In part 1, we discussed fat burners and what they are and what they do.
 

In this part, we will look at a typical fat burner (in this case Cellucor Super HD, our fat burner of choice) and what the content actually is and actually does.
 

The first part of Cellucor Super HD is what they call  SUPER HD THERMOSCULPTING BLEND.  It sounds particularly impressive when they call the main compound in it, IFAS50, a proprietary blend of fatty acid synthase inhibitors.  Very fancy sounding.

 

The reality is, this blend is Caffeine, Camellia sinensis (green tea) extract, tuber fleece flower root extract and Chinese mistletoe stem extract and a few other herbs.  Not quite as exciting, when labelled as such, hey?

 

I’m sure you are now asking “What do they do?”.  We won’t go through everything in the bottle but we will discuss the key aspects below…

Caffeine

Caffeine is perhaps the most popular weight loss supplement. This alkaloid is obtained from different natural sources including tea leaves, seeds and fruits. It is the most consumed stimulant and a common ingredient of energy drinks.

There are 3 ways by which caffeine contributes to weight loss.

Firstly, it increases the activities of excitatory neurotransmitters in the brain by blocking adenosine, an inhibitory neurotransmitters. This directly translates into an increase in physical activities and energy expenditure which leads the body to burn fat for fuel.

Caffeine can also directly serve as a thermogenic agent. It encourages the body to burn stored fat instead of converting glycogen to glucose for energy source.

Lastly, caffeine is a diuretic. It encourages the elimination of excess water from the body.

 

Camellia sinensis (green tea) extract

Green tea is a good source of caffeine. Therefore, it has all the weight loss benefits of caffeine; and then some.

Other phytochemicals in green tea can help regulate blood sugar levels and lower cholesterol levels. In addition, green tea is an excellent source of antioxidants such as EGCG or epigallocatechin gallate.

Therefore, it can provide protective support for the body even as it loses some weight.

Furthermore, green tea can help boost the immunity and reduce the effect of physical and chemical stress on the body. Both of these effects are especially important because the weight loss exercise regimen coupled with Super HD will task the body while it burns fat for energy.

Tuber fleece flower root extract

Tuber fleece flower root extract is taken from the plant, Radix Polygoni Multiflori.

It is a common herb in Chinese traditional medicine where it is renowned for its anti-aging properties as well as the ability to protect the liver. This plant extract increases the activities of the antioxidant enzymes naturally produced in the body.

 

Chinese mistletoe stem extract

The Chinese mistletoe stem extract contains active phytochemicals which are classified as immunomodulators and diuretics. Therefore, the herbal extract can boost immunity as well as reduce water weight.

Dandelion root extract

It is a diuretic herb that is commonly used to eliminate excess water and to detoxify the body.  Therefore, the dandelion in Super HD causes water weight loss, much like the Chinese mistletoe stem extract.

Pausinystalia yohimbe extract and Rauwolfia extract

Both contain yohimbine.

Yohimbine works by directly increasing metabolic rate. Its preferred mode of action is attacking the adipose tissue where fat is stored.

There, yohimbine stimulates the utilization of fat for energy. It also increase blood flow to the adipose tissue so that the fat broken down there can be immediately carried to cells where it can be used as the primary energy source.

 

Red pepper fruit

The red pepper fruit extract in Super HD is supplied as a proprietary formulation known as Capsimax™ containing 2% capsaicinoids.

Of the capsaicinoids, capsaicin is the most important. These capsaicinoids are thermogenic agents, and they can increase both the body’s temperature as well as metabolic rate.

Like some of the other thermogenic ingredients of Super HD, capsaicinoids shift the body’s energy source from glucose to fat.

 

OK, got that – should I use them?

Well, yes and no!
 

Ultimately, yes they will help you lose fat.  They contain compounds that will speed your metabolism up a little and compounds that will encourage your body to use body fat rather than energy sources stored in the muscle or circulating in the blood.
 

You will NEVER get direct fat burning from any supplement you get from the local supplement supplier, it simply doesn’t happen like that.
 

You WILL get a small increase in fat that is being burned by their modes of action and one can arguably say that it is worth adding in a fat burner when your diet is functioning correctly, you are readily losing body fat and need a little extra kick to push the body fat burning a little and perhaps to give you a little energy boost.
 

HOWEVER if you diet is not sorted, your lifting and cardio schedules are not in check, then save your money.  A fat burner will do little to nothing in this circumstance and you are simply throwing your money away.

 

Any questions?

Feel free to email yoandmatt@gmail.com or see our Facebook page facebook.com/teamwildtvc and to ask the questions there.

If  you need a diet plan writing or quarterly or indeed yearly coaching drop us a line!