Published: March. 28, 2012 at 11:45 AM

SAN DIEGO, March 28 (UPI) -- Green -- unroasted -- coffee beans might be the weight-loss pill that has been sought for so long, a U.S. researchers suggested.

Joe Vinson of the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania and colleagues said the study involved 16 overweight or obese people ages 22-26, who took capsules of the extract or capsules containing a placebo, an inactive powder, for a total of 22 weeks.

The low dose consisted of 700 milligrams of the coffee extract, and the high dose was 1,050 mg. This "cross-over" study cycled participants through the two doses and the placebo, each for six weeks. Such studies have advantages because each person serves as his or her own "control," improving the chances of getting an accurate result, Vinson explained.

"The study participants' calories, carbohydrates, fats and protein intake did not change during the study, nor did their exercise regimen change," Vinson said.

Participants lost an average of 17 pounds during the 22 weeks of the study -- an average of a 10.5 percent decrease in overall body weight and a 16 percent decrease in body fat.

"Based on our results, taking multiple capsules of green coffee extract a day -- while eating a low-fat, healthful diet and exercising regularly -- appears to be a safe, effective, inexpensive way to lose weight," Vinson told the American Chemical Society symposium in San Diego.

Vinson said the green coffee beans' effects were likely due to chlorogenic acid, which is present in unroasted coffee beans.

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Weight loss in a pill contains coffee bean

A worker inspects unroasted coffee beans on August 8, 2009 near Carmo de Minas, Brazil.

The study, which gave participants a supplement containing green coffee extract, was presented at the American Chemical Society (ACS) in San Diego and published earlier this year in Diabetes Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity.

PICTURES: Coffee and your health

The new study involved 16 overweight people (with Body Mass Indexes between 25 to 30) between the ages of 22 to 46 years old. They were monitored for 22 weeks, in which they were given a low dose 700 mg green coffee extract tablet, a high dose 1,050 mg extract tablet and a placebo. Because they were given all the different doses and the inactive placebo, the participants acted as their own control group.

Participants were told to take three green coffee capsules each day, 30 minutes before each meal with lots of water, due to the pill's bitterness. Roasting coffee makes beans less bitter, according to the researchers. The pill contained caffeine, but it amounted to about half a cup of coffee a day.

All the participants were monitored for their overall diet and exercise. Throughout the study, participants ate on average 2,400 calories a day and had a calorie expenditure of 400 calories, nowhere near the levels required for weight loss.

What effects did green coffee have?

After the study, participants lost an average of 17 pounds, which broke down to a 10.5 percent decrease in overall body weight and a 16 percent decrease in body fat. Lead researcher Dr. Joe Vinson, a professor of chemistry at the University of Scranton in Pa., said in an emailed press release that the weight loss may have been more, but since the subjects received a lower dose and placebo at some point in the study it may have lessened the overall effect. The study was funded by Applied Food Sciences, which makes green coffee supplements.

Vinson told HealthPop that the most exciting fact about this study was that the green coffee extract GCA did not have any side effects. Unlike other weight loss pills that have been pulled off the market by the FDA over health concerns or cause unpleasurable side effects like gastrointestinal problems, green coffee had no related problems, he said. "I've been taking some myself to see if caused any problems," Vinson told HealthPop. "It's okay."

The study also reported a two beats-per-minute reduction in heart rate among participants. Vinson told HealthPop while he doesn't recommend people who have high blood pressure forgo prescribed medicine for green coffee, it may help.

Original post:
Green coffee beans may lead to weight loss, study shows

Supplement Linked to Weight Loss in Small, Early Study

March 28, 2012 -- Ground green coffee beans, taken daily, seem to spur steady weight loss, according to new research.

In a small, 22-week study, researchers found that 16 overweight men and women lost an average of 17 pounds. They took the green (unroasted) coffee beans in supplement form and, for comparison, took a placebo at a different point of the study.

They did not change their diet. They were physically active. They lost more while on the supplements than while on placebo. They lost the most when on the higher of two coffee bean doses.

"We don't think it's the caffeine in it," says Joe Vinson, PhD, professor of chemistry at the University of Scranton.

