Original Article: Extracto de fruta de café: ¿por qué tu cerebro lo necesita?
Author: Pipe Ramírez
If you start your day with a cup of coffee, you’re probably familiar with coffee beans. But… do you know the difference between the coffee bean and its fruit?
Let me explain. The beans used to make your morning coffee are the roasted seeds of the coffee fruit. Once the seeds are removed, the fruit is usually discarded.
The truth is, research has shown that the coffee fruit has several uses and health benefits—especially for the brain.
What is coffee fruit?
Coffee fruit, also known as coffee cherry or coffee berry, is a small, round stone fruit produced by the coffee plant. It’s about the size of a grape and grows in clusters on the coffee plant. When unripe, it is green and turns a deep red, reddish-purple, or yellowish-red as it matures.
Benefits of coffee fruit extract
According to Dave Asprey, the father of biohacking, coffee fruit extract is one of the best supplements you can take for your brain. It’s a powerful nootropic (brain-boosting) ingredient that provides benefits such as:
- Faster learning: If you’re studying something complex or developing new skills, the BDNF-enhancing (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) effects can help you progress faster.
- Improved memory: BDNF helps form new brain cell connections in the hippocampus, the brain’s memory center.
- Prevents brain aging: BDNF is neuroprotective and shields brain cells from stress and free radical damage, which are key drivers of brain aging.
- Better mood: BDNF also helps with depression. Coffee fruit extract may help reduce symptoms of this condition.
On the other hand, Permutter (2016) reported that a study in Food and Nutrition Sciences showed that whole coffee fruit concentrate (WCFC) had an effect on BDNF levels in humans. The study gathered data from 20 young adults who consumed powdered whole coffee fruit concentrate. After measuring their BDNF levels, researchers found they had doubled compared to those who drank coffee or a placebo.
Where can you find coffee fruit extract?
You can find coffee fruit products in health food stores and pharmacies, in the form of juices, extracts, pills, and capsules. It’s also available as a supplement. Since it can help support healthy skin, more and more cosmetic and skincare manufacturers are adding this fabulous ingredient to their products.
As you can see, it’s worth exploring how natural ingredients like this can positively impact our health. I recommend talking to your doctor before trying coffee fruit. They can help you decide if it’s a good fit based on your current health conditions.