Green Coffee Bean Extract: Does it work? Is it safe?

Over the years we have seen dozens of ‘miracle’ weight loss supplements come and go, including bitter orange, chromium picolinate, CLA, hoodia, yerba mate, raspberry ketones, and now green coffee bean extract. Each has been touted as an effortless way to shed pounds, by either boosting metabolism, mobilizing body fat or suppressing appetite.

You may have seen green coffee extract at Starbucks, promoted as a natural energy source with no coffee flavour. It was also featured recently on The Dr. Oz Show. On his program, the doc revealed the results of his own investigation, which involved recruiting 100 women who either received a placebo or a 400 mg green coffee bean supplement.

The ladies were instructed to make no changes to their diets and after two weeks, those who had taken the green coffee bean extract lost an average of two pounds, compared to one pound for the placebo group.

So, what exactly is green coffee bean extract? Does it really work? And is it safe. Green coffee beans are actually the green seeds inside the bright red berry. Roasting them turns the seeds brown and creates the characteristic aroma and flavour that coffee gives. To create green coffee bean extract, the seeds are left unroasted. Instead they’re soaked and then concentrated to create the extract.

When coffee seeds or beans are roasted, their antioxidant levels increase, however one natural substance called chlorogenic acid decreases. This chemical is thought to block fat accumulation, boost weight loss, curb carb absorption, and help regulate post meal blood sugar levels.

In a study done at the University of Scranton in January 2012, they carried out a double blind, placebo controlled, cross over study of 16 overweight adults, between the ages of 22 and 46 that were given varying doses of Pure Green Coffee Bean Extract (700mg and 1050mg) and matching placebos over a 22 week duration. Subjects were not asked to change their diet or exercise patterns.
At the end of the 22 week study, subjects who took the Green Coffee Bean Extract lost an average of 17 pounds, which is roughly 10.5 % of their body weight and 16 % of their body fat. Of particular interest was the fact that both the low dose green coffee bean extract and high dose green coffee bean extract groups lost weight.

As to whether green coffee bean extract works, the jury still appears to be out. The study was criticized because it involved such a small number of subjects only 16 and it was funded by a green coffee bean extract manufacturer. An independent analysis of three randomized clinical trials that included a total of 142 participants concluded that the effect of green coffee extract is only moderate at best, and the studies were poorly conducted.

As regards the study carried out by Dr. Oz, the women lost 1 extra pound over those who took the placebo over a two week period, which is interesting but maybe not enough to warrant taking the pills.

The other factor to consider is how safe are they. Unfortunately there is no standardization when it comes to these supplements. In other words, manufacturers don’t have to follow a specific formula, so one green coffee extract product could be made completely differently than another. And one brand could contain significantly more caffeine than the bottle next to it. That is a concern because concentrated doses of caffeine can cause headaches, GI upset, nervousness, insomnia, anxiety, ringing in the ears, and irregular heart beat, or even more serious problems in some people.

In addition, using caffeine based weight loss supplements and then stopping them has also been associated with withdrawal symptoms including headache, fatigue, depression, trouble concentrating, nervousness, muscle tension, and a flushed face. Caffeine based supplements can also react with other prescription medications such as diabetes, blood pressure and anti-depression drugs.

Clearly, despite some positive results, the jury is still out on green coffee bean extract. However there are weight loss aids available such as the prescription only Xenical and the newly released XLS-Medical, both of which are clinically proven to aid weight loss in conjunction with a reduced fat diet and exercise.

Great news for dieters as XLS-Medical becomes available

This month sees the release of the fat-binding weight loss aid, XLS-Medical. Many of us will have seen the advertising campaign on TV, however, is XLS-Medical worth considering. Previously XLS-Medical was only available from Boots and Lloyd’s pharmacy; however it has now been made available for general release. This can only be good news for the public because with more companies supplying it, the competition will be sure to bring the price down.