He presented the findings Tuesday at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Diego. The results echo those of earlier studies, but Vinson used a larger dose of the green coffee beans.

The study included people 22 to 46 years old. It was funded by Applied Food Sciences, which makes the green coffee antioxidant supplement.

The results are interesting, but the study was small and short, so further study is needed, says Connie Diekman, RD, director of university nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis. She reviewed the findings for WebMD.

Vinson and his colleagues gave the men and women in the study a 700-milligram (mg) dose of the ground coffee beans and a 1,050 mg dose. They also gave them a placebo or inactive dose during the 22-week study.

The men and women cycled through each phase for six weeks. In between, they had ''wash-out'' periods where they didn't take any supplement. In this way, they served as their own comparison group.

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Green Coffee Beans May Aid Weight Loss

Public release date: 28-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Leslie Curtis NIDDKMedia@mail.nih.gov 301-496-3583 NIH/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Weight loss and increased physical fitness nearly halved the risk of losing mobility in overweight or obese adults with type 2 diabetes, according to four-year results from the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) trial funded by the National Institutes of Health. The results are published in the March 29, 2012, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

"Being able to perform routine activities is an important contributor to quality of life," said Griffin P. Rodgers, M.D., director of the NIH's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), which led the study. "These findings add support to making lifestyle changes that improve health and reduce disability in people with type 2 diabetes, changes that already have been shown to prevent the disease and provide a good return on investment."

Look AHEAD is a multi-center, randomized clinical trial designed to determine the long-term effects of intentional weight loss on the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in overweight and obese individuals with type 2 diabetes. Beginning in 2001, a total of 5,145 participants were randomly assigned to either an intensive lifestyle intervention group (ILI) or a diabetes support and education group (DSE). Participants receiving the intervention attended group and individual meetings to achieve and maintain weight loss through decreased caloric intake and increased physical activity. The DSE group attended three meetings each year that provided general education on diet, activity, and social support.

To assess mobility and disability, participants rated their ability to carry out activities with or without limitations. Included were vigorous activities such as running and lifting heavy objects and moderate ones such as pushing a vacuum cleaner or playing golf. Participants also separately rated their ability to climb a flight of stairs; bend, kneel or stoop; walk more than a mile; and walk one block. Both groups were weighed annually and completed a treadmill fitness test at baseline, after one year, and at the end of four years.

After four years of the study, participants in the ILI group experienced a 48 percent reduction in mobility-related disability compared with the DSE group. Furthermore, 20.6 percent of ILI participants reported severe disability compared to 26.2 percent of participants in the DSE group. Likewise, 38.5 percent of those in the ILI group reported good mobility, whereas the rate was 31.9 percent in the DSE group. Weight loss was a slightly stronger predictor of better mobility than improved fitness, but both contributed significantly to the observed reduction in risk.

"With nearly two-thirds of participants reporting mild, moderate, or severe restrictions in mobility when Look AHEAD began, it is critical to address this problem," said Mary Evans, Ph.D., project scientist for the study. "This study of mobility highlights the value of finding ways to help adults with type 2 diabetes keep moving as they age. We know that when adults lose mobility, it becomes difficult for them to live on their own, and they are likely to develop more serious health problems, increasing their health care costs."

Overweight and obesity affects more than two-thirds of U.S. adults age 20 and older. More than one-third of adults are obese. Many factors contribute to the problem, including genetics, lifestyle habits, and the food environment. Excess weight can lead to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and certain cancers. Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes, and 7 million of them do not know it.

"The weight loss and physical activity goals promoted in the study are well within the reach of most Americans," said Jack Rejeski, Ph.D., lead author and Thurman D. Kitchin professor of health and exercise science at Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, N.C. "Future research is needed to determine if this sort of intervention can be translated into public health interventions, particularly in light of possible effects on health care costs."

