This article answers the question is black coffee good for weight loss and looks at the health benefits of black coffee.
As I’m sure you know, coffee contains caffeine. Few amongst us haven’t reached for a cup of coffee or energy drink when we’ve felt the need for a boost.
Research shows that the effects are real and can even improve training performance.
In fact, until 2004, the World Anti-Doping Agency tested Olympic competitors for caffeine, which is classified as performance-enhancing. While it is now allowed, there is a cap on the amount officials consider acceptable.
Along with boosting energy, research reveals that caffeine can improve muscle contraction due to it stimulating the central nervous system.
A study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology revealed that it could also increase muscle glycogen – the body’s stored sugar that fuels exercise – by approximately 66%, enabling them to recover faster.
It can also accelerate fat loss during intense workouts.
These findings indicate that black coffee is good for weight loss when combined with a low-calorie diet and regular exercise.
Keep reading to learn more ways black coffee is good for weight loss, but first, we will look at the health benefits of black coffee.
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Black Coffee Health Benefits
While it sometimes gets a bad rap, there are some significant black coffee health benefits.
Black coffee is rich in antioxidants, magnesium, and vitamin B2, and it contains a small amount of potassium.
It has zero carbs, fat, cholesterol, sodium, and sugar. Depending on the type of coffee, it will contain 1 or 2 calories per cup. And if decaf is your thing, you’ll be pleased to know it has no calories.
However, the sugar, artificial cream, and syrups we sometimes add are unhealthy. These lack nutritional benefits and can also add a whopping 700 calories to your cup of java.
Drinking your coffee this way defeats the purpose of increasing your intake of caffeine to help with weight loss. A splash of skim milk is acceptable.
Following are some more health benefits attributed to black coffee when drunk in moderation:
Research indicates that coffee drinkers have a 16% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s than non-coffee drinkers.
Being antioxidant-rich, black coffee may be helpful for the prevention of some cancers, including liver, colorectal, prostate, and oral cancers.
Studies also show that coffee can significantly lower the risk of cirrhosis of the liver in alcohol and non-alcohol drinkers.
Coffee may help improve mood and lower the risk of depression.
Research shows that people who regularly drink coffee have a lower risk for type 2 diabetes.
It may help prevent Parkinson’s Disease, particularly for anyone not taking an estrogen replacement.
Does Coffee Promote Weight Loss?
More ways Black Coffee is Good for Weight Loss
Caffeine consumption may boost the metabolism and thus burn more calories. This process is known as thermogenesis. 
Digesting food utilizes thermogenesis because our bodies use energy (calories) to digest food.
Caffeine may help with lipolysis, this being the breakdown of fat. And it’s thought to be an appetite suppressant.
When consumed after a meal, the chlorogenic acid in black coffee delays glucose production and reduces the formation of new fat cells.
Another reason black coffee is good for weight loss is due to its diuretic effect that flushes out excess fluid. This can result in weight loss, albeit temporarily.
As with most things, moderation is key. Try 100mg to 200mg of caffeine thirty minutes or so before training and see if this increases your energy level, enabling you to put in more effort.
Two or three cups of black coffee a day are fine for most people. This will burn approximately 150 calories over a day.
Don’t go overboard. If you’ve ever had more caffeine than usual, you may have experienced unwanted side effects, including shakiness and jitters, difficulty sleeping, and an increased heart rate.
While the increased heart rate can be good for weight loss, the other negative-side effects are unpleasant.
If you don’t like coffee, you can take caffeine pills or a pre-workout supplement containing caffeine. Just be sure to read the label before purchasing to make sure it isn’t too high in caffeine.
My Take on Whether Black Coffee Is Good for Weight Loss
So is black coffee good for weight loss?
I’m not a scientist or a dietician, but here is my take on it:
Drinking black coffee without modifying your diet and increasing your level of physical activity will not result in significant weight loss.
However, the boost in energy caffeine supplies can enable you to put more effort into your workouts and burn more calories. This can ultimately help you shed your excess pounds faster.
Click here to read an article on green coffee bean extract’s benefits for weight loss and health.
Are you looking for more easy ways to burn calories?
If so, you may like this article on fat-burning foods that promote effortless fat loss and this one on how to use non-exercise activity thermogenesis for weight loss.
