Fat burning Supplements

We’ve all been there. An event coming up, a night out, a wedding, a holiday or the pounds have just started to pile on from a few too much of the above. So while we all know that weightloss is a matter of calories in being less than calories out it’s also nice to have a little crutch to lean on to help us along the way. That’s where fat burning supplements can be a massive support and help us see changes quicker than just following a healthy diet alone.

What are my Options?

There are many fat burning supplements on the market right now. Here is some of the most common and researched.

Garcinia Cambogia:

HCA, also known as the active chemical ingredient found in the Garcinia Cambogia fruit. HCA has been shown to raise levels of serotonin which can help with appetite control. It has also been shown to block the conversion of carbohydrates into stored fat, meaning if dietary fat intake is limited the body can use its own stores of fat for fuel.

Green Tea:

Green tea can help with fat burning and weightloss. Several studies have been done that suggest that the caffeine and flavanoids in green tea can help elevate metabolic rate, increase oxidation of fat and improve blood sugar and improve insulin activity. One study showed that those who consumed green tea and caffeine lost an average of 2.9 pounds during a 12-week period, while sticking to their regular diet. Another study suggested the increase in calorie output was equal to about 100 calories over a 24-hour period.

Green Coffee Bean:

Green coffee bean can also help with fat burning in the sense that it increases thermo genesis. This means it increases your body’s ability to burn fat more at rest. It also contains chlorogenic which slows down the absorption of carbohydrates and assists in the breakdown of fat.

Apple Cider Vinegar:

Apple cider vinegar is widely used for many reasons. The most popular and widely known benefit of apple cider vinegar is its effect on blood sugar and weight loss. Several studies have shown that vinegar can help lower blood glucose levels and can be helpful in lowering blood sugar in people with diabetes and hyperglycaemia. Because of this stabilisation in blood glucose levels apple cider vinegar can also be used as a weight loss aid by regulating appetite and fat storage. Another follow up study was conducted over four weeks to see if apple cider vinegar helped with weight loss and found an average of a two pound weight loss between the group without changing any other factors.

Chromium:

Chromium is the mineral necessary for the pancreas to use glucose effectively thereby helping to reduce sugar cravings and stabilize energy levels. High in sugar diets requires more chromium to balance the sugar levels in the cells. A vicious cycle starts by overconsumption of sugary and refined foods.The more we crave and eat these foods the less chromium stores we have, the less chromium the more we crave bad foods. A chromium supplement can help with weightloss by helping to stabilize blood sugar levels and craving for sugary foods.

Glucommonan:

Glucommonanis a sugar made from the root of the konjac plant. It has the ability to absorb 50 times its weight in water and expanding to form a fibre in the stomach meaning it works for weightloss by helping keep you fuller for longer. When consumed, glucomannan also helps to reduce the absorption of carbohydrates and cholesterol and thus helping weightloss.

CLA:

CLA or conjugated linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid. These cannot be produced by the body and must be taken in through the diet. CLA has been shown to help reduce blood pressure, insulin sensitivity and blood glucose levels, all factors that can help with weightloss. It is also thought that CLA increases metabolic rate therefore increasing fat burning in the body. CLA has been shown to increase muscle to fat ratio and along with exercise has been shown to enhance the growth of lean muscle mass. As muscles are metabolically active, the body burns more calories at rest therefore leading to weightloss when there is an increase in lean body mass.