So what exactly is XLS-Medical? What does it contain? How does it work? Is it safe and most importantly does it work? XLS-Medical Fat Binder is a proven weight management aid which comes in tablet form. It can support weight loss efforts as it binds dietary fats in the stomach, preventing that fat from being absorbed by the body. XLS-Medical does this by absorbing the fat molecules to form a fat fibre complex. The fat fibre complex is too large to be absorbed and so is eliminated naturally in your stools when you go to the toilet.

XLS-Medical Fat Binder contains the clinically proven fat binder Litramine and essential fat soluble vitamins A, D and E. These added vitamins help compensate for the loss of fat soluble vitamins from the body. This loss can occur because you are reducing the amount of fat your body absorbs. XLS-Medical Fat Binder has been proven to bind up to 27.4% of fats from food before it replenishes the body with fat soluble vitamins.

The proven weight loss results are compelling in their own right, but it may also be useful to know that XLS-Medical Fat Binder is both gentle on the system, and also has an established safety profile, making it a very helpful weight management tool. It is unusual to experience any side effects. Eleven million packs of XLS-Medical have been sold to date in Europe, with no reported safety issues. Because of the way XLS-Medical works, it does not interfere with the body’s natural workings.

The recommendation for weight loss using XLS-Medical is to adopt a reduced calorie, lower fat diet in addition to regular exercise and to take 2 tablets 3 times a day after meals, with up to 6 tablets taken per day. The NHS suggests that people should aim for sensible weight loss, which is between one and two pounds (0.5 to 1 kilogram) per week. It is also recommended that people monitor their body mass index (BMI) and aim to remain within the healthy range of BMI, which is between 18.5 and 24.9.

XLS-Medical has been clinically proven to aid weight loss. If you consume 500 calories a day fewer than the recommended intake, exercise and take XLS-Medical according to the instructions, you should find that, after 12 weeks, you will have lost significantly more weight than you would have done through dropping calories and increasing exercise alone. This was the result shown in a recent clinical trial under strictly controlled conditions and involving 125 healthy volunteers.

In addition to this XLS-Medical provide an online support programme called ‘123 Hello Me’ which offers:  An interactive weight loss and BMI tracker, which will help you chart your progress and stay motivated, Regular reminders to take your tablets sent straight to your phone and daily hints, tips and encouragement from your personal virtual coach.

The information has been especially designed to be easy to understand and includes meal plans and simple exercise routines. The meal plans are based on those used in the clinical studies. They only contain everyday ingredients, so that they appeal and are useful to as many people as possible.

The 123 Hello Me programme was written by Dietician and Nutritionist Helen Bond who is a consultant dietician. She is the nutrition voice for BBC Radio Derby, a spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association and regularly contributes to the press. Helen is also fully registered with the British Dietetic Association, the Freelance Dieticians Group and the Health Professions Council.

The availability of XLS-Medical certainly looks like it is going to be an important tool in helping people lose weight. Here at Medical Specialists we have been already been helping people achieve weight loss through products such as Xenical and Alli, however now we are pleased to announce that we will be stocking XLS-Medical. Please feel free to ring or place an order online where we will be able to offer competitive prices.

Can new weight loss drugs rival Xenical

Recently, the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA), approved two new weight loss medications (Belviq and Qysmia), and America breathed a sigh of relief. While weight loss drugs have always been a topic of controversy, over the years it has become clear that their addition to the dieting efforts of many individuals, who struggle with obesity, is extremely beneficial. And with more than one third of Americans (35.7%) falling under the obese category, it is no surprise that medical alternatives to diet and exercise, are needed to counteract the issue.

New obesity treatments are needed to bridge the gap between diet and exercise and the more radical option of bariatric surgery. This is a view backed up by Dr Sue DeCotiis, New York City based Medical Internist and Weight Loss Management Specialist, who said, “While there are potential side effects with every medication, long term studies show that overweight patients do much better losing and keeping off weight, when they are prescribed a weight loss drug.”

“Weight loss medications work in conjunction with healthy eating and exercise, and offer individuals a chance at a real lifestyle change. Those who suffer from obesity often have a host of other health problems that come with the condition. These drugs can alleviate those symptoms, and the result is that many of these patients will live longer and avoid the consequences of medical problems, such as hypertension, stroke, and heart attack.”

