What is green coffee extract?

Green coffee extract is derived from unroasted coffee beans. It is a concentrated source of chlorogenic acid, a polyphenol compound that has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

How does it work?

Green coffee extract works by inhibiting the absorption of glucose in the intestines, which can lower blood sugar levels. It also stimulates the metabolism, which can help burn fat and reduce body weight.

What are the active ingredients that are important for its medicinal properties?

The active ingredient in green coffee extract that is important for its medicinal properties is chlorogenic acid.

What forms does it come in?

Green coffee extract is available in supplement form, such as capsules or tablets.

When was it first used for medicinal purposes?

Green coffee extract has been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times, particularly in traditional medicine systems such as Ayurveda.

What does Green coffee extract help with?

Green coffee extract comes from coffee beans that have not been roasted. Raw beans hold more chlorogenic acids, plant compounds that roasting burns away. The extract also holds some caffeine.

• Blood sugar spikes after a meal
  Good evidence — several human trials; the most consistent finding on file. In human studies, people who took the extract with or before a meal had smaller blood sugar rises after eating. This is the most consistent human result the library holds. The file does not record the trial sizes or the doses used.
  Evidence grade B · Traditional tier T0
• Mildly high blood pressure
  Good evidence — several human trials in people with mild high blood pressure. Several trials found real drops in both the top and bottom blood pressure numbers. The people studied had mild high blood pressure. The trial authors read this as chlorogenic acids helping blood vessels relax, but that is their reading of the data, not a direct measure.
  Evidence grade B · Traditional tier T0
• Losing weight and belly fat
  Early evidence — small human studies with modest results. Studies found small drops in body weight and body fat, most of all around the waist. Researchers give two likely reasons: slower uptake of carbs, and a small lift in resting energy burn from caffeine. Those reasons rest on lab work and short human studies, not on long trials.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T0
• High fasting blood sugar or prediabetes
  Early evidence — small, early human studies. Steadier blood sugar after meals may, over time, pull fasting blood sugar down too. The human work on this is small and early. The file does not record how big any change was.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T0
• High cholesterol and triglycerides
  Early evidence — some human studies, modest effects only. Some studies found small gains in LDL cholesterol and in triglyceride levels with regular use. Researchers think chlorogenic acids change how the liver handles fats. The file records only modest effects, with no sizes or doses noted.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T0
• Metabolic syndrome markers
  Early evidence — small human studies, always alongside a healthy diet. Metabolic syndrome is a group of problems that travel together. It covers high blood sugar, high blood pressure, extra belly fat and off-balance cholesterol. Studies found modest gains on most of these markers when people also ate a healthy diet.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T0
• Insulin resistance
  Evidence doesn't support this — no human trial on file measured it directly. Insulin resistance means your cells respond poorly to insulin. Researchers suggest the extract might help here, going by its effect on after-meal blood sugar and on liver fat. No human trial on file measured insulin resistance itself.
  Evidence grade D · Traditional tier T0
• Fat building up in the liver
  Evidence doesn't support this — early research only, human work still emerging. Early research asked whether chlorogenic acids cut fat buildup in liver cells. The human side of this work is new and not settled. Nothing on file shows the extract clears fat from a person's liver.
  Evidence grade D · Traditional tier T0
• Low energy and tiredness
  Not yet tested in people — user reports only; no human trial on file. Green coffee extract holds some caffeine, less than roasted coffee. Caffeine is well known to make people feel more awake, though that is general knowledge, not a trial of this extract. Reports of steadier energy through the day come from users, not from any study on file.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T0

What Green coffee extract has not been shown to do

• No trial on file shows large or fast weight loss; the changes seen were small.
• It has not been shown to work in place of blood pressure medicine.
• It has not been shown to work in place of diabetes medicine or insulin.
• The metabolic syndrome gains came alongside diet change, so it has not been shown to work on its own.

How to read this:

The grades rate the evidence, not how strong the product is. A means steady results from several human trials. B means at least one good human trial. C means small or early human work. D means the human evidence is weak or clashes. Insufficient means no human study at all. This page lists options and what studies found. It is not advice, and it does not replace a talk with your doctor.

What can it help prevent?

Green coffee extract has been studied for its potential preventative effects on a variety of health conditions, including:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease
• Cognitive decline
• Obesity
• Cancer

Which foods are rich in it?

Green coffee extract is not naturally occurring in foods. However, unroasted coffee beans contain chlorogenic acid, which is the active ingredient in green coffee extract.

What are possible side effects?

Green coffee extract is generally well tolerated, but some people may experience side effects, including:

• Insomnia
• Headache
• Nausea
• Increased heart rate
• Anxiety

Green coffee extract is generally considered safe, but it can cause some side effects such as: Headaches Insomnia Nervousness Nausea Diarrhea Constipation Abdominal pain Skin rash Anemia Allergic reactions

What's the recommended daily dose?

The recommended daily dose of green coffee extract is typically 400-800mg, taken in two divided doses.

How many days does it take to work?

The effects of green coffee extract may be seen within a few days to a few weeks of use, depending on the condition being treated.

What time of day is best to take it?

There is no specific time of day that is recommended for taking green coffee extract. However, it is generally recommended to take it with meals.

Is it best to take it with or without food?

Green coffee extract is best taken with food to aid in absorption and reduce the risk of gastrointestinal upset.