A new study out of the UK shows that morning cup of coffee might not only be crucial for your productivity - it can help keep your waistline in check as well.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham published the study on Monday, showing that coffee may stimulate our 'brown fat' reserves, also known as brown adipose tissue.
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Playing a different role in our metabolism from regular white fat cells, brown cells help generate heat by burning sugar and fat.
"Brown fat works in a different way to other fat in your body and produces heat by burning sugar and fat, often in response to cold, study co-director Professor Michael Symonds told CNN.
"Increasing its activity improves blood sugar control as well as improving blood lipid levels and the extra calories burnt help with weight loss. However, until now, no one has found an acceptable way to stimulate its activity in humans."
The research indicates that drinking coffee could activate the body's fat-fighting defences, a discovery that could have potential implications in the battle against obesity and diabetes.
The scientists say they began by testing caffeine on stem cells, and once they found the right dose they moved on to humans. However, only nine people (four men and five women), were tested using thermal imaging, meaning the research is still at a very early stage.
"The results were positive and we now need to ascertain that caffeine as one of the ingredients in the coffee is acting as the stimulus or if there's another component helping with the activation of brown fat," Dr Symonds said.
However, it has to be said - if you're having a massive triple-shot mocha with cream every day, it's probably not going to help with weight loss.
If you're looking for an another way to justify your coffee-drinking habits, you might be interested in a recent study published in the European Journal of Epidemiology, which found a twice daily caffeine hit could help you to live longer.
Newshub.
