Nancy Dell: Exercise before eating; 50% GCB extract not pass test

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) -  

1. Is it better for me to exercise before or after breakfast to lose weight?
Naomi, Internet

A new study published in the British Journal of Nutrition shows exercising on an empty stomach burns off more body fat and triggers a bigger reduction in artery-clogging blood fats than if you exercise after you eat.

The researchers at Glasgow University had ten men exercise before breakfast one day and exercise after breakfast on a second day. When they exercised before breakfast they used up 33 percent more fat than exercising after breakfast.

The researchers say the body has enough reserves to exercise for one and a half to two hours before eating.

What about drinking fluids before exercise? You do want to drink 2 cups of fluid that has no calories before you exercise and drink a half a cup every 15 minutes during exercise to stay hydrated and prevent injury.

2. A friend told me green coffee bean extract can help with weight loss. Does it matter what brand I get?
Linda, E. Longmeadow

Green Coffee Bean Extract has been widely touted in the media for weight management and a few small studies have shown it to work, although people I know who took it did not see much if any weight loss.

However, many people bought it. I saw a Group-on where over 50 thousand were sold.

But in a recent analysis by Consumerlab.com , 50 percent of products tested did not contain what the label claimed.

The active ingredient in green coffee bean extract is chlorogenic acid. In studies, a product with 45 percent chlorogenic acid was compared to a placebo.

Over 12 weeks, participants who took the product lost 11 pounds vs 5 and a half pounds for those who took the placebo. So if you bought some green coffee beans extract and saw no result, the problem may be the brand you bought.

Pure Health Naturally Pure Green Coffee Bean extract contained about 29% of the chlorogenic acid it should have contained. MantzMayer Laboratories Pure Super Green Coffee Bean Extract Double Strength contained about 6% of what it claimed. Nutrition-Fusion Systems brand had NO detectable chlorogenic acid. Buying these products would be a waste of money.

The lowest cost brand that did pass the test with 100% of the recommended chlorogenic acid was Vitacost Green Coffee Bean Extract.