How to Compare Fat Burners to Fat Blockers

Many weight-loss supplements claim to be fat blockers or fat burners. A fat blocker is a supplement that actually prevents saturated fats from being absorbed by the digestive system. A fat burner boosts the metabolism and focuses the body's energy burners on fat rather than other sources of fuel. In this article, we'll discuss how to evaluate and compare fat burners and fat blockers to select the supplement that is best for you.


How to Compare Fat Burners to Fat Blockers

1. Make a chart with two columns. Label one column "fat burner" and the other column "fat blocker."

2. Write the following words in the fat burner column: Chromium Picolinate, L-Carnitine, Choline.

3. Write "Chitosan" in the fat blocker column.

4. Read the ingredients of each supplement. If the words you wrote in the columns are in the ingredients, place a check mark next to them. These ingredients are the active elements of fat burners and fat blockers. Many weight-loss supplements do not actually contain these ingredients, but instead rely on suppressing appetite via high doses of caffeine, guarana or Ma Huang. A truly effective fat burner must have at least one of the ingredients in your list or it will not actually help your body "burn" extra fat. Likewise, a fat blocker that does not contain chitosan will not actually prevent fat that you consume from entering your body and being stored.

5. Decide how much you want to exercise. If you already exercise regularly or if you plan to begin doing so, then a fat burner is a good option for you because fat burners optimize the amount of fat you burn when you engage in physical activity. However, if you cannot or prefer not to exercise regularly and somewhat strenuously, then a fat blocker will probably be a more effective route for you. These should be taken immediately prior to meals and in dosages consistent with how much saturated fat is in the meal.

6. Talk to your doctor. You should consult a physician before beginning any new weight-loss or exercise program. However, if you intend to supplement your regimen with weight-loss supplements, it is particularly important to consult your doctor in case any of the ingredients in your fat burners or blockers will interact badly with medicine you are already taking. Furthermore, both types of supplement are nearly useless when used incorrectly, so you will need to be sure you are taking them at the right time of day and in the right amounts to achieve results.




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Most importantly before taking any fat burners, consult to your physicians first. For safe health purposes and for a satisfying results.

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Fat Burners: Temporary fixes to weight loss

When you check into a supplement store or open a health magazine you will notice that you are bombarded with various fat burning "magical" pills which will promise a leaner you in 7 days or get you amazing abs in 4 weeks.

Most of the 'Fat Burners' on the market are nothing more than glorified Caffeine, which basically means they are pharmaceutically manufactured caffeine in high doses, mixed with some other odd herbs which most likely do nothing and probably damage your health in the long run. Add to this they are basically a big rip-off as they cost nothing to make and they cost extortionate prices.

Key ingredients in 'fat burning' products and this is what they do.

Diet pills that contain herbal ingredients like HCA, Pyruvate, Ephedra and Chitosan are commonly known as fat burners. All of these herbal ingredients play a role in increasing your energy level, suppressing your appetite and stimulating your metabolism.

Synephrine
You'll hear about this a lot as it's chemically similar to ephedrine. Unfortunately there’s no significant data to say that it increases fat loss, although we do know it ups your blood pressure and can increase the risk of cardiovascular events.

Green tea
There's been tons of research into the fat loss properties of this, but to date there's been no significant difference between the Green Tea group and the placebo group. If you're drinking the stuff because you like it then go right ahead as there are other potential health benefits. If you're only necking it to lose the belly, save your money.

Caffeine
Stimulants such as Kola Nut and Guarana have been shown to increase fat loss when teamed with ephedra, but you can't get hold of ephedrine so this bunch are effectively ruled out. You'll still find them teaming up with ephedrine alternatives like synephrine (above) or sida cordifolia to try to make a weak substitute for the ECA stack.

7-keto
There's been a little research to back up the fat busting properties of this pro-hormone. Pro-hormones as being marketed as 'steroid like' and with prices to match. Four weeks' worth will set you back around £45 and will give you about 1.5lbs extra fat loss, that's £28 per pound of fat.



