Herbal Fat Reducer

Herbal fat reducers, or "fat burners," are the holy grail of the health-and-fitness industry. Some swear by them, claiming to have lost weight and improved the quality of their lives by using herbal fat reducers. Others malign these "natural," fat-burning ingredients for being ineffective and a waste of money. It can be a daunting task to navigate the treacherous landscape of this flashy industry, over-flowing with flamboyant marketing, questionable science and ubiquitous hearsay. However, there is real science out there, which supports the use of green tea and its natural fat-burning friends to achieve safe and drastic fat loss. Before you spend your hard-earned cash, remember that diet and exercise are needed in addition to these products in order to achieve optimal results. Learn about several popular formulations that effectively burn fat.

Stimulant Fat-Burners

Recreate: USP labs really broke the mold with this one. Unique ingredients and a low-stimulant profile round out a product that is receiving a lot of attention in the supplement industry. Olive leaf extract, Forslean and something called Cir20x exert a powerful effect on thyroid output (within a healthy range) and melts fat without causing the jitters.
Atro-phex: This BSN product is loaded with potent, natural fat-burning ingredients, including green tea, B-PEA, 7-keto, dicana and many others. Users report an intense effect on energy and fat burning with a diuretic (water-reducing) effect.
DREN: MHP's simple, yet effective, fat-burning formula is a big seller these days. Users report an increase of energy with a mildly euphoric effect. This may be due to the inclusion of 5-HTP, an amino acid that is calming. B-PEA, caffeine and yohimbe round out the ingredients for energy and thermogenic effect. Be prepared to sweat.
Lipo 6 Black: Nutrex has improved upon their popular Lipo 6 product by upping the ante on the stimulants. Diiodo-L-thryonine, three forms of yohimbe and B-PEA, as well as two forms of synephrine and caffeine equates to intense fat-burning for the experienced thermogenic user.
Animal Cuts: Universal has once again improved upon a product that was already great. The new formulation of Animal Cuts looks to be a potent offering. Expect increased energy, fat-burning and a diuretic effect.
Meltdown: VPX continues to sell their potent fat burner. This powerful combo of stimulants is literally not for the faint of heart. Experienced dieters will almost certainly see a fat-burning effect from their capsule or ready-to-drink formula.

Non-Stimulant Fat-Burners

Fucothin: Fucothin by Garden of Life has received a lot of good feedback. This natural family of the carotenoids is an extract of brown seaweed. Studies show a dramatic increase in fat-burning, as compared to placebo, in a relatively short amount of time.
Green Tea: Along with their caffeinated counterparts, decaffeinated versions of this ancient Chinese secret still contain antioxidant polyphenols and EGCG, which can increase metabolism, eliminate free radicals and increasing general wellness.
Coleus Forskohlii: From ancient Ayurvedic medicine, this natural fat-loss ingredient increases thyroid output, thus elevating metabolism and fat loss. Tradmarked as "Forslean," this herb helps relax arteries and promotes healthy insulin levels and thyroid function.

Other Weight-loss Supplements

CLA: Conjugated lineolic acid, or CLA, is another popular stimulant-free alternative for fat-burning. This safflower oil extract has shown to be effective in reducing body fat levels. However, it seems to take a while to work its magic, so be patient.
Hoodia: Many users report an appetite-suppressing effect from this cactus extract. Traditionally, it was used in the bush to ward of hunger while men hunted for days with limited means of nutrition. While it does not work for everyone, some find it helpful for chasing away food cravings.

References

Article reviewed by Contributing Writer Last updated on: Oct 27, 2009

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