A healthy herbal fat burner is one that matches your personal goals and preferences. Combined with proper diet and exercise, herbal fat burners may accelerate fat loss two or three fold. Fat burners may contain ingredients such as stimulants, metabolism boosters, appetite suppressants, cortisol blockers and natural diuretics. By choosing the right ingredients for your unique body chemistry, body composition and short- and long-term weight-loss goals, you can find a healthy product to help you.
Stimulants
Fat burners often contain potent central nervous system stimulants such as caffeine, synephrine and/or yohimbe. While not inherently harmful, these ingredients can elevate blood pressure, or trigger nausea, anxiousness or a jittery feeling. For those who cannot tolerate stimulants, the average fat burner would not be a healthy addition to a diet or weight-loss plan. Non-caffeinated alternatives are available. Forslean, CLA, L-carnitine and fucoxanthin may be healthy alternatives to high-stimulant herbal fat burners.
Metabolic Boost
A healthy herbal fat burner should contain ingredients that help to increase metabolic rate. For example, EGCG extract from green tea has been shown to boost metabolic rate at rest, according to the "Muscle Nerd" Jeff Anderson. Combining 300 milligrams of EGCG with 200 milligrams of caffeine is a very simple, yet effective fat-burning formula. Other ingredients that may help to increase metabolic function and fat-burning are raspberry ketone, L-tyrosine, guggelsterones, tea extracts and olive leaf extract.
Appetite Suppressants
Some healthy herbal fat burners may contain natural appetite suppressants. Besides increasing physical activity, the other way to burn calories is by limiting food intake. Hunger pangs are the body's way of letting us know that fewer calories are being consumed. Some ingredients can eliminate some hunger by tricking the body into feeling full. Hoodia extract, citrimax, apple cider vinegar and 5-HTP are examples of natural ingredients that may help to eliminate hunger. Look for a product with hunger suppressants if you are prone to food cravings. Many a diet has been sabotaged by an untimely dessert binge.
Cortisol Blockers
According to "The Cortisol Connection," the stress hormone cortisol can make us fat by devouring our metabolically active muscle and forcing our bodies to store fat in trouble areas such as the abdomen. Some herbal fat burners contain natural cortisol-blocking herbs, which can help avoid the health risks of high cortisol. While the stress hormone is essential for life, chronic high levels can lead to obesity and heart disease. Ashwagandha root, magnolia bark extract, phosphatidylserine and rhodiola are examples of healthy herbs that help to reduce the production of cortisol in the body. As a side effect, they may also prevent the breakdown of muscle tissue, allowing the body to burn more calories. Muscle requires constant energy to maintain, so the more muscle you have the more calories you will burn at rest.
Natural Diuretics
Many herbal fat burners contain natural diuretics, which are substances that help to eliminate excess water retention. The body can retain water in unwanted places just beneath the skin, making us appear bloated and more fat than we actually are. Retaining water around the abdomen or ankles is common and may be a sign of chronic dehydration or electrolyte imbalance. Herbs that are natural diuretics include dandelion root, uva ursi leaf, hydrangea root, buchu leaf, juniper berry fruit and celery seed. Natural diuretics are preferable to artificial diuretics, which can cause severe dehydration. It is important to drink plenty of water when taking natural diuretics because they cause more frequent urination and elimination of fluids.
References
- Homemade Supplement Secrets; Jeff Anderson; CQC LLC, 2009
- The Abs Diet; David Zinczenko; Rodale, 2004
- The Fat Burning Bible; Mackie Shilstone; John Wiley & Sons Inc., 2005
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