The Skinny on Fat Burners

So you’re thinking about adding fat burners to your daily
routine to help you on your way to that slimmer, trimmer body
you’ve always wanted. Hey! Every little bit helps right? So why
not fat burners? Well, here is the low-down on fat burners that
just might help you to understand what they are and how they
work for a weight loss program.

While there are quite a number of products on the market today,
many of the ingredients will be similar from one product to
another. Caffeine is a drug that is used all over the world
mostly for its stimulant effects. Caffeine increases alertness,
lowers the perceived exertion of exercise and decreases reaction
time.

Caffeine has another effect that few people know about; it also
acts as a fat burner! Caffeine works by increasing the rate of
fatty acid metabolism and decreasing the rate of carbohydrate
metabolism during aerobic exercise. Glycogen is spared after
taking in only 150-250mg of caffeine. With an increased reliance
on fat and a decreased reliance on glycogen, more calories will
be burned from fat if caffeine is taken in prior to exercise.

Keep in mind though that caffeine does have some side effects as
well. At higher doses caffeine can cause slowed heart rate,
hypertension, nervousness, irritability, insomnia and
gastrointestinal distress. It is also a diuretic which causes
the kidneys to excrete more fluid than normal which can
dehydrate the body. Caffeine will not help you lose weight on
its own, but if taken before aerobic exercise it can help
increase fat burning and help you exercise longer.

HCA, or hydroxyl citric acid, has the purported effects of
inhibiting the conversion of fat by blocking the enzyme ATP
citrate lyase and to decrease appetite. Naringin is a substance
that is isolated from grapefruit and is an inhibitor of an
enzyme that metabolizes caffeine and has been shown to possibly
prolong caffeine’s fat burning effects.

Synephrine is the active compound in the fruit of a plant called
citrus aurantium. Synephrine is chemically similar to the
ephedrine found in many cold/allergy medications and a number of
weight loss and energy supplements, which contain ma huang. Its
purported benefits are to increase the metabolic rate, increase
calorie expenditure, promote weight loss and increase energy.

Guggulsterone possibly works in stimulating the thyroid gland.
This would speed up the metabolism. It may also lower
cholesterol. The trouble is, as with many of these herbs, is
that they have not been studied enough to prove that they really
work, and that they are safe from any side effects.

Yohimbine raises the metabolism by increasing the release of
norepinephrine, one of the adrenal hormones. Studies have shown
that this product did have a weight loss effect but as with most
other products of this kind, long term use and side effects have
yet to be studied.

In essence, fat burners may work to some extent but at what
possible long term cost? With the lack of studies done on most
of these products as to not only there effectiveness, but also
there possible side effects, it would be safe to say that it
would be best to avoid most of these products. Caffeine, if used
in moderate amounts, may well be your best bet for a
pre-exercise fat burning aid but use it sparingly and if you
feel any of the previously mentioned side effects or any other
symptoms from caffeine use, stop and consult your doctor before
continuing use.

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