Listed below is a description of current weight loss drugs and how they work. Previously the only option was Xenical, but now for the first time in 13 years, Doctors will have a choice of which weight loss drugs to prescribe to overweight or obese patients.

Belviq (Locaserin)

Approved by the FDA in late June of this year, this medication works by activating a receptor in the brain that helps a person to eat less and still feel full. By regulating the appetite, it lowers the likelihood of individuals overeating. It works best in patients who suffer from weight related conditions, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol. At least 47.5% of patients lost at least 5% of their body weight from the medication, as opposed to 20.3% who took a placebo during a trial study period.

Qsymia (Phentermine & Topirmate)

This combination of the drugs Phentermine (an appetite suppressant and stimulant) and Topirmate (an anticonvulsant with weight loss side effects) is the most recent of the crop of weight loss medications, that have been approved by the FDA. Drugs in this category are primarily considered appetite suppressants. With the medication producing dramatic weight loss in patients, this is one of the clearest signs of hope for those suffering from obesity related diseases. About half of the patients lost 10% of their body weight and four-fifths lost 5%.

Contrave (Bupropion & Naltrexone)

This drug that is still to be approved by the FDA, works by combining two active ingredients that have been used for over twenty years. With Bupropion initiating the weight loss, Naltrexone sustains it by preventing the body’s natural tendency to counteract efforts, to lose weight. The result of this combination is to reduce appetite and increase the body’s metabolism, giving those who are suffering from obesity related illnesses the ability to sustain continued weight loss, by addressing the portion of the brain that controls food cravings.

Xenical (Orlistat)

Xenical, which is the most established and proven of the weight loss drugs, is a lipase inhibitor. Xenical does not enter the patient’s blood stream, but works in the digestive system in the small intestine as a fat absorber. It blocks out a third of the fat in food eaten in a patient’s diet, leading to steady weight loss. Research involving 11,131 woman and 4,418 men, who had been over weight for an average of 14 years, showed that 87% lost at least 5% of total body weight, half lost at least 10%, around 20% lost more than 15% body weight and some patients lost more than 25%.

Only time will tell which of these weight loss drugs is the most successful. Unfortunately here in the UK Belviq is not expected to be released until 2013 and there has been no UK release date as yet for Qsymia and Contrave. However all is not lost as here in the UK we still have Xenical available, which has a proven track record for assisting weight loss. Here at Medical Specialists Pharmacy we can dispense Xenical after an online consultation with one of our doctors and as soon as these other weight loss drugs become available, we will be offering them. Check our news section for further updates.

Is food addiction contributing to rising levels of obesity?

Food addiction could be one of the reasons behind the rising number of individuals, suffering from eating disorders and obesity, scientists claim. Food is not currently included in the official diagnostic manual of addictive substances, but scientists believe excessive eating shares many of the psychological characteristics, associated with other addictions, such as gambling and compulsive stealing.

Scientists believe around one in 200 people could be suffering from the condition and are investigating the possibility that in many cases, over eating is caused by behavioural addiction. Changes in the way psychiatrists view addiction, could in future see food abuse become a diagnosable condition.

A small proportion of people with binge eating disorders, maybe 0.5% of the general population fit most of the criteria for addiction, it is believed. Many experts think they suffer from a similar problem as individuals who compulsively gamble or steal. Currently such patterns of behaviour are categorised as impulse control disorders, rather than addictions. But this is set to change with publication of the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM), which lays out diagnosis rules for psychiatrists.

Experts are now discussing whether compulsive eating can be classified as a behavioural addiction. A £5 million EU research project called NeuroFAST has been set up to examine the evidence, bringing together scientists from seven European countries.

Professor Julian Mercer, from the University of Aberdeen, said, “If we can reach a consensus on how over eating should be classified, this could lead to major changes in clinical treatment and public policy surrounding obesity. It would help firstly to clarify if food addiction is a route to binge eating or obesity.”

“Recognition of different routes to being overweight and obese could lead to more targeted treatments for defined groups, giving individuals clinical help which is specific and pertinent to their situation. In future, over eating could be recognised as the consequence of food addiction in a small group of individuals, and the treatment they are offered, may have convergence with that which is offered to drug/alcohol abusers.”