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Taking herbal fat burner is good as long as you consult your doctor about it and while taking it you should exercise and have a healthy lifestyle.
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The Advent of Diet Pills

You must have come across many diet pills that ensure slimming and that too in a less amount of time. These pills are usually suggested by the doctor to the people facing severe health troubles. The diet pills have recently been gaining popularity, especially among the women. There are many different kinds of these diet pills that act as fat burner, metabolism booster, appetite suppressants and carbohydrate blockers. The most widely accepted among all are Herbal diet pills.

The Herbal diet pills come in a wide variety like herbal based fat burners, herbal carbohydrate blockers, herbal appetite suppressants, and herbal metabolism boosters. With striking ads, it becomes quite difficult to decide which one would be suitable as well as worth spending the money on.

You must be sure of the diet pills that you are consuming whether they are apt, as these are available even without the prescription from the doctor. Proactol is one of the herbal fat burners that is used quite often and is available in the form of Pill. Dietrine is also an herbal based medicine but it is a carbohydrate blocker that is available in the form of a tablet.

The herbal based carbohydrate blockers that are known as "carb blockers" are among the best options that are present as diet pills. They act by passing carbohydrates to the digestive system with a much reduced intake of the calories. Medically, this has been proved that these tend to decrease the absorption of starch by about 75% which in turn results in a reduced intake of calorie. Few of the common carb blockers include Fat blast Xtreme and Dietrine carb blocker

The herbal based boosters of metabolism help to increase the rate of metabolism in the body which is otherwise reduced due to several factors like genetic factors, physical activity and due to the problems relating to thyroid gland. Some of the commonly used boosters of metabolism include Megathin Microlean. Few of the common herbal based fat burners are fast fat reduction, Liposafe and Lipothin. The use of these medications is entirely on the consumer as these are available with no cent percent guarantee of instant melting of the fat.
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The use of the diet pills mentioned till now is the sole responsibility of the user as there is simply nobody to take the guarantee of these. It is advisable to take these pills along with a proper regime of exercise and diet. It is always safe to take these medications only and only after the doctor’s consultation.



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That's true, the user is the one who is responsible in taking these herbal fat burners. It' ok to use these diet pills, make sure that you consulted your doctor before taking any of it.
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Herbal Weight Loss and You

Losing weight and maintaining it is a difficult task. Proper diet and exercise will help you lose unwanted body weight . But not everyone has the luxury of cooking and eating healthy food and going to the gym to work out with a personal trainer. Although losing weight could be done without any assistance, it will just take a lot of time and effort before any changes are noticed. The lack of time and resources has pushed people to look for different alternatives for weight loss .

One of the weight loss alternatives available today is the use of herbal products. They are available in many forms such as pills, patch, tea and many others forms. Consumers have the luxury to choosing a form of herbal weight loss product that will help lose weight fast . Herbal products are often regarded as safe, without the danger overdose (for pills and patch). They usually do not cause any side effects. Herb based products are one of the most popular alternative medicine weight loss in the market today because it is a completely natural alternative. Herbal weight loss remedies do not just promise weight loss and control that you desire but a healthier body that you need.

An Ancient Culture

The use of herbs and plants for ailments has been practiced for thousands of years. Eastern medicine is basically based on the body’s interaction with nature. It is regarded that for all illness; nature will always have the cure. The Chinese have been using plants for healing, weight loss and even improvement of sexual performance for thousands of years. Indian culture even used plants earlier than the Chinese and their knowledge of the use of plants might have even influenced other eastern countries of the use plants as medicines.

Chinese and Indians, however, are not just the ones who have been using plants for different ailments. Most of the ancient cultures have used plants as the means for healing and the only difference being the documentation on Chinese and Indian medicines is quite extensive. It was considered that since plants and herbs have provided them food, it should be good for healing as well.

Through modern technology, plants and herbs were analyzed to properly determine their use and effectiveness. It was discovered that these plants not only have curative properties but is also beneficial for weight loss. As eastern medicine has slowly integrated into the western culture, herbal medicines for weight loss have become very important and popular alternative for weight control.

Popular Herbs for Weight Loss

There are lots of herbal products for weight loss in the market today but only few medicinal plants have gained the distinction of being an effective weight loss ingredient. The following are some of the most popular ingredients for weight loss:

* Ginseng – without a doubt, ginseng is one of the most popular herbal weight loss ingredients today. Not only used in most herbal weight loss supplements, ginseng is also used to combat and prevent different types of diseases. It is even used to help increase sexual performance. Basically ginseng helps the body lose weight fast because of its ability to increase blood flow in the body which in turn increases metabolism and promotes rapid weight loss.