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Weight loss and increased fitness slow decline of mobility in adults

Researchers: Green Coffee Beans May Spur Weight Loss

Could green coffee beans help you shed pounds? Likely so, suggests a small study based on 16 overweight young adults who took various doses of unroasted, green coffee bean extract. Study participants lost an average of 17.5 pounds in 22 weeks, and reduced their overall body weight by 10.5 percent, according to results presented Tuesday at the American Chemical Society's meeting in San Diego. The beans are currently sold as supplements in the United States, and are not subject to U.S. Food and Drug Administration review. Study author Joe Vinson, a University of Scranton chemist, said the findings call for more rigorous research. "Based on our results, taking multiple capsules of green coffee extract a day ... appears to be a safe, effective, inexpensive way to lose weight," he said in a statement. Though it's unclear exactly how green coffee beans contribute to weight loss, researchers theorize that it has to do with a chemical in the unroasted bean called chlorogenic acid. "That's the main natural compound in unroasted coffee, and roasted coffee has much, much less of it than unprocessed coffee," Vinson told HealthDay. "So we're not talking about something that is interchangeable with the coffee we drink."

5 Non-Dairy Foods With Calcium

It can be tough to get all the calcium you need each day, especially if you're vegan, lactose intolerant, or just don't like dairy products. But you shouldn't skimp on calcium. This important mineral does more than strengthen your bonesit also plays a role in regulating your blood pressure and maintaining a healthy heart. If your body doesn't get enough, it'll compensate by leeching calcium from your bones, leaving them brittle and weak.

Luckily, there's a range of non-dairy foods that offer the 1,000 to 1,300 milligrams of calcium the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends you get daily. Roberta Anding, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association), says the advantage of plant-based calcium is that it ensures you're eating lots of veggiesanother important part of any diet.

But avoiding dairy also comes with a warning. "There are compounds in plants that bind to calcium and prevent you from absorbing it," Anding says. "Although they're good sources of calcium on paper, physiologically, the amount of calcium is not so great. Dairy calcium is biologically available, meaning you absorb what's in the product." The way around this, she adds, is to "make sure you're varying your sources." While nothing can undo the effects of these compounds, in general, vitamin D helps your body absorb calciumso make sure you get enough of this, too. (The government recommends 15 micrograms of vitamin D per day.) [Read more: 5 Non-Dairy Foods With Calcium.]

9 Footwear Do's and Don'ts

Our poor feet. They withstand lots of abuse, quickly carrying us to last-minute outings, pounding the pavement on mind-clearing runs, and being squeezed into impractical (but fashionable) shoes. But we need to take care of them to avoid foot pain, injury, and other ailments. So do your tootsies a favor and follow these healthy tips.

1. Don't wear high heels for too long. We've all been there: out on the town in an amazing pair of pumps with achy feet and knees. A 2010 study found that over time, wearing heels higher than 2 inches can put you at risk for joint degeneration and knee osteoarthritis, and a new study finds that high heels are a leading cause of ingrown toenails, which can lead to infection and permanent nail damage. But we're not telling you to stop wearing heelsthat's unrealistic. "I wouldn't recommend walking miles in heels, but a comfortable heel can be worn to work all day if it has the right features and/or orthotic," says Michele Summers, a California-based podiatrist and shoe designer. (You can pick up arch-support inserts at drug stores.) Try saving your sky-high heels for short-lived occasions like dinners, says John Brummer, a New York City-based podiatrist.

2. Don't wear flip-flops everywhere. They're easy, and as temperatures heat up, you're likely to slip them on often. Cool it, say experts. "Flip-flops give your foot basically no support, and the constant rubbing of the thong between the toes can cause a friction blister," says Summers. Not to mention they make stubbed toes, cuts, and sprained ankles more likely, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). Limit flip-flops to settings like the beach or the pool. And when you do wear them, invest in a supportive leather pair, or a pair that carries the APMA seal of acceptance, the association advises. (If you have diabetes, you should never wear flip-flops, since the disease can dull your sense of pain, allowing minor wounds to become major problemsinfected, for examplewithout your knowledge.) [Read more: 9 Footwear Do's and Don'ts.]

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Health Buzz: Green Coffee Beans Linked to Weight Loss

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) March 28, 2012

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Diet Doc is the only doctor-supervised weight loss program which provides medically, supervised weight loss to patients who have previously failed on other weight loss program. Their modern-day approach to dieting includes addressing metabolic issues which are common a few weeks into dieting, whereas thyroid function reduces drastically in an effort to fight the body from losing weight.

