Vitamins, Herbs & Supplements

Many herbs and supplements are marketed as fat-burners. Some claim to increase the body’s core temperature, resulting in a higher basal metabolic rate. Others purport to stimulate the liver, causing it to metabolize fat at a higher rate. Still others are thought to increase your heart rate, leaving you in the fat-burning zone for longer periods of time as you work out.

So which supplements are for real, and which ones should you avoid? Obviously, there is no miracle pill that leads to instant weight loss. If that were the case, obesity would no longer be a problem. But there are in fact a few supplements that have been linked to faster weight loss.

The very best supplements for fat loss include green tea, guggul, and dandelion. Each of these supplements has been studied and found to have measurable results on weight loss. Guggul in particular was found to help dieters lose 6 times as much weight as others who were given a placebo pill.

Green tea acts as a mild stimulant and appetite suppressant because of its caffeine content. But its real power lies in the phytonutrients it contains. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that dieters who took 390mg of green tea extract each day lost twice as much weight as dieters who did not consumegreen tea, even though both groups had identical calorie intake and activity levels.

Dandelion is a popular fat-burner because it is thought to stimulate the liver’s fat metabolism process. It also has diuretic properties which can help you get rid of water weight.

Note that none of these herbs, by themselves, is enough to help you lose fat. They merely improve the results you get from diet and exercise. Also, though herbs are natural, they can be dangerous if you have certain health conditions or if you use them incorrectly. Always seek your doctor’s advice before adding supplements to your diet.