* Cayenne – not only is this plant popular in the kitchen, it is also a popular ingredient for weight loss. Cayenne helps in digestion and metabolism – two essential body functions for weight loss. By helping digestion and increasing metabolism, you will find yourself losing weight fast while eating great tasting food that is sprinkled with Cayenne.

* Green Tea – the popularity of green tea as a weight loss herb comes from the fact that it does not only taste good as a tea but it also fosters weigh loss through detoxification. Green tea is available as an ingredient in herbal supplements for weight loss or as a great tasting tea. You can purchase them from supermarkets as well as different pharmacies. Green tea also contains vitamin C and antioxidants that boosts the general health of your body.

* Hoodia Gordonii – this plant is from Africa and traditionally used by the natives of Kalahari during hunting. Since they go to hunt for a very long time, they have to conserve food as much as possible. Instead of food, they carry hoodia gordonii since it suppresses their appetite that helps them to continue their journey without food. For this particular quality hoodia gordonii is used in many herbal weight loss products . The benefits of hoodia gordonii are still debated but more and more companies are convinced that this plant is highly effective.


Caution in Taking Herbal Supplements for Weight Loss

All natural herbal weight loss products maybe safe since it does not have harmful chemicals. But it does not mean that all herbal products are completely safe for everyone. Some of the ingredients are not locally grown so their effects to the body, in terms of allergic reactions, are not known. For example, hoodia gordonii is from Africa and although you could see people taking it without any problem it does not mean it is safe for you. Talk to your doctor first to ensure you will not have any allergic reactions to this plant or to any ingredients that comes with the weight loss product.

Another caution that you should exercise is that most herbal remedies for weight loss will not have any side effect ONLY IF you do not have any health problems. For example, if you have the tendency for high blood pressure and heart conditions, you should stay away from ginseng since the side effects could be fatal. Since it increases blood flow, it could increase the blood pressure to an exponential level very fast. The heart rate will also increase considerably in a very short time. This would lead to stroke, heart attack and eventually death.

Herbal weight loss is a great alternative for losing weight. However, certain precautions need to be exercised, such as consulting your doctor before taking any weight loss products. If the herbal product was determined to be safe for you, combine this with a healthy diet and proper exercises so that you will lose weight fast in a safe and healthy manner.



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There are lots of herbal fat burners today, you can get it in any drugstore without prescription. But still, your health should be priority, so better ask your doctor if you wanted to take herbal fat burners.

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Fat-Burning Supplement Warning

The FDA is investigating "the potential relationship between Hydroxycut dietary supplements and liver injury or other potentially serious side effects" according to the issued warning.

db hydroxycut.jpgThere has been 1 death and 23 serious incidences reported, including severe jaundice and liver damage requiring transplant as well as seizures and rhabdomyolysis.

Iovate Health Sciences has responded by pulling 14 of their Hydroxycut products from the shelves. Iovate says that they had sold approximately 9 million units of the recalled products in 2008.

Hydroxycut products are dietary supplements sold in health food and department stores and pharmacies. They are marketed for weight loss, fat-burners, and low-carb diet aids as well as energy enhancers and for water loss according to the FDA.
Fat Burning Supplements: Should we just avoid them altogether?

While it appeared that removing Ephedra (Ma Huang) from fat burning supplements would make them safe - it turns out that many of the so termed "thermogenic enhancers" can also pose health risks. As of this time, I have not come across any theories as to what ingredient/combination of ingredients may be causing problems. Here's the ingredients list for Hydroxycut.

While health organizations do have a penchant for overreacting to dangers of certain supplements, I think there is legitimate cause for concern. Here are 2 quick thoughts:

* First and foremost, the dose makes the poison. There's a very good chance that those who suffered adverse effects from these supplements were using them incorrectly/excessively.
* On the topic of excessive - supplement companies tend to make exaggerated and otherwise spurious claims regarding their products. Don't be lulled into thinking that you are at a disadvantage by not taking their supplements.

