Burning fat is a chore in itself, but have you ever shopped for a fat burner? 

Shopping for a fat burner is a lot like looking at the Cheesecake Factory's menu, there’s a lot of options to choose from. It’s difficult not to become overwhelmed by your selection… leaving you frustrated and confused because of the wild ingredients, marketing fads, and sales pitches. Well, fret no more, the goal of this article is to outline the cocktail of ingredients you need to be on the lookout for when selecting your next fat burner.

I’ll preface this by saying fat loss can’t be achieved by simply taking a fat burner. There are no magic pills, period. A structured training regimen combined with a diet geared towards a caloric deficit is the only way to truly burn fat, add in a fat burner for some gasoline on the fire to take your results to the next level.

Now, back to figuring out which fat burners will actually help you achieve your goals.

Healthy fat burning is more than just consuming an overly caffeinated capsule. You need to seek ingredients that aid the fat oxidation process. Fat oxidation is when the body breaks down fats and fatty acids which are then able to be used as energy. L-Carnitine-Tartrate is a popular fat oxidation aid that has been linked to not only assisting fat metabolism but also preserving glycogen in the muscle. Keeping your muscle glycogen levels healthy is good for preventing fatigue during intense exercise.
Ready for something common that nobody thinks about when losing weight or supplement shopping? Stress! Did you know that "77 percent of people experience stress that affects their physical health, 73 percent of people have stress that impacts their mental health". Can you imagine the effect that'll have on you trying to burn fat? If you don't have stress management while accomplishing your goals, you'll be in a perpetually uphill battle. Which could lead to plateaus or stopping your journey altogether. 

That brings us to the next ingredient type you should look for... ones that work to reduce cortisol (a hormone produced by high levels of stress). Ashwagandha and L-Theanine will be the dynamic duo that will not only help you lose weight but will dramatically reduce stress levels in the body making it easier to burn fat and drop weight. 

Now, here’s the ultimate focus of what you should look for…

Caffeine.

Not just any caffeine, but making sure the caffeine you are consuming is from natural sources. That's because "synthesized caffeine is absorbed through the digestive system much faster than naturally occurring caffeine, providing a quicker spike and therefore a quicker crash." Natural caffeine takes longer to absorb which means longer energy with more of a gradual come down. Green coffee bean extract would be a great example of a natural source of caffeine. Not only does green coffee bean extract provide you smooth energy is also said to aid fat loss by "reducing the absorption of fat and glucose in the gut and lowering insulin levels to improve metabolic function". 

I hope going over some key ingredients helps relieve some confusion the next time you are in the market for a well-rounded fat burner. 

Heads up, we’re about to release o r newest fat burner soon. It not only contains some of these specific ingredients but reaches even further to provide focus benefits, mood-boosting properties, and water/bloat reduction!

Alecia Lanuto
Fitness Competitor & CPT