Also known as thermogenic diet pills, fat burning diet pills are supposed to cause weight loss. They lower the body’s ability to absorb fat, at the same time increasing lean muscle mass. Bodybuilders and weightlifters are known to use fat burners before contests.
For years, some of the most commercially viable OTC (over-the-counter) fat burners all at once used aspirin, caffeine, and ephedrine. This fat burning combo came to be called the ECA Stack (ephedrine, caffeine, aspirin).
Of the three, ephedra or ephedrine alkaloids, e.g. ma huang, have the most potency versus fat. For all its potency however, ephedra causes some life-threatening side effects. In light of this, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered the pullout of ephedra from the American market in December 2003.
That’s not to say there is a glaring lack of effective fat burning supplements left in the market. Fat burning diet pills with ingredients such as choline, chromium picolinate, and L-carnitine can readily compare with ephedra in treating obesity or overweight.
The following are common sources of fat burners nowadays:
L-carnitine
L-carnitine mimics HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) which helps transport long-chain fatty acids across the mitochondrial membrane to be metabolized. HCG aids in the release of triglycerides (stored body fat) into the bloodstream for energy, resulting your body burn existing fat easier. L-carnitine is one of the ingredients of Phen375, our #1 recommended diet pills.
Banaba leaf extract
According to preliminary clinical studies, the extract of banaba leaves may contain chemicals that could help humans lose weight as much as obese experimental mice. More conclusive though are findings that compounds from banaba leaf may lower blood sugar in Type 2 diabetic patients.
Bitter orange
Citrus aurantium or bitter orange contains synephrine, a compound closely related to ephedra. Research shows that synephrine can increase the heart rate and blood pressure, much like stimulants.
Calcium
There is increasing evidence that calcium is not only good for your bones and teeth. As several researches show, calcium can be used as a potent weight loss supplement just as well. As yet, you can get your daily fill of calcium from milk, cheese, yogurt, and other dairy goods.
Chromium picolinate
Chromium picolinate is a trace mineral with appetite-reducing properties. It can stabilize levels of glucose in the blood, helping lower cravings for sugary food. While studies on chromium picolinate’s effectiveness as a weight loss supplement are inconclusive at best, the virtues of taking it are not negligible either. Chromium picolinate may yield best results when taken in tandem with exercise and diet.
Common brands of chromium picolinate include Chromium GTF. Overdosage of chromium picolinate may cause kidney damage though.
Garcinia cambogia
Rinds of the fruit known as Garcinia cambogia are known to hold hydroxycitric acid (HCA), an appetite suppressing compound. According to a study, taking HCA in 300-mg doses per day may just help you lose weight. HCA can apparently force the body to use fats rather than carbohydrates for energy.
Green tea
Green tea supplements, as well as the plant itself, are known to contain the compound EGCG or epigallocatechin gallate. EGCG’s fat burning potential has been making the rounds in scientific circles for a while now. If anything, green tea contains caffeine, which is also a known fat burner.
L-theanine
Aside from EGCG and caffeine, green tea contains the amino acid known as L-theanine. However, it may do as much to your weight as it would your anxieties. As it is, L-theanine is used in some anti-anxiety drugs.
Vanadyl sulfate
Vanadyl sulfate is sourced from vanadium, a mineral which lowers blood sugar levels in some marine creatures. It follows then that pharmaceutical companies should use this mineral on humans.
Keep on exercising
While these are all ephedra-free weight loss supplement ingredients, safety is not your only consideration in buying fat burners. You must also look for effectiveness, which might not be true for all these thermogenic diet pills. Perhaps because these drugs are what they are: supplements. They are supplements to exercise and diet (with the exception of Phen375 and Meratol, these two will still actively working for you even without exercise). Still, it is never too unwise to use fat burning supplements in your weight loss plan.
