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Coffee Could Slash Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes Risks: study

Evidence suggests that caffeine allows the body to burn more fat

Thinking twice if you’ll grab another Starbucks for the day? Think no more because according to a recent study by BMJ Medicine, drinking coffee regularly could lower your risk for Type 2 diabetes and slash obesity.

The study specifically observed 10,000 individuals with specific genetic traits such as the  CYP1A2 and AHR genes that affect how the body handles caffeine intake. People with these genetic variants are associated with processing and metabolizing caffeine slower and typically drink less coffee yet have high levels of caffeine in their blood.

The study used a statistical technique called Mendelian randomization, which is a tool that investigates the relationship between a trait and an outcome. The same group of people was found to have a lower body mass index, body fat mass, and risk of Type 2 diabetes, evidently pointing to caffeine as being the reason.

Coffee could slash obesity

Some evidence suggests that caffeine allows the body to burn more fat and/or makes people feel more full causing them to eat less, and being thinner reduces the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

About one in 10 Americans are affected by diabetes, and about 90% to 95% of them have Type 2 diabetes, according to the CDC. People over the age of 45 are prone to acquiring Type 2 diabetes.

“These results suggest caffeine may be linked to a lower body mass index, lower body fat and a reduced likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes,” Dr. Dipender Gill, senior author of the study from Imperial College London, says. “It may improve people’s metabolism, although this doesn’t mean people should go out and drink lots of high-calorie caffeinated drinks like chai lattes.”

An average cup of coffee has about 70 to 150 milligrams of caffeine. Evidence shows that 100 milligrams per day can increase energy expenditure by about 100 calories per day. While this might seem promising, coffee also has other chemicals such as diterpenes which could be detrimental to one’s metabolism.

The research also found that those with higher levels of caffeine in their blood were no less likely to develop cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, heart failure, coronary artery disease and irregular heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation).

“If there is more evidence from larger trials in the future, it may suggest that people should consider drinking espressos or black coffee to reduce their risk of Type 2 diabetes,” Gill adds.

Banner Art Dani Sison

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