Bottom Line

* You can achieve amazing results with or without these supplements. Results come from hard work and dietary diligence, not pills.
* If you choose to use a fat burning supplement, use as directed and immediately stop using if you experience any unusual side-effects.



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Be wise in choosing your herbal fat burners, avoid those that will trigger some disease and will make your health in danger. Always consult your doctor before taking any herbal fat burners.

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Use of steroids and dangerous supplements among gym boys

Indiscriminate use of steroids and other potentially harmful supplements has dramatically increased among the gym goers especially among the younger boys and girls. From protein powder to fat burners and steroids, young people are going all out to create a buff body in a hurry! Easy availability, a desire to hop on to the glamour bandwagon, cash rich youngsters are popping pills, powders and injections without being aware of the side effects and long term damages to their health and well-being. Personal trainers and other trainers at hi-fi gyms have made selling these a lucrative business model. Gym managements are usually aware of all this, but are enable to prevent their trainers from carrying on these dealings, for the transactions usually take place one on one between trainers and their clients. Sadly trainers who are recommending this are neither qualified to recommend these supplements nor are aware themselves of potential dangers to their clients from consumption of the same. Making a quick buck is probably all that matters.

Consumption of excessive proteins can lead to a strain on the kidneys. A protein powder should be consume only if required but the person physical training schedule. Excess protein can also be converted to body fat if the requirement is not there. It is important to consult a dietician or certified supplement nutritionist to find out whether supplementation is needed.

Fat burners- fat burners can alter hurt rate and increase blood pressure. It is strictly not recommended. These can be fatal if the health of the person is already in question and or if the dosage is high. In conjunction with intensive workouts they can be extremely dangerous. People assume that just because a supplement label says it is herbal or a natural fat burner, it is safe. This is really not true for herbal fat burners are either appetite suppressants or laxatives. Over stimulations of bowels by laxatives can lead to serious health issues and have landed some people on the operating theater.

Steroids- these drugs are illegal and can be taken only under certain medical conditions with the guidance of a licensed medical practioner only. Indiscriminate use of steroids of muscle growth is rampant among gym goers today. They should be aware that only short cut often leads to paying a heavy price. Yes, we are discussing substance like anabolic steroids which are synthetic substances related to male sex hormones (androgens), which promotes the growth of skeletal muscle and the development of male sexual characteristics and many other effects. Most of the steroids are illegally smuggled from other countries and most of us are totally unaware of the effects. Researchers have pointed out about common side effects of steroids use are frequent headaches, nose bleeding, muscle cramps and spasms, sore nipples, lethargy, dizziness, rashes on the skin, pimples, mood swings, changes in thyroid function and other major effects like hair loss, premature growth, changes in body fluids, increase in secretion of oil in the skin, altering of liver functions, depression of normal testosterone production, alteration of cardio vascular functions, increase in blood pressure leading to hypertension.

Steroids are generally associated with physical unattractiveness like dress development in men, acne, and other malfunction. The user is also prone to heart attacks and cancer. The good news for steroid user is that symptoms are reversible if the abuser stops taking these drugs well before time. However sometimes the damages may be of a permanent nature. Men becoming sterile is also a common phenomena. It is important to remember that there is a vast difference between supplement and steroids. Many supplement may be beneficial to help and may be required by certain individual who are physically active, including atheletes and convalacing individuals. But they have to be consume under expert guidance only.

Fat burners and steroids are not approved by the US FDA this should put a huge red flag in front of potential consumers. Steroids act upon a particular individual in any haphazard manner and there is no guarantee of a particular change in a particular person. To be frank consumption of steroids is abusing your body for short term gains. The best way to get a good body is to exercise follow a good diet regime and get enough rest. Looking good is all about a good healthy life style. “ say no to drugs, say no to steroids”



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If you're trying to lose some weight you can do it naturally or either by taking supplements. It's all about your health, so make sure to ask your doctor if the supplements you are taking will not harm your health.

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What's the Fuss about "Fat Burners" ?

