Caffeine & Weight Loss

Came across this article on WW Online about caffeine & weight loss,
thought I'd post it in case anyone is interested.....

Q: What is the story on caffeine? Does it affect weight loss?

A: I've read conflicting information on this topic in a wide variety of
publications. Those studies based on sound science, though, seem to show
little - if any - true correlation between caffeine consumption and weight
loss.

Whereas caffeine can raise your heart rate, most research has shown that it
doesn't cause enough of a rise in metabolism to make a difference in your
body's ability to burn calories. Other research has shown a slight appetite
suppression due to caffeine intake but again, the effects are deemed too
insignificant to have an impact on your weight.

One other area of science to consider is the effect of caffeine on hydration
status. Although caffeine is a diuretic and can cause you to lose extra
water through increased urine output, it's only a temporary loss of water
weight, not body fat. Plus, a dehydration effect usually only occurs when
you consume more than 4 cups of caffeinated beverages in a day.

That said, how you ingest caffeine is a matter of importance. There's a big
caloric difference between one lump of sugar in your coffee versus three --
not to mention fancy coffee store add-ins like caramel syrup and chocolate
shavings. Indulge in too many of these extras and you can certainly affect
your weight loss -- in the wrong direction.

I've heard different things about caffeine in coffee and soda: good for
metabolism and water weight, bad for dropping sugar levels and making
you crave sugar.

Whatever! I just go with moderation. I like a daily coffee or diet pop
but I'm no addict and I'm losing wieght just fine. I'm not the type of
person that wants to ban anything from my diet. Cappucino is a great
substitute for dessert when everyone else at the table is having some
double-chocolate-fudge-mousse type of concoction and I'm not giving
that up.

Melanie

Lipgloss Junkie wrote:

I've heard different things about caffeine in coffee and soda: good for
metabolism and water weight, bad for dropping sugar levels and making
you crave sugar.

Whatever! I just go with moderation. I like a daily coffee or diet pop
but I'm no addict and I'm losing wieght just fine. I'm not the type of
person that wants to ban anything from my diet. Cappucino is a great
substitute for dessert when everyone else at the table is having some
double-chocolate-fudge-mousse type of concoction and I'm not giving
that up.

Melanie


That's the joy of WW - teaches you to make sensible choices!

When others are indulging in a Starbuck Feeding frenzy, I'll stick with
my tall skinny latte, no sugar, and enjoy iy just as much while feeling
faintly smug at the lack of pounds and inches sticking to my hips! ;D

--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

hehhe I love the way you said that !

--
Will~

196.2 / 131.8 / 137 lbs
89 / 59.8 / 62.1 Kg

Personal goal 125 lbs / 56.7 Kg
"Kate Dicey" wrote in message
...
*snip*

When others are indulging in a Starbuck Feeding frenzy, I'll stick with
my tall skinny latte, no sugar, and enjoy iy just as much while feeling
faintly smug at the lack of pounds and inches sticking to my hips! ;D

--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

On 14 Mar 2005 11:25:18 -0800, "Lipgloss Junkie"
wrote:

I've heard different things about caffeine in coffee and soda: good for
metabolism and water weight, bad for dropping sugar levels and making
you crave sugar.

Like the article I've heard that caffeine on it's own isn't really a
factor in weightloss. It may have very slight thermogenic affects.
There may be other health reasons why people don't want to get a lot
of it.

Not sure what you mean by 'dropping sugar levels and making you crave
sugar'. Can you elaborate. It's not something I've heard about
caffeine before.

Ray

--
2002 1.8i eternal red

The cafeine and sugar levels thing is an Atkins thing. According to
Atkins, too much caffeine may make blood sugar spike and then crash but
I don't know exactly how. I used to work with an Atkins disciple (who
never lost a pound) that would often tell me that my morning coffee was
bad for me.

My guess (guess being key word here) is that it's the sugar and stuff you
put in it.. not the caffeine.. caffeine gives you a boost of energy then it
does drop.. but it has nothing to do with sugar.. right ?

There's always the idea that the boost you get from caffeine and even more
the drop you feel later might make you crave sugar to make up for the loss
of energy when the caffeine power runs out..

It's like taking speed to cure a cocaine down..

--
Will~

196.2 / 131.8 / 137 lbs
89 / 59.8 / 62.1 Kg

Personal goal 125 lbs / 56.7 Kg
"Lipgloss Junkie" wrote in message
oups.com...
The cafeine and sugar levels thing is an Atkins thing. According to
Atkins, too much caffeine may make blood sugar spike and then crash but
I don't know exactly how. I used to work with an Atkins disciple (who
never lost a pound) that would often tell me that my morning coffee was
bad for me.

On 15 Mar 2005 16:33:57 -0800, "Lipgloss Junkie"
wrote:

The cafeine and sugar levels thing is an Atkins thing. According to
Atkins, too much caffeine may make blood sugar spike and then crash but
I don't know exactly how. I used to work with an Atkins disciple (who
never lost a pound) that would often tell me that my morning coffee was
bad for me.

I've done some reading and apparently it is a pretty widespread
belief. But like other bits of Atkins* it's a myth. According to my
source caffeine doesn't affect insulin. This myth probably arose
because drinking coffee, tea and coke will spike insulin, but these
drinks usually have sugar in, and it's the sugar that does the work
not caffeine.

Ray

--
2002 1.8i eternal red

Yeah, well Atkins is for the birds anyway. The whole thing to too much
hype for me. (And that guy I used to work with still looks like he has
a bowling ball for a tummy - and he's been Atkins-ing for years.)

Melanie