Which Fat Fighting Supplements are Right for You
Fat loss is a constant, ongoing battle of trying to burn more than you store. So while it’s a good idea to use supplements that can free up more fat and burn it up, you should also consider using supplements that decrease the amount of fat your body stores.
CLA is a naturally occurring group of healthy omega-6 fats. Numerous research studies confirm that CLA enhances fat loss while simultaneously boosting muscle growth and strength. The main way it works is by inhibiting the enzyme lipoprotein lipase (LPL). LPL allows fat cells to take up fat from the bloodstream and store it as body fat. By inhibiting LPL, CLA prevents the body from storing fat and instead encourages it to burn fat.
Sometimes an increase in caloric burn isn’t enough to ensure that it all gets torched for good. The fat has to get to the tiny power plants, known as mitochondria, located in the body’s cells where it will be burned up as fuel. But fat isn’t allowed to pass into the mitochondria at will, it must be carried in. Fat transporters can help to maximize the amount of fat that gets in. L-carnitine is an effective supplement for increasing the transportation of fat to be burned by the cells mitochondria.
The more we learn about nutrition and nutritional supplements, the more we realize that nutrients can affect our genes in some profound and surprising ways. Fat burning is one such case. Fish oil as a source of essential omega-3 fats provides both eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These omega-3 fats have recently been found to turn on genes that increase fat burning while turning off genes that allow fat storage.
Intestinal Health May Affect Your Ability to Lose Weight
Recent studies have demonstrated that the makeup of your intestinal flora (bacteria in your gut and intestines) can have an impact on your weight, and your ability to gain or lose weight.
Research also suggests that as much as 20 percent of the weight loss achieved from gastric bypass, a popular weight loss surgery, is actually due to shifts in the balance of bacteria in your digestive tract.
To investigate the potential link between gastric bypass surgery and changes in gut flora, fattened-up mice were divided into two groups. The test group underwent gastric bypass surgery while the control group received sham surgery. After the sham surgery, the controls were further divided into two groups: One received a fatty diet; the other a weight-loss diet.
In the group who received the bypass surgery the microbial populations quickly changed following surgery, and the mice lost weight. In the control group, the gut flora didn’t change much, regardless of their diet.
Previous research has also shown that lean people tend to have higher amounts of various healthy bacteria compared to obese people. For example, one 2011 study found that daily intake of a specific form of lactic acid bacteria could help prevent obesity and reduce low-level inflammation.
In this study, rats given the bacterium while in utero through adulthood put on significantly less weight than the control group, even though both groups of rats ate a similar high-calorie diet. They also had lower levels of minor inflammation, which has been associated with obesity.
Similarly, gut bacteria have also been shown to impact weight in human babies. One study found babies with high numbers of bifidobacteria and low numbers of Staphylococcus aureus — appeared to be protected from excess weight gain.
This may be one reason why breast-fed babies have a lower risk of obesity, as bifidobacteria flourish in the gut of breast-fed babies. Probiotics also appear beneficial in helping women lose weight after childbirth when taken from the first trimester through breastfeeding.
Two other studies found that obese individuals had about 20 percent more of a family of bacteria known as firmicutes, and almost 90 percent less of a bacteria called bacteroidetes than lean people. Firmicutes help your body to extract calories from complex sugars and deposit those calories in fat. When these microbes were transplanted into normal-weight mice, those mice started to gain twice as much fat. This is one explanation for how the microflora in your gut may affect your weight.
Another study from 2010 showed that obese people were able to reduce their abdominal fat by nearly five percent, and their subcutaneous fat by over three percent, just by drinking a probiotic-rich fermented milk beverage for 12 weeks. Given that the control group experienced no significant fat reductions at all during the study period, this is one more reason to consider probiotics.
Probiotics have also been found to benefit metabolic syndrome, which often accompanies obesity. This makes sense since both are caused by a diet high in sugars, which leads to insulin resistance, fuels the growth of unhealthy bacteria, and packs on excess weight.
Resveratrol and Leucine may be able to Help you Lose Weight Faster
A cocktail of resveratrol and leucine may be able to help you lose weight faster. Nutritionists at the University of Tennessee write in Nutrition and Metabolism that this combination boosts fat and glucose burning in cells.
The amino acid leucine and its metabolite HMB not only stimulate the production of muscle fiber, they also reduce fat mass. This is probably because both compounds enhance the activity of the enzyme in the nuclei that enables cells to repair themselves. Because this repair process requires energy it is thought that this leads to the burning of glucose and fats. This enzyme called Sirt 1 also plays a key role in energy metabolism by being involved in the production of mitochondria, which enable cells to burn glucose and fatty acids, thus generating more energy. Sirt1 becomes more active when you consume substances like resveratrol.
The researchers also wondered whether a combination of leucine and resveratrol would have an enhanced effect on fat burning vs. each compound individually. To determine this they did experiments with mice that had been fattened for 6 weeks. The animals were then given food for another six weeks, which had been enriched with nothing [the control group], resveratrol, leucine, HMB or combinations of these.
