Drop 26 pounds in 30 days simply by choosing one brand of coffee over another

Notre Dame–educated M.D. uncovers the antioxidant already in your kitchen that melts 3x more fat— even as you indulge in holiday favorites!

Sitting down with a cup of joe as you read? If not, consider pouring yourself a mug—you’ll probably want to drink some after reading this: Coffee has been shown to reduce levels of heart-harming triglycerides by 58 percent, slash the risk of type 2 diabetes by 54 percent and cut heart disease risk by 50 percent— and now new research suggests that it can help you flatten your belly too!

Breakthrough science has uncovered a compound in coffee that increases fat burn by 50 percent.

A study in the British Journal of Nutrition found that chlorogenic

acid, a polyphenol antioxidant found in high levels in coffee beans, flips a switch that instructs the body’s cellular energy engines to increase fat burn—and the benefits kick in after just five days. “Chlorogenic acid is coffee’s secret weapon,” asserts Bob Arnot, M.D., former chief medical correspondent for NBC Nightly News and Today. “The compound signals the body to take fatty acids right out of your fat cells and burn them for fuel—and that has a profound effect on weight loss.”

Of course, many of us drink coffee every day and aren’t at our goal weight. The reason: When it comes to chlorogenic acid, not all brews are created equal. “Many coffees are made from low-quality, over-roasted beans that offer very few health benefits,” says Dr. Arnot. “And many of the coffee concoctions that are popular today are packed with fat and sugar that block coffee’s positive effects.”

Switch to a coffee that is rich in the antioxidant, though, and the payoff is significant: According to a Norwegian study, women who sip coffee varieties that are highest in chlorogenic acid lose three times more weight than women who drink brews that contain lower levels.

Chlorogenic acid is especially beneficial for women over 40.

Korean researchers found that adults who make coffee a daily habit have a 57 percent lower risk of muscle loss. “The research shows that chlorogenic acid promotes the regeneration of muscle,” explains Dr. Arnot. “That’s key because after the age of 40, women lose up to 6 pounds of muscle each decade. Losing that muscle mass slows the metabolic engine, causing women to have less energy and put on weight.” By helping to preserve calorie-burning lean muscle mass, though, chlorogenic acid ensures fat and sugar are burned for fuel by the muscles instead of stored as fat, helping women avoid or even eliminate a stubborn menopot.

The best news: You can slim through the holidays without giving up your favorite foods. By keeping metabolism humming, chlorogenic acid helped women in a University of Scranton study shed 16 percent of their body fat in 22 weeks—despite eating 2,400 calories per day. And if you want to lose even faster, chlorogenic acid can be used alongside a calorie-cutting diet plan to take the struggle out of slimming: Research in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that the antioxidant reduces hunger-stimulating bloodsugar fluctuations by 50 percent. Plus, chlorogenic acid has been shown to raise levels of the happiness-boosting, craving-reducing brain chemical serotonin. All together, these effects helped women FIRST spoke to lose nearly a pound a day—effortlessly!

The benefits go beyond weight loss. FIRST readers also report freedom from tiredness—and their experiences are backed up by science, with studies showing that chlorogenic acid boosts energy by 34 percent and helps women fall asleep 178 percent faster. Read on to discover the strategy that will help you look and feel your all-time best—even if you don’t like coffee!