The easy hcg diet plan offered is an hcg weight loss diet plan that is the best weight loss diet for those people wanting to experience fast weight loss without hunger or fatigue. Diet Doc patients report they typically cannot consume all the food required of them as this ketogenic diet utilizes the bodies burning fat into ketones as well as weight loss pills, diet digest where the patient and weight loss nurse and diet doctors work closely to unveil the true reasons behind the prior inability to effectively lose weight.

Diet Doc is often looked upon as experts in the weight loss industry and has commented on celebrity weight loss or weight gain. Other diet programs which state they provide fast weight loss, such as Snooki, Paula Deen, Safflower Oil, the Digest Diet, Diet Digest, Chris Powell Diet, Ayurvedic Diet. None have clinical studies to support the weight loss, nor do they offer weight loss doctors specifically trained in weight loss claims Julie Wright, president of Diet Doc Weight Loss.

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New Diet Hcg Weight Loss Program Offering Individual Weight Loss Plans

Newswise Weight loss and increased physical fitness nearly halved the decline in mobility in overweight or obese adults with type 2 diabetes, according to four-year results of the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) trial funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The results are published in the March 29, 2012, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

The largest and longest-running study of its kind, this research confirms how important losing weight and increasing physical activity are in the treatment of mobility-related problems among people with type 2 diabetes as they age, said lead author Jack Rejeski, Ph.D, Thurman D. Kitchin Professor of Health and Exercise Science at Wake Forest University. The weight loss and physical activity goals promoted in the study are well within the reach of most Americans. Future research is needed to determine if this sort of intervention can be translated into public health interventions, particularly in light of possible effects on health care costs.

Look AHEAD is a multi-center, randomized clinical trial designed to determine the long-term effects of intentional weight loss on the risk of cardiovascular disease in overweight and obese individuals with type 2 diabetes. Beginning in 2001, a total of 5,145 Look AHEAD participants were randomly assigned to either an intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) group or a usual care, or Diabetes Support and Education (DSE) group. The ILI treatment involved group and individual meetings to achieve and maintain weight loss through decreased caloric intake and increased physical activity. The DSE group attended three meetings each year that provided general education on diet, activity, and social support.

Being able to perform routine activities is an important contributor to quality of life, said Griffin P. Rodgers, M.D., director of the NIHs National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), which oversaw the study.

To assess mobility, Look AHEAD participants rated their ability to carry out activities with or without limitations. Included were vigorous activities such as running and lifting heavy objects and moderate ones such as pushing a vacuum cleaner or playing golf. Participants also separately rated their ability to climb a flight of stairs; bend, kneel or stoop; walk more than a mile; and walk one block. Both groups were weighed annually and completed a treadmill fitness test at baseline, after year one, and at the end of four years.

After four years of the study, Look AHEAD participants in the intensive lifestyle group experienced a 48 percent reduction in mobility-related disability compared with the diabetes support and education group.

This is the first long-term study to demonstrate that by participating in an intensive lifestyle intervention, overweight or obese adults with type 2 diabetes can reduce decline in mobility as they age, Rejeski said.

Overweight and obesity affects more than two-thirds of U.S. adults age 20 and older. More than one-third of adults are obese. Many factors contribute to the problem, including genetics and lifestyle habits. Excess weight can lead to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and certain cancers. Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes, and more than 7 million of them do not know it.

With nearly two-thirds of participants reporting mild, moderate, or severe restrictions in mobility when Look AHEAD began, it is critical to address to this problem, said Mary Evans, Ph.D., project scientist for Look AHEAD. This study of mobility highlights the value of finding ways to help adults with type 2 diabetes keep moving as they age. We know that when adults lose mobility, it becomes difficult for them to live on their own, and they are likely to develop more serious health problems, increasing their health care costs.

Co-authors of the study are Edward Ip, Wake Forest University School of Medicine; Alain Bertoni, Wake Forest University School of Medicine; George Bray, Pennington Biomedical Research Center of the Louisiana State University System; Gina Evans, Baylor College of Medicine; Edward Gregg, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and Qiang Zhang, Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Link:
Weight Loss and Exercise Help Overweight Adults Retain Mobility