At the end of the experiment the animals in a resveratrol-leucine group had 35 less fat than the mice in the control group. The combination of leucine and resveratrol boosted the burning of fatty acids in the mice’s cells.
In the animals that had been given both leucine/HMB and resveratrol, the insulin level went down and the muscle cells’ glucose uptake increased.
Take Grape Seed Extract and Eat Less
Individuals who eat excess calories who want to keep their weight under control may benefit from taking Grape Seed Extract before meals. Dutch researchers at the University of Maastricht published an article in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition showing Grape Seed Extract helped to reduce the number of calories that individuals consumed.
Grape Seed Extract is a supplement with wide ranging benefits. It can improve blood circulation; animal studies have shown that it reduces the chance of prostate cancer, and studies have shown that it reduces the chance of skin cancer. In-vitro studies have shown that it can halt the conversion of testosterone into estradiol by the enzyme aromatase.
In test tube studies Grape Seed Extract also stimulates lipolysis: the release of fatty acids by fat cells into the bloodstream. [Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2000 Mar; 24(3): 319-24.] This may mean that Grape Seed Extract suppresses the appetite, and to find out whether this is the case the Dutch researchers did an experiment with 51 test subjects aged from 18-65. The researchers let their test subjects eat as much as they wanted during a three-day stay in a laboratory. About 30 to 60 minutes before their breakfast, lunch and dinner the subjects took a supplement containing 100 mg Grape Seed Extract. A couple of weeks later the researchers repeated the experiment, but gave their subjects a placebo.
In the subjects with an above average energy consumption Grape Seed Extract did reduce energy intake. The average energy intake of this group was 2030 kcal per day.
Among the people who consumed large amounts of calories the Grape Seed Extract supplement reduced their energy intake by 96 kcal per day.
New Product Line – Forzagen Nutrition
Gluta R&R
Contains High Concentrations of L-Leucine, L-Glutamine, L-Valine, L-Isoleucine, Beta-Alanine, D-Ribose, and L-Histidine. This isn’t your typical Glutamine or BCAA product as it also contains D-Ribose which enhances muscle glycogen stores and helps restore muscle ATP for greater energy and more productive workouts. Gluta R&R also contains Astragin which in pre-clinical studies has been shown to increase amino acid absorption by 66% and ATP production by 18%.
Creation 7
If you are tired of wimpy doses of active ingredients in your pre-workout give Creation 7 a try. Creation 7 uses tried and true ingredients including creatine monohydrate, beta-alanine and citrulline malate as a basis to improve workout productivity. The energy boost from this product is lasts without the crash and is intense enough to power through the toughest workouts. Creation 7 also includes TMG or betaine which is a natural nutrient that promotes hydration and performance, especially related to physical activity. More recently, betaine has been the subject of a range of studies indicating health and performance benefits. These human trials demonstrate a significant improvement in physical performance, especially in strength, power and endurance.
Amino Matrix
At first glance Amino Matrix may look like just another amino acid product however this is no ordinary amino product. The amino acid profile is similar to human muscle tissue creating the highest “net” nitrogen synthesis possible. To maintain and build muscle it is necessary to maintain a positive nitrogen balance a higher net rate of nitrogen synthesis sways the nitrogen balance in the right direction improving recovery and increases the possibility of keeping and building muscle. These free form amino acids absorb quickly speeding nutrients to the muscles more quickly than complete proteins for whole foods.
Fluid Fuel
If you are looking to build strength and muscle there is no better way to do it than with proven ingredients like creatine, beta-alanine, and taurine. This product can be used as a creatine in your supplement regimen or double as a non-stimulant pre-workout. Expect to recover more quickly and be able to handle more work while using this product.
Keto Rips
Many fat burners are long on promises and short on results. Keto Rips uses 7-Keto which is clinically suggested to help with weight loss. It works by stimulating thermogenic enzymes which promote thermogenesis or fat burning. 7-Keto has been awarded a US patent for weight loss.
N.O. Flex
N.O. Flex is a true pre-workout in a pill form providing and unparalleled burst of energy for improved endurance, recovery, power and speed. It instantly improves focus and blood flow for improved workout intensity.
Green Coffee Bean and Weight Loss
Coffee contains a compound called chlorogenic acid, a substance that seems to influence glucose and fat metabolism. Unroasted—or green—coffee beans contain substantially more chlorogenic acid than roasted beans do.
To test the effects of a standardized green coffee extract on weight loss, 16 overweight people (average age 33 years) took a high dose (1,050 mg per day) of green coffee extract, a low dose (700 mg per day) of green coffee extract, and placebo, each separately for six weeks, with a two-week break between phases. The participants didn’t change their diets during the trial. Body weight, BMI (body mass index), and percent body fat were measured before, during, and after each period of the study.
Both dosages of green coffee extract led to significant reductions in percent body fat, body weight, and BMI. Percent body fat also decreased significantly with placebo, but body weight and BMI remained unchanged. While taking green coffee bean extract, the people lost an average of almost 18 pounds and 4.4% of their body fat. What’s more, 88% of the people maintained their weight loss four months later. No side effects related to the treatment were reported.
