How Coffee Can Help You Lose Weight Naturally

Maintaining a healthy diet and engaging in moderate physical activity are the best combination for our bodies. According to experts, a cup of coffee can also contribute to better health.

Several top dietitians explain that 200 to 400 mg of caffeine should be the daily guideline, although this depends on your body weight. In most cases, this translates to drinking between two to five cups of coffee per day. This recommendation aligns with a study from Harvard University, which found that drinking four cups of black coffee daily (without milk or sweeteners) can reduce body fat by about 4%.

“Coffee contains caffeine, which has thermogenic effects and can boost metabolism, helping you burn more calories,” they explained. “Several studies have shown it can help lower BMI, body weight, and fat mass. Coffee can also suppress appetite and reduce hunger. Research shows that drinking coffee before a meal can decrease the number of calories consumed at the next meal, even if the coffee was consumed up to four hours earlier. Coffee also contains acids shown to boost fat burning and may help slow carbohydrate absorption.”

There is, however, one important caveat: “If you’re adding cream, whole milk, or sugar to your coffee, this can easily cancel out the calories you’re burning from it,” the experts warned. “In fact, a new study found that drinking one cup of coffee a day can aid in weight loss, but adding even a single teaspoon of sugar may negate the benefit.”