Do fat burners work?

The basis for successful weight loss is maintaining a negative calorie balance in your diet, which means consuming fewer calories than your body needs. There are two main ways to achieve this: the first is to reduce your intake of carbohydrates and/or fats, and the second is to increase your level of physical activity accordingly. There is another factor that is often overlooked, but it can definitely contribute to the whole process.

1. Fat burner or health product?
2. How do compounds in fat burners work?
3. Are fat burners effective?

Fat burner or health product?

Plant extracts, amino acids and minerals are components of almost every preparation that falls into the category of so-called fat burners. Specially selected compounds are designed to improve the muscle-to-fat ratio of body weight by modulating the nervous system and regulating the consumption of energy substrates.

The most popular compounds here include compounds from extracts of green tea, Malabar tamarind, pepper, as well as amino acids and amino acid compounds, including L-tyrosine and L-carnitine, and minerals, primarily chromium. As it turns out, fat burner preparations can have a beneficial effect regardless of your body goals or overall lifestyle, which includes, for example, the level and type of physical activity you choose and your calorie intake.

How do compounds in fat burners work?

Fat burners affect the body due to their broad composition of biologically active compounds. The stimulating effect caused by, for example, caffeine or l-tyrosine helps to mobilise mental strength to perform workouts that can increase the body's energy deficit necessary for weight loss. It is worth noting here that prolonged weight loss in severely overweight individuals can lead to a loss of motivation and energy, so the effects of these compounds may be particularly valuable in this case.

Another group of compounds, namely hydroxycinnamic acid from Malabar tamarind, epigallocatechin gallate from green tea and the amino acid L-carnitine, can inhibit the production of energy reserves in the form of adipose tissue to a certain extent. The first two of these compounds limit lipogenesis, i.e. the production of fat cells, while the second participates in the transport of fatty acids to the mitochondria for energy purposes.

Body fat is not the only problem for people struggling with excess weight. Sometimes, disorders in glucose and insulin metabolism can also be problematic. Chromium and piperine from black pepper, among others, show potential in treating these disorders.

Are fat burners effective?

The use of a fat burner cannot completely replace an energy deficit, which is primarily influenced by diet and physical activity levels. However, it can indirectly facilitate the entire process, among other things, by alleviating fatigue and metabolic disorders. The compounds contained in preparations known as fat burners have a range of biological functions, thanks to which they affect not only body composition, but also cognitive functions, mood and even the body's ability to fight free radicals.