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Green Coffee Extract Flames Out

Claims for green coffee bean extract as a weight loss aid are not backed by good evidence according to the FTC.

Green coffee bean extract has gotten a lot of attention for its potential to accelerate weight loss. TV and online media hailed it as a great advance.

The Federal Trade Commission recently examined the evidence behind the claims that this botanical product accelerates fat burning. The FTC has determined that the data do not support this conclusion.

Usually supplements and even weight loss drugs make only a modest difference in placebo-controlled trials. What matters more is changing the lifestyle for the long run, perhaps by adopting long walks or other exercise and de-emphasizing foods and beverages that tempt us to consume too much.

The actual dietary habits that work for one person may be different from those that work for another. That’s why people need to experiment to find out which are compatible with their individual tastes and lifestyle so they can find a way to stick with the program. Evidence shows that is what counts more than magic pills.

 

 

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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