The body fat that you hold under your skin is stored in adipocytes, also known as fat cells. To lose body fat, these cells must be as small as possible, so you need to empty the fat cells of most of their contents.
There are several ingredients that will increase the amount released from your fat cells.
Caffeine
When you think of this popular stimulant, you likely think of the buzz you get and how it ramps up calorie burning.
While caffeine does torch calories, it's main benefit is that it binds to the receptors on your fat cells. This is particularly effective when caffeine is taken before workouts, as several studies have confirmed.
Take 200-400mg of caffeine between meals two to three times per day; take one dosage 30-60 minutes prior to training-day workouts.
Yohimbe
This extract from the bark of a West African tree contains the active compound yohimbine, which, in addition to boosting libido, aids fat loss by increasing the amount of fat that gets released from your fat cells, much like
caffeine does.
Take enough yohimbe to provide 5-20mg of yohimbine per dose, two to three times per day; one dosage should be consumed 30-60 minutes prior to training-day workouts.
Calorie Burners
Just because supplements like caffeine and yohimbe help free up more fat from your fat cells, that doesn't necessarily mean that it will be burned off for good.
You also need to ramp up your calorie burn, which forces your body to use that freed-up fat as a fuel source.
These four ingredients will boost the number of calories your body burns, kissing that extra few pounds of weight good-bye.
Green Tea Extract
Green tea extract is a real no-brainer. It aids fat loss by boosting the number of calories you burn each day. The active ingredients in green tea responsible for the fat-burning effect are catechins, particularly one known as
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).
Take about 500-1,000mg of green tea extract standardized for EGCG two to three times per day. Take one of those dosages 30-60 minutes prior to training-day workouts.
Synephrine
This is one of the active ingredients in the bitter orange plant (Citrus aurantium). Synephrine boosts metabolic rate (the number of calories you burn).
Take about 5-20mg of synephrine two to three times per day, having one of those doses 30-60 minutes prior to workouts.
Capsaicin
This natural plant chemical increases the amount of calories your body burns, thanks to its ability to raise epinephrine levels. A study from the University of Oklahoma found that subjects who took a supplement that contained both capsaicin and caffeine burned more calories both during exercise and afterward.
Look for capsaicin or cayenne pepper supplements that list Scoville Heat Units (SHU), and take enough to supply 40,000-80,000 units.
Take 30 minutes before meals two to three times per day, and one of those doses should be taken 30-60 minutes prior to workouts.
Olea Europaea Extract
This is the scientific name for olive leaf extract, and one of its most important ingredients is a chemical known as oleuropein.
Not only is it a powerful antioxidant that boosts the immune system; research shows that it also boosts norepinephrine levels and therefore the amount of calories and fat burned.
Take about 500-1,500mg of olive leaf extract two to three times per day with meals.