Many associate fat burning supplements and products with unhealthy levels of stimulants, such as caffeine. However, natural fat burning substances exist that work well without contain any central nervous system stimulants. Contrary to the flashy marketing of numerous supplement companies, fat burners do not induce weight loss without proper diet and exercise. You can, however, lose weight faster with these safe fat burners than with diet and exercise alone.
Fucoxanthin
A brown seaweed extract, fucoxanthin is a natural carotenoid related to beta carotene, the Vitamin A precursor found in carrots and other yellow and orange vegetables. Fucoxanthin can raise your resting energy expenditure to speed up metabolism without harmful stimulants. Moreover, fucoxanthin switches on fat burning and can cause 10 to 12 lbs. more weight loss over a 16-week period of time, according to Life Extension Magazine. For boosting metabolism, you can take 200 mg of fucoxanthin three times per day with meals.
Green Tea Extract
Another impressive natural fat burner, green tea extract contains the potent antioxidant known as EGCG or epigallocatechin gallate. According to "Home Supplement Secrets" by Jeff Anderson, this substance also speeds up metabolic rate. Green tea naturally contains a small amount of caffeine; however, you can get green tea extracts that are decaffeinated. What is most important is finding a green tea product that contains 270 to 300 mg of EGCG per serving. You can take 300 mg of this supplement two or three times per day. However, Anderson notes that doubling or tripling the 300 mg dose of EGCG does not lead to an impressive increase in metabolic rate.
Fat Burning Fats
Many natural fats have a thermogenic or fat burning effect on the body, according to "Homemade Supplement Secrets". DHA or docosahexaenoic acid, from fish oil, targets body fat in a couple different ways, according to "Supplements 101" by Jim Stoppani. It may increase the body's use of fats as energy, it stabilizes insulin levels to decrease fat storage and it inhibits enzyme critical to metabolizing ingested fats. CLA or conjugated linoleic acid comes from safflower and sunflower oils (also found in dairy from grazing animals) and it has fat burning properties similar to DHA. MCT fats or medium-chain triglycerides are shorter chain saturated fats from palm and coconut oils that may also help to build muscle and burn fat, says Stoppani. You can take 1 to 2g of fish oil three times a day, 3 to 6g CLA per day and 1 or 2 tbsp of MCT oil one to four times per day.
Amino Acids
Several amino acids, known as the building blocks of protein, help to burn fat. L-carnitine, for example, physically acts as the shuttle that transports fatty acids released from body fat stores into the mitochondria in muscle cells to be burned for energy. L-tyrosine acts as a precursor to norepinephrine, dopamine and thyroid hormones to encourage fat burning and help control appetite, according to "Supplements 101." L-arginine converts into the gas nitric oxide, or NO, that increases the delivery of nutrients to working muscles and amps up fat burning, according to "Natural Anabolics". Several forms of arginine are available, including arginine alpha-ketoglutarate, arginine HCL and others. You can take 3g arginine before a workout, 500 to 1000 mg tyrosine twice per day and 1 to 3g carnitine split into three separate doses.
References
- "Homemade Supplement Secrets"; Jeff Anderson; 2008
- "Natural Anabolics"; Jerry Brainum; 2006
- Muscle & Fitness; The Ultimate Supplement Handbook; "Supplements 101"; Jim Stoppani, January 2010
- Life Extension Magazine; "Safely Burn Away Body Fat"; Julius Goepp, March 2008
- Life Extension Magazine; "Why a 100% Effective Diet Pill Would Lead to a Health Catastrophe"; William Faloon, March 2008
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