Dr Ozgur Albayrak, another NeuroFAST scientist from the University of Essen in Germany, said, “Food addiction possibly does not refer to a majority of over eaters, but only a small sub group with disordered eating behaviours. There may be a prevalence of half a per cent.”

Prof Mercer said, “About half the audience believed they were food addicts, or claimed to know someone who was one. The public out there are getting lots of messages saying food is just as addictive as some substances of abuse, so it’s a confusing picture.”

He concluded, “It might make more sense for eating behaviours to be classified into a kind of behavioural addiction rather than a chemical addiction. Most likely where this would fit in would be at the extreme end of people with binge eating disorders, where there appears to be a spectrum of behaviours, that do mimic some of the behaviours that would be used to classify other, chemical addictions.”

A healthy lifestyle could reduce high blood pressure as effectively as drugs

Whilst we all know that exercising regularly, keeping our weight down, drinking in moderation and eating plenty of vegetables can affect our blood pressure, new research suggests that it can reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure, by two thirds.

The impact of these measures on high blood pressure was much higher than expected, and in some cases could even be just as effective a way to treat sufferers as prescribing drugs. Just walking to work and restricting alcohol to two drinks a day can reduce the risk markedly, according to the study of more than 20,000 people.

Every day there are 350 preventable strokes or heart attacks in the UK caused by high blood pressure. In developed countries the lifetime risk of developing high blood pressure is now 90 per cent, and six million Britons take drugs to control it.

People with hypertension (the medical term for high blood pressure) are already routinely advised to make the lifestyle changes highlighted in the study, but the effect far surpassed expectations. The Finnish study followed 9,637 men and 11,430 women aged 25 to 74, who did not have hypertension.

Their adherence to healthy lifestyle factors was recorded, which included alcohol consumption of less than 50g per week (roughly six units), exercise at least three times per week, daily consumption of vegetables, and normal weight. During a follow-up period covering an average of 16 years, 709 of the men and 890 of the women developed hypertension.

Proffesor Pekka Jousilahti, ofFinland’s National Institute for Health and Welfare said: “The risk of hypertension was only one third among those having all four healthy lifestyle factors, compared with those having none. Even having one to three healthy lifestyle factors reduced the risk of hypertension remarkably.

For example, having two healthy lifestyle factors reduced the risk of hypertension by nearly 50 per cent in men, and by more than 30 per cent in women. Alcohol consumption, physical activity, daily consumption of vegetables and keeping normal weight are the four lifestyle factors that seem to have a remarkable effect on the development of hypertension.

Professor Jousilahti went on to add “people should drink a maximum of one to two drinks of alcohol a day and that even a relatively low amount of exercise was enough to make a difference.”  This was backed up by Professor Gareth Beevers, a trustee of the Blood Pressure Association UK charity, who said: “This study shows a big effect from simple changes in lifestyle. It’s surprising and more than you would expect.”

Professor Jousilahti concluded by saying: “that although participants were healthy at the start of the study, it was likely the findings would also help those who already have high blood pressure. Patients could reduce their blood pressure by modifying the four lifestyle factors alone, or by making these modifications while taking blood pressure-lowering medication.”

Tea or Coffee: which is best for you?

We all like a good brew in the morning, whether it be a good old fashioned cup of tea or a latte from our favourite coffee shop on the way into work. In fact in Britain we spend over £2 billion a year on coffee, and the coffee shop industry is one of the fastest growing industries, and that’s despite the harsh financial times we live in. As regards tea according to the UK Tea Council we drink 60.2 billion cups a year.

Whilst which one we drink is a matter of preference, is it worth considering the pros and cons of tea and coffee? Well considering we drink so much of them it would seem to be a good idea.

Tea

According to several studies tea has more health benefits than coffee. A ­recent one from­Harvard University has ­discovered the immune cells of people who drink tea in the morning ­responded five times faster to germs than coffee drinkers.

The scientists there think tea ­reduces stress levels, whereas other caffeinated drinks, like coffee, can raise them and over time can weaken your immune system.

