Researchers recently wondered whether it was the caffeine in coffee or something else that helps to control appetites. So they performed an interesting study. They took 11 healthy men between the ages of 18-28. All of the men were slightly to moderately overweight. Then they gave each of the men test solutions containing either pure caffeine in water, caffeinated coffee, decaffeinated coffee, or plain water.

On different occasions each one of the men drank each of the test solutions. After they drank the solution, the researchers measured their perceived sense of hunger and fullness. They also measured the hormone that the body makes in response to eating. This peptide is YY (PYY). PYY is a hormone that tells the body that it has had enough food. It basically turns off the appetite. What they found was surprising.

So if you are among the many people who have a poor control of your appetite, it may be because your body does not produce PYY as well as it should. In that case, you might find that taking a cup of decaffeinated coffee about 30-60 minutes before you eat is just the ticket. And one last thing. Always buy organic coffee! The non-organic type is way too loaded with pesticide levels. You don't need to be drinking that.

Finding your Real Cures,

Frank Shallenberger, MD

REF:

Greenberg JA, Geliebter A. Coffee, hunger, and peptide YY. J Am Coll Nutr. 2012 Jun;31(3):160-6.