has wide-ranging health benefits, such as reducing your risk of liver disease, clogged arteries, skin cancer, colorectal cancer, Parkinson’s, heart disease and diabetes.
There’s even a study that found those who regularly drank a cup of coffee each day had a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia later in life.
Ask any coffee drinker and they’ll most likely tell you that the first cup of the day is one of the more satisfying moments in life.
But if you needed another reason to drink coffee, how does the phrase ‘weight loss’ inspire you? Because even if you are not predisposed to a cup of joe, you may be about to change your mind.
Read: How to make your coffee healthier
Former NBC Nightly News and 60 Minutes medical correspondent Bob Arnot experimented with coffee to find out its maximum benefits.
He’s found a plethora of promising reasons for coffee drinkers to justify every cup, as well as motivation for those who don’t already drink it.
His studies revealed that coffee contains disease and fat-fighting antioxidants called phenols.
Dr Arnot says his ‘coffee cleanse’ has treated health issues ranging from eczema to type 2 diabetes and has also helped people lose up to 22 kilos in 50 days.
National institutes of health studies have identified phenols as key to coffee’s many health benefits, and after learning that no such data existed, Dr Arnot set out to discover which beans had the highest amount of phenols.
Read: Five surprising benefits of coffee
Working with chemists at a Vermont lab, he systematically ranked hundreds of beans and found that lighter roasts have the highest concentration of phenols.
“Dark roasting destroys phenols,” said Dr Arnot, saying that lighter roasts, or ‘lean roasts’, are higher in phenols, meaning they contain more slimming compounds.
Phenols encourage short-term bursts of calorie burning, with stimulants found in a single cup of caffeinated coffee enough to increase metabolism by an extra 75-100 calories a day.
Read: Is coffee good for you?
Phenols also reduce your level of insulin – a hormone that blocks fat burning and decreases the formation of new fat.
One specific type of phenol can reduce your absorption of carbs, while another decreases absorption of dietary fat.
“It’s a phenomenal boost to weight loss!” said Dr Arnot.
“I suspect it’s the reason people instinctively reach for coffee after a rich meal.”
So, if you’re in the market for a new diet drink, best pop on the kettle or head to your local café!
