While there are many different kinds of tea available in the market, coming across the same for coffee isn’t so popular. But here’s a catch, just like green tea we also have green coffee. Although it sounds peculiar, it is true that green coffee does exist. We all know that a cup of coffee right away in the morning is all we need to start the day. And just like that, green coffee has its own astounding health benefits that are still lesser known to us. We may have heard or read about their miraculous effect on weight loss on the internet, but they are rarely available in local markets and coffee stores.
Despite its grandiose hype about its effects and rarity, green coffee is widely produced all over the world. In reality, it has a wide array of plantations in almost all of the major coffee-producing nations.
What is Green Coffee?
So, let’s first look at what green coffee actually is.
Green coffee comes from regular, normal coffee beans but unlike regular coffee, they are unroasted and raw. The coffee we usually consume is roasted and processed. It is rich and strong in flavor but is more caffeinated than the former. Green coffee, on the other hand, boasts a huge volume of chlorogenic acid, which is known to provide bountiful health benefits. And unlike the thick taste of roasted coffee, it has a milder, lighter flavor that resembles more like herbal tea.
Another noted mention that needs to be included before we move to the next section: Green Coffee extract. This substance is drawn out from raw coffee beans and it’s this product that is marketed around the world as a weight loss supplement.
What is Chlorogenic Acid?
Green coffee beans that haven’t been through the roasting process yet contain a chemical compound known as chlorogenic acid. It is also found in other foods and herbs like blueberries, apples, carrots, eggplants, etc.
Chlorogenic acid is believed to have many health benefits. Its by-product, caffeic acid, has strong antioxidant properties that are responsible for maintaining cholesterol and blood pressure levels. But when these beans are subjected to roasting, they experience a rapid decrease in chlorogenic acid levels.
One of the key differences between roasted coffee beans and raw green coffee is the caffeine level. Generally, roasted coffee beans are found to have lower levels of caffeine compared to the coffee beans that haven’t been roasted yet.
The Rare Health Benefits of Green Coffee
Weight loss: Several research studies have shown that consumption of caffeine is directly linked to weight loss. Because of the presence of chlorogenic acid, it helps to burn excess fat and also keeps the metabolism under check. It is also known to lower the absorption of carbohydrates which in turn maintains a healthy weight owing to a stable and active body.
Anti-aging effect: Another major use of chlorogenic acid is its impeccable ability to slow down the aging process, making us look younger even as we age. Due to the high levels of antioxidant properties of the acid, it promotes the regeneration of new skin cells and also protects us from the harmful effects of UV rays.
Will enhance Mood: Since these beans are packed with rich antioxidants, they act as a refreshing beverage that rejuvenates our mood and enhances our cognitive efficiency. Alongside these benefits, green coffee has also shown promising results in the treatment of neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Though we can debate the numerous benefits that green coffee has to offer, these three have stood to be the most influential aspects that have drawn people to this product. To name a few, further studies have revealed that the presence of chlorogenic compounds has had massive effects on successful treatments of liver, lung, and skin cancer patients.
How Should You Consume Green Coffee?
Before getting into the nitty-gritty of how these coffee beans should be consumed and how much is good for our health, we must know where and in what form they are available. Green coffee beans or green coffee extracts come in four forms: whole beans, ground, powdered, and in capsules.
Capsules and powdered coffee are common when it comes to dietary needs. Powdered coffee can be taken with water or by mixing it with any beverage, whereas capsules are consumed as a whole. Coming to the main part as to how we should consume these coffee beans if we want to consume ground raw green coffee, all we need to do is steep the coffee beans in hot water for ten minutes, then strain it and drink. Or if we want to consume raw coffee beans without grinding them, we need to soak the coffee beans in water overnight, then boil the beans-water mixture for ten to fifteen minutes before allowing it for cooling down. Once it has cooled, we can drain the water and drink it.
Which is the Best Green Coffee?
As with any coffee lover, raw coffee beans from Ethiopia and Guatemala are great, but Matas de Minas, also known as the mines of the Minas region in Brazil, have some of the best varieties of coffee in the world. Despite their limited availability, we can still enjoy the health benefits of green coffee as long as we buy them from largescale and reputable suppliers.
Conclusion
Green coffee is the coffee that isn’t roasted but contains health benefits that cannot be found in regular coffee beans. These beans are full of chlorogenic acid, which is solely responsible for acting as an effective dose for health conditions like blood sugar and blood pressure levels. While these coffee beans may have garnered a reputation for reducing weight, doctors recommend optimal dosage for yielding maximum results. There are various ways by which you can consume green coffee, one of the common ways in which people consume them is by soaking the beans overnight and drinking it in raw form. Overall, there’s no other variety that can take the place of green coffee which eventually makes a case for why it is considered a fantastic drink for all the reasons mentioned above.