You walk into a drugstore and you see rows upon rows of herbal remedies, fat burners, slimming teas, & other weight loss products. You open up a newspaper or magazine and advertisement are splashed across the page for the latest break-through pill which metabolises or binds fat! And you wonder if there is any truth in what these products are claiming and if you should try it. You are particularly tempted after the extra weight you gained over the festive season (which was a continouos celebration from Christmas to Valentine's & Easter). At least one of our readers did and asked the question "how effective are fat burner products & are there any side effects?"

Fat burner products contain a variety of ingredients ranging from fillers to fiber to what is claimed to be the key or active ingredient. I picked three of the most common ingredients found in these products to discuss.

Common Ingredients in "Fat Burners"

* L-carnitine

Function: L-Carnitine (or just carnitine) is an amino acid. It has a key role in the metabolism of fat; it transports fat into the cell to be oxidized or "burnt" to provide energy. Fat cannot penetrate the inner mitochondial membrane of the cell to be utilized unless it is paired to carnitine, thus carnitine has an important role in fat transport into cells.

Claim: Supplement companies marketing fat burners products that contain carnitine claim that since carnitine is necessary for fat metabolism, taking extra carnitine will help you burn more fat, leading to weight loss.

The Truth: Research has shown that extra carnitine does not enable more fat than usual to be burnt for energy. Even in athletes training hard, carnitine deficiency is rare. The body is very efficient in conserving carnitine, so taking more carnitine will not help burn more fat. Double-blind studies reveals that carnitine supplementation failed to get rid of the pudge. Subjects on low calorie diets undertaking exercise programs and supplementing with carnitine show no difference in fat or weight loss to those that did not use carnitine1,2,3.

Side-Effects: From the studies that I found, L-carnitine has not been linked with any toxicity. Our body makes carnitine from lysine & methionine, in conjunction with vitamin C, iron, niacin, and vitamin B6.


* Ephedra (Ma Huang)

Function: Ephedra or Ma Huang has broncho-dilating and decongesting properties. The active ingredient, which is ephedrine, stimulate the central nervous system, dilate the bronchial tubes, elevate blood pressure, and increase heart rate. Pseudoephedrine (the synthetic form of ephedrine) is a popular over-the-counter remedy for relief of nasal congestion.

Claim: Since ephedra is a central nervous system stimulant, it is believed that ephedra, particularly when combined with caffeine, promotes weight loss by increasing heart rate and possibly metabolism.

The Truth: Many doctors discourage the use of ephedra as a weight-loss aid because of the many side effects that can occur with its use, especially since many of the side effects are intensified when ephedra is combined with caffeine.

Side-Effects: Ephedra or Ma Huang has amphetamine-like side effects, including elevated blood pressure, rapid heart beat, nervousness, irritability, headache, urination disturbances, vomiting, muscle disturbances, insomnia, dry mouth, heart palpitations, and even death due to heart failure4. It interacts with drugs such as MAO-inhibiting antidepressants, digitoxin, or guanethidine, thus you should consult a physician before taking Ephedra or Ma Huang. FDA (Food and Drug Administration, USA) have determined that products contain the combination of Ma Huang and kola nut, a source of caffeine, can cause severe injury to people even under conditions of usual or recommended use. Reported reactions range from serious, life-threatening conditions such as irregular heartbeat, heart attack, stroke, seizures, hepatitis and psychosis, to relatively minor and temporary conditions such as dizziness, headache and gastrointestinal distress.

* Chitosan

Chitosan technically is not a "fat burner". It is touted more as a "fat trapper" or "fat absorber", but I have included it in this discussion as it has been in the news a lot & I've had many questions about it.

Function: Chitosan is a derivative of chitin (pronounced KI-tin), a substance found in the shells of insects, crabs, lobsters, and other crustaceans.

Claim: Sellers claim that chitosan causes weight loss by binding fats in the stomach and preventing them from being digested and absorbed. Some refer to it as a "fat magnet". It is added to diet pills because it is supposed to bind with fats in the digestive tract and filter them out before the body can absorb them.

The Truth: A study involving thirty-four overweight volunteers in a randomized placebo- controlled double-blind trial where subjects were given four capsules of chitosan/placebo for 28 consecutive days. Results suggest that chitosan in the administered dosage, without dietary alterations, does not reduce body weight in overweight subjects5.

