Everyone's Sipping On Belly Fat-Reducing Enzyme Coffee—Here's What Nutritionists Think Of It

Belly fat is stubborn. Trying to get rid of it can feel like a losing game, even with the proper diet. But one drink that many people are sipping on for its purported belly fat-reducing abilities is enzyme coffee.

“Enzyme coffee is powdered coffee that has added chromium (a mega dose 1,000 mg which is 2857% of your daily value), green tea leaf extract, green coffee bean extract, guarana, yerba mate, all mixed together,” explains Roxana Ehsani, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist in Miami, Florida.

Enzyme coffee is very high in caffeine—225 mg of caffeine from both the coffee and green coffee bean.

“There’s also yerba mate, which also contains caffeine, but is not listed the mg of caffeine it provides, therefore could be potentially higher,” adds Ehasni. “It also contains L-theanine, an amino acid found in teas, and alpha-GPC, a phospholipid, and a herb and root extract.”

Related: Is Coffee Good for Weight Loss?

She points out that a regular cup of coffee is typically around 95 mg of caffeine per cup.

Does Enzyme Coffee Actually Reduce Belly Fat?

Technically, there are no specific scientific studies out there that support the idea that enzyme coffee will melt away your belly fat.

However, Ehsani points out that it does contain a lot of caffeine and chromium.

“Chromium is an essential mineral—it helps regulate glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity,” she says. “Some studies have indicated that supplementing with it may reduce appetite and overall food intake, which could result in weight loss.”

One study found that overweight women who supplemented it daily for eight weeks saw a 25% reduction in food intake, due to lower levels of craving and hunger.

In general, Ehsani explains that coffee increases your metabolism thanks to its caffeine. One study found that four cups of coffee reduced body fat by 4%.

Related: How to Lose Belly Fat Naturally

And caffeine specifically is what is working to "burn" belly fat, thanks to caffeine’s ability to stimulate the nervous system in order to mobilize fat cells to break down into fatty acids that are then used for energy, explains Jonathan Valdez, RDN, owner of Genki Nutrition and a spokesperson for the New York State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Caffeine works to increase your resting metabolic rate, which is the amount of calories you burn while at rest.

“Therefore, when you drink caffeine or coffee, it increases the amount of calories you can burn even at rest temporarily,” says Ehsani. “A faster metabolism or resting metabolic rate means you are burning more at rest, which can result in weight loss.”

She also adds that there is some evidence that coffee can support weight loss efforts, but more studies need to be conducted first.

Plus, coffee alone will not make you lose weight. But when you drink it along with exercise and staying in a calorie deficit, that can help set you up for success.

Related: How to Calculate a Calorie Deficit

“If included with exercise, coffee can help fight fatigue and maximize performance so you can burn more calories. 3 to 6 kg per kilogram of weight 60 minutes prior to working out is best,” adds Valdez. “More importantly, the overall caloric deficit has to be present versus caffeine alone.”

However, there are certain people who should avoid drinking enzyme coffee.

“Due to its high caffeine amount, people should drink with caution, and teens, young adults, pregnant women, and anyone sensitive to caffeine in large doses, should avoid,” says Ehsani. “Finally it also contains guarana, which is a plant that contains caffeine and stimulants, but does not list the amount [of caffeine].”

She adds that most health and medical professionals advise no more than 400 mg of caffeine per day, equaling about four cups of coffee daily.

“Be careful with consuming high doses of caffeine, and be wary of supplements like this one that sound too good to be true,” says Ehsani. “There are plenty of other healthy and safe ways you can lose weight. Also be careful with consuming high doses of chromium, as it may interact with supplements or medications you are currently taking.”

Finally, you should always check with your medical provider before consuming.

Next up: 31 Different Types of Coffee Drinks, All Explained

Sources

• Roxana Ehsani, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist in Miami, Florida.

• Jonathan Valdez, RDN, owner of Genki Nutrition and a spokesperson for the New York State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.