Nutrition and Health

Weighing the Truth about Natural Fat Burners

People who are afraid of medications usually prefer to rely on natural or herbal remedies to take care of their various problems. Some athletes feel the same way, too, and this is why they may also choose a natural method over a medical one to help them burn fats more easily.

GREEN TEA – This particular cup of tea is certainly making waves in the healthcare industry. The origins of green go as far back as four thousand years ago.  Green tea possesses a rather unusual flavor that appeals to some while repelling others. Green tea contains several key ingredients that help get rid of undesirable compounds in our body such as calories and – you guessed it – fats!

In a study performed at Birmingham (UK) University, it was shown that average fat oxidation rates were 17% higher after ingestion of green tea Extract than after ingestion of a placebo [2].  Similarly the contribution of fat oxidation to total energy expenditure was also significantly higher by a similar percentage following ingestion of green tea extract. This implies that ingestion of green tea extract can not only increase fat oxidation during moderately intensive exercise but also improve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance in healthy young men. [1]

If you’re intending to use green tea as a fat burner, choose a product that has the highest amount of polyphenols, as this is the chief source of benefits of green tea. Secondly, drinking three cups of green tea everyday would sufficiently bring your fat content down.

Coleus forskohlii – This strange-sounding fat burner is a plant that’s found in the Asian region. Studies have shown that properties of this plant can increase the level of fat burning inside our bodies. This particular plant also helps people feel full longer, and therefore eat less. If you’re intending to use this fat-burning technique, make sure that you inform your physician first as it may have unwanted side effects.

YERBA MATE – This is another herbal remedy to help increase the level of fat burning in your body. It is primarily found in the rainforests of Latin America. When you take yerba mate, you can experience the advantages of caffeine without its downside. Simply put, your brain functions better and you feel more energetic without feeling too nervous or restless. Secondly, yerba mate, according to recent studies, can also help your body burn fats more quickly.

EPHEDRA – People who are already somewhat familiar with the trends in the healthcare market would no doubt recognize the name ephedra. Ephedra is actually where ephedrine, a popular stimulant, comes from. Ephedra not only burns fats and calories faster, it can also help you lose weight more quickly because of its appetite-suppressing functions.

Ephedra is both a stimulant and a thermogenic; its biological effects are due to its ephedrine and pseudoephedrine content. [4] These compounds stimulate the brain, increase heart rate, constrict blood vessels (increasing blood pressure), and expand bronchial tubes (making breathing easier). Their thermogenic properties cause an increase in metabolism, evidenced by an increase in body heat.

The Truth about Fat Burning Pills

No matter how powerful a fat burning pill is it won’t work if the person doesn’t adhere to the right exercise and diet at the same time.
Athletes must not expect fat burning pills to work like miracles; they still need to undergo rigorous workouts and a strict diet if they want the fat burning pill to work.

Secondly, you must not allow yourself to be swept away with the bold claims frequently made by fat burning pills. Most of these pills are fond of claiming that their products no longer contain any dangerous ingredients, and that it’s thoroughly safe and effective to use, and so forth. The only way however to determine that is to find someone you personally know and trust to confirm the validity of those claims. Failing that, you can always contact the Food and Drug Administration and know their official stand regarding said product.

Competition is always fierce in all kinds of sports, and this is probably why athletes feel a desperate need to make use of the most effective fat burner available in the market. Their needs however must not make them blind to the risks they’ll be facing if they make the wrong choice. Fat burning is good, natural or not, just as long as it’s done safely.

1. Green tea. (2009, June 30). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 03:36, June 30, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Green_tea&oldid=299441361

2. “Green tea extract ingestion, fat oxidation, and glucose tolerance in healthy humans”. Vol. 87, No. 3. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. March 2008. 778-784. http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/87/3/778. Retrieved on 2008-10-25.

4.   Abourashed E, El-Alfy A, Khan I, Walker L (2003). “Ephedra in perspective–a current review”. Phytother Res 17 (7): 703–12. doi:10.1002/ptr.1337. PMID 12916063.

Ephedra. (2009, May 14). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20:46, May 14, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ephedra&oldid=289957268

Antioxidant Green Tea – www.advanced-antioxidants.com.  http://www.advanced-antioxidant.com/antioxidant-Grean-tea.html

T-Nation.  ECA Stack – http://tnation.tmuscle.com/free_online_forum/diet_performance_nutrition_supplements/for_the_young_lady_at_the_gnc%3bjsessionid=A26793685D26CA601ACFA9FEB2F61C56.hydra?pageNo=0#460826

T-Nation.  Jack Yo Ass Up! – Testosterone’s Guide to Pre-workout Stimulants. http://www.tmuscle.com/free_online_article/sports_body_training_performance_bodybuilding_supplements/jack_yo_ass_up_testosterones_guide_to_preworkout_stimulants

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