Daily Coffee Drinkers Take Note: Research Reveals Effects on Body Fat and Testosterone Levels
Are those who cannot wake up without morning coffee here? The first coffee of the day is just an innocent wake-up ritual for many of us. However, a massive study published in the European Journal of Nutrition revealed the unexpected tricks coffee plays on our body fat distribution and hormones.
Here are the details of the groundbreaking research on the relationship between coffee consumption, body fat, muscle mass, and hormones.
Drinking Coffee Thins Body Fat and Waist Circumference
The first striking finding of the research was related to the shape of our body. The body fat ratio of individuals who consume regular and abundant coffee turned out to be significantly lower.
The matter does not end with just the fats under the skin. The truly dangerous one, the 'hidden fat' that surrounds the abdomen and internal organs, was much less seen in coffee drinkers.
Moreover, their muscle ratios were also higher
The most interesting part is this: Imagine two people who weigh exactly the same (with the same body mass index) when they step on the scale. The person who drinks coffee had more muscle and less fat in their body. So, even if coffee does not change your weight, it may be associated with your body looking more toned.
Unexpected Result in Men: Testosterone Increases But It Doesn't Work!
Researchers noticed that as coffee consumption increased in men, the total testosterone level also rose. Each cup of coffee consumed per day was pulling up the total testosterone in the blood.
Although testosterone in the blood was increasing, the level of 'active' (free) testosterone, which the body can actually use to build muscle or produce energy, was decreasing. So even though coffee seems to increase testosterone, it was preventing the body from using this hormone. This invalidates the often heard phrase 'Coffee increases testosterone.'
The Hidden Actor: How Does SHBG Protein Spoil the Game?
So why can't the body use it while testosterone in the blood is increasing? Here is where a carrier protein called 'SHBG' comes into play. You can think of this protein as a sponge or taxi circulating in the blood.
As men drink coffee, the SHBG in their blood increases. The increasing proteins latch onto and trap whatever testosterone they find in the blood. As a result, testosterone cannot freely circulate in the body and do its job, and the rate of 'usable' testosterone decreases.
The Picture is Shaping Up Very Differently for Women
When it comes to women, there was not a surge in testosterone with coffee as seen in men.
However, in women too, as they drank coffee, SHBG increased just like in men. This reduced the amount of active, ready-to-use hormones in women's bodies. (To see these results more clearly, scientists deliberately excluded women with diseases like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome that affect hormones from the beginning.)
Coffee Also Balances Blood Sugar
As part of the research, the blood values and body measurements of exactly 2,264 people in Finland were examined. Everyone's blood was tested, from those who drink 1 cup a day to those who drink more than 5 cups. It was observed that coffee affects not only fats but also metabolism.
For example; the blood sugar (glucose insulin) balance of men who drink a lot of coffee was much healthier.
So Does Coffee Directly Burn Fat?
Here's the most curious question... No, this study does not say 'if you drink coffee, you will definitely lose weight and burn fat'.
Scientists here just made an 'observation'. They say 'the fat ratio in the bodies of people who drink a lot of coffee turned out to be lower'. But maybe these people are very active? Maybe they don't have sweet cravings because they drink coffee without sugar? Different tests are needed to prove whether coffee alone melts fats.
Not Just Caffeine: There Are More Than 1000 Substances in the Cup
The mystery behind the results has not yet been fully solved. Because coffee is not just about caffeine; it contains more than a thousand components beneficial to the body.
Also, in this research, details such as how the coffee was brewed (filter or Turkish coffee?), whether milk or sugar was added, were not considered. As a result, coffee plays a much larger and complex chemical game in our bodies than just keeping us awake. We just need a little more time to fully understand the rules of this game.
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