Fat Burners

Fat Burner Supplements

You’ve likely heard of fat burner supplements, and you may be curious to find out if they actually do work, and if so if they can help you get “bikini-ready” in time for summer.

First the bad news: fat burners are NOT magic bullets that can melt fat off you without any effort on your part. However, many fat-burning supplements, when used appropriately, in conjunction with a clean and healthy diet and regular physical exercise, can stimulate metabolism considerably, and help speed up the burning of stored body fat. There are a wide variety of fat-burning supplements available on the market, each with their own mode of action, that you can add to your daily supplement regimen to help support your weight loss/fat loss goals. Of these, some of the most common include L-Carnitine, CLA, Green Coffee Bean Extract, Green Tea Extract, Yohimbine, Garcinia Cambogia, and Raspberry Ketones. While an in-depth exploration of the mode of action of each fat burner is beyond the scope of this article, let’s explore the basics of each.

L-Carnitine can play a key role in boosting metabolism by improving mitochondrial function and increasing cellular energy. Supplementing with L-Carnitine also favours the use of fatty acids instead of carbohydrates as an energy source, which naturally stimulates fat loss.

Green Coffee Bean Extract, contains caffeine, a stimulant that’s been shown to aid weight loss. It’s also rich in chlorogenic acid which has been shown to promote fat loss by reducing the absorption of fat and glucose in the gut, thus lowering insulin, and stimulating metabolic rate.

Catechin-rich green tea extract has been shown to increase metabolic rate, reduce body fat, and enhance weight loss.

Yohimbine has a demonstrated ability to block alpha-2 adrenergic receptors in fat cells, thus ramping up fat loss and helping to improve body composition.

Garcinia cambogia, which is rich in hydroxycitric acids (HCA), has been shown to help lower appetite, stabilize blood sugar and enhance fat loss, most specifically, belly fat.

Raspberry ketones are natural phenolic compounds in raspberries and have been shown to increase metabolism, increase the rate at which the body burns fat, as well as reduce appetite, thus helping to shed unwanted pounds more rapidly.

Benefits of Fat Burner Supplements

• Boosts Metabolism
• Helps Prevent the Storage of Fat
• Promotes Fat Loss
• Stimulates Thermogenesis
• Supports Weight Loss

Why Take Fat Burner Supplements?

A quality fat-burning supplement is ideal for anyone looking for a little extra support to lose those stubborn last few pounds, to help optimize body composition (lose fat, while retaining and even building muscle), as well as used as an adjunct to support a comprehensive weight loss program. They can also be used more generally to stimulate metabolism and enhance workouts and bodybuilding/body sculpting efforts.

Fat Burner Supplement Varieties

Fat burners are available in capsules, tablets, and liquids, featuring isolated fat-burning ingredients and in combination thermogenic blends. Fat burning ingredients are also frequently added to meal replacement protein powders to stimulate weight loss. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to fat burners; however, so it’s important to follow the dosing instructions on the label carefully.

Final Thoughts

Because of the often stimulating nature of fat burners, it’s important to use caution when supplementing. Too high a caffeine consumption over time can deplete nutrients, leave you feeling exhausted, jittery, and even cause or exacerbate anxiety. Some fat-burning supplements such as; green tea extract, have been associated with liver injury. If you develop symptoms of liver impairment, discontinue use and consult a health care professional immediately.