Side-Effects: Since dietary fat is being excreted, you may have gastrointestinal side effects such as gas, bloating, diarrhea or fatty stools. More importantly, if chitosan really entraps a significant amount of fat, it would grab up all fats, including fat soluble vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids (a good fat), in trying to rid your body of the fats. Animal studies have show that chitin lowers vitamin E (a fat-soluble vitamin) levels in the body. It will also absorb medications that are encapsulated in fat-based compounds. These include some cholesterol-lowering drugs, as well as oral contraceptives and some forms of hormone-replacement therapy.


Buyer Beware

You can see from the above review that you have be vigilant regarding the supplements you may be considering. My best advice to you is not to take any supplement without first doing extensive research on it from scientific & reliable sources (not just reading literature from the manufacturers who have a vested interest in selling you their products) and speaking with your doctor. In addition, if you are taking any medication, you need to be extra sure that there are no interactions between the medication you are taking and the herbal supplement.

Product Labelling

A word of caution regarding what is labelled on the bottle and the actual content of herbal supplements. Herbal supplements is not a heavily regulated industry currently, although it is beginning to come under close scrutiny here in the US. Often what you would find is that there are discrepancies in what is on the bottle's label in terms of quantity & ingredients and the actual content. In one survey by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, it was found that alkaloid content often differed considerably from label claims and was inconsistent between two lots of some products6. Sometimes, ingredients that are used as fillers are not labelled.



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In able to have a satisfying result in taking herbal fat burner, you should be aware of the product that suits you and take advise from your doctor.

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Fighting Obesity With Fat Burners

Today, all over the world people are fighting obesity. This has become a great problem. It leads to all kinds of diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. It also lowers life expectancy by 10%. It has now become necessary for people to fight fat. This is achieved by fat burners. They are basically substances that burn the fat stored in the body. There are many substances that are available today that burn fat and make people fight obesity.

There are two types of fat burners: thermogenic and lipotropic. Thermogenic burners use heat to burn the fat in the body. One of the substances is ephedrine and the active ingredient in it in ephedra. Many body builders use this and this burns up the fat in the body. The lipotrophic breaks fat deposits during metabolism. Ketones belong to the keto group and aid the breakdown of fats into fatty acids during metabolism and changes it into energy.

Green tea comes from China and Japan. It is a health tonic prepared by using dried leaves that are not fermented so that there is very little oxidation when it is processed. It is very rich in polyphenols and has Vitamin C and E. It has a lot of antioxidants. It prevents the absorption of fat from the intestines. It thus protects the digestive system. It helps in weight loss. It helps in the excretion of toxins from the body. Chitosan is also a fat inhibitor. It inhibits fat from being absorbed by the body and the fat eaten is excreted. The less amount of fat a person eats the more fat is burnt naturally. Green tea and chitosan are used as supplements to fight obesity.

There are many herbal fat burners to control obesity. These have been used successfully in the Asian countries. Ma Huang and Ginseng have been used by the Chinese for many centuries. Ma Huang is a stimulant containing ephedra. It helps to extend the time for workouts by increasing the metabolism and burning calories to give energy. Hoodia, a plant from Africa has been used as a stimulant and hunger suppressant. Generally this has had not side effects. Herbal fat burners come in the form of pills. They are also available in the form of tinctures that are a mixture of certain herbs. Some of the herbal fat burners are applied externally on the skin and it breaks down the fat.

Betaine or lipase converts fats in the liver into energy. Chromium is a non stimulant. It helps in the production of insulin and keeps the right balance of the blood sugar in the body. This is a very important function in the body.

Some of the natural fat burners are cranberry, seaweed, cowberry, onions and garlic. One hour after eating onions and garlic, the body's metabolism speeds up to burn fat in the body. Pineapple, lemon and grapefruit juice also aids digestion and burns fat. Taking less food on certain days and eating mainly fruits and vegetables will also help in fighting obesity.

Obesity is a problem that has to be dealt with immediately. It can definitely be controlled with diet and regular exercise. Fat burners in their natural form or as supplements will, no doubt go a long way in fighting obesity. So, go ahead and choose the one most suited to you.



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Herbal fat burner can help you fight obesity. It helps you lose more weight and avoid diseases due to obesity. Find herbal fat burner that suits you, you can ask your doctor.

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