Another study ­published in the health journal ­Nutrition Bulletin discovered that ­regularly drinking tea can reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes. It is also known that tea contributes to our daily fluid intake thus keeping us hydrated. However it is worth noting that whilst tea contains only half the caffeine content of coffee, it is recommended that we drink no more than five cups a day.

Coffee

Coffee contains double the caffeine found in tea and as we have reported in earlier articles, that can have positive or negative affects on our health depending on how much we drink. Interestingly coffee contains roughly the same amount of calories as tea (a tea or coffee with milk contains about 8 calories). The problem with coffee is the type of coffee we drink these days. As we mentioned at the beginning the meteoric rise of popular coffee shops such as Neros, Costa and Starbucks has led to us drinking a whole new kind of coffee, that brings with it a whole new set of health risks. Whilst at home we would drink maybe a black coffee with a small amount of milk added to it, the coffees we buy at coffee shops are usually milk based, are larger, and many of us add sugary syrups to them and add whipped cream to the top of them. Here is a list of the calorie content of the teas and coffee we drink.

Calories

Black tea with milk: 8 calories

Black coffee: 2 calories

Black coffee with milk: 8 calories

Starbucks medium sized latte: 223 calories

Costa medium sized latte: 206 calories

Starbucks medium sized (skinny) latte: 131 calories

Costa medium sized (skinny) latte: 115 calories

Whipped cream topping: 120 calories

One vanilla shot: 70 calories

Starbucks Strawberries & Cream Frappucino: 459 calories

Nero’s Double Chocolate Frappe: 483 calories

Clearly these coffees contain far more calories than a coffee we would drink at home, however it must also be noted that the skinny versions do contain just under half the calories. Another beverage that has started to grow in popularity is herbal or fruit teas which on average contain only 2 calories. According to Nutritionist and author of Health Eating Dr Carina Norris: “herbal teas are a fantastic addition to your diet, not only are they very low in calories they can also help improve your digestion, clear up your skin and help you sleep.”

Like many thing in life the advice from health professionals is to have such drinks in moderation. Dr Norris summed this up by saying: “a latte can contain between 200 and 300 calories, if you have two a day, that’s the equivalent of a full meal. Treat these drinks as you would a slice of cake, have them occasionally but don’t make a habit of them every day.”

Guilt free chocolate pleasure!

Well, almost, chemists from the University of Warwick have developed a new method of making chocolate that is sure to bring a smile to the faces of chocoholics everywhere.

Dr Stephan Bon from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Warwick, conducted the study which was published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry, and looked into ways of reducing the fat content of chocolate.

Dr Bon said “Everyone loves chocolate but unfortunately we all know that many chocolate bars are high in fat. However it’s the fat that gives chocolate all the indulgent sensations that people crave, the silky smooth texture and the way it melts in the mouth, but still has a snap to it when you break it in your hand."

This new healthier method of making chocolate replaces up to 50 per cent of the fat content in chocolate with fruit juice. However the chemists at the University of Warwick claim that “the new bar will still appeal to chocoholics after spending months perfecting it’s mouthfeel and say it even feels like chocolate.”

The researchers removed much of the cocoa butter and milk fats that go into chocolate bars, and then they substituted them with tiny droplets of juice measuring under 30 microns in diameter. They then infused orange and cranberry juice into milk, dark and white chocolate using what is known as the Pickering method.

Interestingly it was found during the research that the sugar or fat bloom, the white residue that sometimes appears on chocolate that has been stored for some time, did not present itself on the chocolate made with fruit juice.

Dr Bon went on to say “our study is just the starting point to healthier chocolate, we’ve established the chemistry behind this new technique, but now we’re hoping the food industry will take our method to make tasty, lower fat chocolate bars.”

Unfortunately the final product will have a fruity taste to it, however there is an option to use water and a small amount of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) instead of juice to maintain a chocolatey taste.
The really good news is that the team behind the research plan to allow the food industry to use the technique to create healthier chocolate bars, and for people who love chocolate but still want to watch their weight that has to be good news.