The study suggests that green coffee extract may be effective for helping to reduce weight and body fat in overweight individuals.
While the individuals in the study did not modify diet or engage in exercise we think that best results and long term health would require diet modifications and an exercise program.
BCAAs Can Help With Fat Loss
New research has shown that BCAAs can help with fat loss. This research has shown that people whose diet contains high amounts of BCAAs are thinner than people who consume lower amounts. This is partly due to the fact that leucine supplementation raises the bodies metabolic rate. These studies have also shown that leucine is not the only slimming factor in BCAAs.
A Japanese study fattened mice for 6 weeks by putting them on a fat-rich diet. For the last 4 weeks half of the mice were given isoleucine as well, in their drinking water. The researchers gradually increased the concentration of isoleucine up to 2.5 percent.
The supplementation reduced weight gain and fat tissue growth. The amount of fatty acids in the muscles and the liver also decreased, indicating that the organs burned more fat. This was because isoleucine stimulates the fat sensor PPAR alpha in the liver and muscles, and deactivates the same PPAR alpha in fat tissue. More PPAR means that cells absorb and burn more fatty acids.
But isoleucine does more: it also activates the proteins UCP2 and UCP3, which boost metabolism.
Top 5 Reason to use Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs)
Research shows that individuals with a higher intake of BCAA’s (branched chain amino acids) have lower rates of obesity, lower body weight, and better body composition. Researchers conclude that leucine increases energy expenditure and improves glucose tolerance.
BCAA’s cause cells to absorb and burn more fatty acids. High levels of BCAA’s in the blood stream usually mean excessive muscle breakdown. In order to stop muscle breakdown the body will adapt by using more fat for fuel. You can trick your body into triggering this process by consuming supplemental BCAA’s. Significant amounts of BCAA’s also trigger an increase in leptin emission. This is the hormone that tells the body that it has consumed enough energy; it also increases energy burning and helps control appetite.
Supplemental BCAA’s can improve cognitive function by increasing production of neurotransmitters. BCAA’s have been shown to play a role in the synthesis of the neurotransmitters glutamate and GABA, which help generate energy when needed and can have a calming effect when you don’t.
BCAA’s can accelerate gains in strength from resistance training and reduce muscle damage.
BCAA consumption results in a better testosterone to cortisol ratio and can improve muscle building. BCAA’s will minimize the cortisol response that results from the stress of exercise. Lower cortisol means a more favorable testosterone to 
cortisol ratio that will result in faster recovery while making it easier to build muscle.
Optimize Body Composition with the Help of ANS Muscle Up
There are a lot of products that focus specifically on muscle building or fat loss, but not many that can effectively assist with both. ANS Muscle Up was designed to help promote changes in body composition by promoting fat loss and muscle building.
One of the more interesting new supplements available is called ursolic acid, which also goes by the shorter name of malol. In tests on mice, the compound caused their muscles to grow and fat mass to shrink. Researchers suspect that ursolic acid’s prime target is the IGF-1 receptor. This becomes more sensitive when Ursolic Acid is consumed and as a result the IGF-1 that is present in the body works better.
Ursolic Acid seems to increase the amount of muscle and brown fat, two tissues recognized for their calorie-burning properties. Some studies have linked increased levels of brown fat with lower levels of obesity and healthier levels of blood sugar and blood lipid, leading to the suggestion that brown fat may be helpful in preventing obesity and diabetes. Further study showed that ursolic acid consumption increased skeletal muscle, increasing strength and endurance. Because both muscle and brown fat burn calories, the researchers investigated energy expenditure which showed that ursolic acid-fed mice burned more calories than mice that didn’t get the supplement.
Muscle Up also contains the combination of protodioscin, maca, and Acetyl L-Carnitine to support testosterone levels. Protodioscin and maca work to increase the natural production of androgen levels. These compounds can help bring an individuals natural testosterone levels up to a high normal level. Acetyl L-Carnitine also works to increase the expression of androgen receptors. With more androgen receptors you have more places for testosterone to bind which can lead to greater effects from circulating testosterone.
Another component of Muscle Up is N-Coumarolydopamine a naturally occurring beta 2 agonist which has the ability to promote protein synthesis as well as having a thermogenic effect.
Muscle Up also uses Brassaiopsis glomerulata a shrub found in the Far East, extracts of the leaves have an anti-estrogenic effect. By helping to reduce estrogen it can create a more favorable hormone profile and aid in changing body composition.
Your body burns more calories after consuming fish oil
Canadian nutritionists at the University of Guelph discovered that fish oil supplementation boosts energy expenditure after a meal, so it makes weight loss or maintenance of a healthy weight easier.
The polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish improve body composition and studies have shown that they help muscle to react better to strength training. They also induce the body to burn more energy. Studies also show that people who consume large amounts of fish fatty acids are less fat than people who consume low amounts of fatty acids from fish.
Fish oil supplementation for dieters works better if the capsules are spread over different meals.