Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages in the world, but a new study from Finland suggests that its connection to the body may go beyond the stimulating effect of caffeine.
Researchers at the University of Oulu analyzed coffee consumption and a range of metabolic indicators. The results, published on August 19, showed that people who consumed more coffee tended to have less total body fat and more muscle mass.
The researchers also noticed differences in the levels of certain hormones. This is interesting because hormones affect how the body stores fat, uses energy, and builds or maintains muscle tissue.
But the results don't prove that drinking more coffee directly causes fat loss or muscle gain. People who drink coffee may also differ in other lifestyle factors, and these differences could affect the results.
Coffee also contains hundreds of biologically active compounds in addition to caffeine, so researchers are trying to figure out which of them might explain the observed links.
The study thus opens another chapter in the debate over coffee: a drink that was once seen mainly as a stimulant is increasingly being studied for its relationship with metabolism.
