Fat burners

Fat burners come in thousands of types, brands, and price ranges. The similarity between all these products is that they are all intended to promote the loss of body fat. Fat burners are no panacea. A healthy diet and sufficient exercise remain crucial for fat loss. However, fat burners can be a welcome "helping hand". They do this in different ways.

First of all, many fat burners accelerate the metabolism. The result of this is that you burned more kilocalories at the end of the day. This is partly due to an increase in body temperature. Another way in which fat burners help with weight loss is by reducing the feeling of hunger. This makes following a healthy diet a lot easier. Fat burners often also increase energy levels. Someone who becomes more active as a result will burn more kilocalories and lose weight faster. A fourth way in which a fat burner can stimulate fat loss is because it contains substances that increase the use of body fat as a fuel source. Many fat burners form a combination of these four properties, with the emphasis on these characteristics being different for each fat burner.

Fat blockers form a separate class of weight-loss products. These drugs, of which the best-known example is Orlistat, is the body's absorption of fat. However, this also means that essential fats and fat-soluble vitamins are not included, which is harmful to health.

Many fat burners have a stimulating effect. This is done, among other things, by an increased release of certain hormones and neurotransmitters such as adrenaline, dopamine and thyroid hormones. Although this property promotes fat burning, not everyone appreciates strong stimulants. People who are sensitive to this may feel agitated and nervous. Others appreciate this stimulating effect and time the intake in such a way that it also benefits their sports performance.

Substances in fat burners that are also known to have a mental effect include caffeine, L-tyrosine, phenylethylamine, and hordenine. Ephedra and DMAA (1,3-dimethylamylamine) also have this property but may no longer be part of a fat burner in the Netherlands. The stimulants mentioned can also lead to an increase in blood pressure and an increase in heart rate. Interactions with antidepressants are also possible. It is therefore advisable to pay attention to the components of a fat burner and to consult the seller when in doubt. There is always an alternative available without stimulating ingredients.