Everyone wants to accelerate fat loss and lose weight faster, with many people looking to a thermogenic fat-loss supplements for an effective solution.

When it comes to supporting your diet and exercise plan, thermogenic fat burners generally offer the most pronounced effect.

Fire up your metabolism

These products typically contain ingredients that help to fire up your metabolism by raising your body temperature to burn more calories, and some compounds have a direct fat-burning (lipolytic) effect on fat cells.

Due to the effect of stimulants on the central nervous system (CNS), those who use these supplements typically experience feelings of heightened energy, alertness, awareness, mood, wakefulness, endurance and performance, which can give you that extra impetus to train harder or longer.

The fat loss experienced when supplementing with a stimulant-based fat burner results directly from its heat-producing (thermogenic) action on the body, which means you burn more calories throughout the day from stored fat, even when you are inactive.

These active ingredients also boost your energy expenditure when you exercise, especially at higher intensities or longer durations. Moreover, these supplements can help to reduce your appetite.

Advantages of stimulant-based fat burners:

  • Increases energy
  • Boosts your metabolism
  • Decreases appetite
  • Increases alertness

The right combination

A product like Primal Hyper Shred contains a combination of active compounds that support your metabolism for more efficient fat loss with ingredients such as caffeine, green tea extract, yerba mate, Sinetrol® Xpur and others.

This natural weight-loss supplement works in conjunction with a good weight management programme consisting of a calorie-controlled eating plan and regular exercise regimen, leveraging the effects of these ingredients to boost thermogenesis and activity levels, which accelerates the rate at which you lose fat.

  • Caffeine: A mild stimulant compound found naturally in coffee, tea and, to a lesser degree, in cocoa or chocolate. Caffeine is a powerful CNS stimulant that can increase alertness and enables intense focus at the right dosage. This psychological benefit can help to reduce perceived exertion during intense training, allowing you to train harder to burn more calories during your session.
  • Green tea extract: Green tea leaves are rich in polyphenols, including catechins, which are natural antioxidants that can help to lower oxidative stress. The fat-loss effects from green tea extract stem from its epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) content, which helps to stimulate your CNS to boost your metabolism. Research1 also shows that green tea extract aids lipolysis (fat burning).
  • Yerba mate: Contains methyl xanthine (caffeine) to promote thermogenesis and release fatty acids from fat cells through its enzyme-inhibiting action. Research2 also suggests that yerba mate is an effective appetite suppressant.
  • Sinetrol® Xpur: This patented compound contains a combination of botanical sources, including grapefruit, orange and guarana extracts. The manufacturer of this compound has conducted more than 10 years of research to support the mechanism of action and clinical benefits on body composition by boosting your metabolism and helping you burn more calories throughout the day.
  • Grains of Paradise: A spice with a similar composition to ginger. The extract used in supplements has a stimulant effect, which can help boost energy and focus and increase energy expenditure. It also contains various phytonutrients that act as antioxidants.
  • L-theanine: An amino acid considered valuable for its nootropic effects due to its ability to boost the production of serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain. Supplementing with products that contain L-theanine can help promote relaxation and feelings of well-being, support healthy sleep cycles, cognitive function and focus, and help manage acute stress and anxiety.
  • Chromium Polynicotinate: An essential mineral that helps regulate insulin action and its effects on carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism, which may help to reduce cravings. Research3 affirms that chromium supplements can help to improve blood glucose control through its action on the insulin response, which helps limit fat storage.

Using thermogenic products safely

As thermogenic weight-loss products contain stimulants, it is important to follow certain guidelines to support your nervous and hormonal systems, and sustain the effectiveness of these products.

It is important to cycle stimulant-based fat burners, as this approach gives your nervous and hormonal systems time to self-regulate and reset. General guidelines recommend cycles of 2-4 weeks followed by a 1-2 week “off” cycle or break.

Your body can also build a tolerance to stimulants, which means that prolonged use will require higher doses of the active ingredients over time to get the same effect. Taking a break helps receptors reset their sensitivity to these ingredients for a more pronounced effect.

Individuals with cardiovascular conditions, pregnant or breastfeeding women and people under the age of 18 should avoid these products.

Regardless of your current health, it is always recommended that you consult with your doctor before starting any supplement regimen that includes thermogenic products, especially if you take chronic medication. And always follow the guidelines provided on the package labelling.

References

  1. Cunha CA, Lira FS, Rosa Neto JC, Pimentel GD, Souza GI, da Silva CM, de Souza CT, Ribeiro EB, Sawaya AC, Oller do Nascimento CM, Rodrigues B, de Oliveira Carvalho P, Oyama LM. Green tea extract supplementation induces the lipolytic pathway, attenuates obesity, and reduces low-grade inflammation in mice fed a high-fat diet. Mediators Inflamm. 2013;2013:635470. doi: 10.1155/2013/635470. Epub 2013 Jan 29. PMID: 23431242; PMCID: PMC3569937.
  2. Alkhatib A, Atcheson R. Yerba Maté (Ilex paraguariensis) Metabolic, Satiety, and Mood State Effects at Rest and during Prolonged Exercise. Nutrients. 2017 Aug 15;9(8):882. doi: 10.3390/nu9080882. PMID: 28809814; PMCID: PMC5579675
  3. Havel PJ. A scientific review: the role of chromium in insulin resistance. Diabetes Educ. 2004;Suppl:2-14. PMID: 15208835.