Does Coffee Curb Your Appetite?

For just about as long as I can remember; I get up, brew my coffee, and sip my first cup during my first hour of work.

I usually start to get hungry about an hour later. I guess it never occurred to me that the coffee was actually curbing my appetite. I always thought that I just didn't like to eat as soon as I woke up.

In light of some new research out of Griffith University in Australia, I'm beginning to think differently. They are finding that coffee is an effective appetite suppressant among their study participants.

What The Study Says So Far

Their study is ongoing, but they have participants divided into three groups:

• One group is given caffeinated coffee.
• One group is given decaffeinated coffee.
• The third group is given caffeine alone.

So far, the group that is consuming the caffeinated coffee has reported decreased appetite and increased feelings of fullness.

Is It The Caffeine?

Caffeine has often been included in weight loss pills and appetite suppressants. (I remember my mother using Dexitrim back in the 80′s, which is 200mg of caffeine per pill!

It appears, however, that caffeine alone isn't the culprit here, because only the caffeinated coffee group is reporting the appetite suppressing benefits.

Furthermore, there must be something in the regular coffee that is removed during the decaffeination process since decaf doesn't have the same effect either.

What This Research Means

Coffee could help people consume less calories as long as the coffee isn't some 400 calorie, Starbuck's abomination.

However, making up those calories by overeating after the effect wears off would definitely counteract and benefit from the coffee. (Expect to see coffee supplements on the Dr. Oz show soon… Oh wait… He already has pushed green coffee, hasn't he.)

Anyway, I can definitely attest to coffee's appetite suppressing qualities, but what about you?

Written by Ted for Healthy Eater and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.