Nutrition & Health OnLine Magazine: Weight Loss Products: Which Ones Work Best? 2002 Edition
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Weight Loss Products: Which Ones Work Best? UPDATE
By Bethany Roberts
Are you still looking for that magic pill to transform your body? Several years ago we ran the first Weight Loss Products: Which Ones Work Best? article and the response was incredible. Apparently there are quite a few people out there searching for for an answer to being overweight. As we informed you in the first article there is no such thing as a "magic pill" for weight loss but there are some excellent natural ingredients as well as some pretty good products that can make losing extra bodyfat much, much easier.
The most appropriate phrase that comes to mind as I write this update to the first article is that the more things change the more they stay the same. While there have been some new natural ingredients to surface over the last few years the ones that are still the most effective according to the available research are pretty much the same ones we reviewed in the first article. As far as products go there have been many new additions on the market but again, as with the ingredients, many of the products that ranked high two years ago are still the best products today.
The biggest change you will notice in this updated article is that it is a lot more comprehensive. We received a lot of questions after the first article on other products that were not included. This time we tried to include as many ingredients and products as we could find. As in the first article we review the ingredients based on the results of thousands of research studies and determine the ones that have the most positive evidence for being used in a weight loss supplement. After determining which ingredients work best it is fairly easy to determine which products should work the best and, as in the first article, the more red stars means better the ingredient will work for losing bodyfat.
INGREDIENT RATINGS
MaHuang, Guarana or Kola, and White Willow Combined is still the king for decreasing bodyfat. The ingredients in this combination have been studied more than any other natural ingredients and have consistently demonstrated their effectiveness for promoting thermogenesis (burning of fat).1,2 Since we did the article two years ago there have been several additional impressive research studies that just reinforce the fact that this combination is safe and effective for fat loss.3,4 This combination is an example of how some natural ingredients synergistically work together to create a more potent effect than the individual ingredients would produce alone. MaHuang and Guarana or Kola can produce thermogenesis as individual ingredients but work better when they are combined and when white willow is added the effect is prolonged.5 Products that contain this combination are the best available for fat loss and have helped millions of people to safely and inexpensively lose fat.6
MaHuang and Guarana Combined works as well as the combination above but will not produce the effect for as long without the addition of White Willow or Aspirin. Some companies tried to minimize the effectiveness of the herbal ingredients as opposed to the synthetic form of Ephedra and Caffeine but a recent study at Columbia proves that the herbal forms work just as well.6 The majority of the most popular weight loss products on the market today contain at least some MaHuang or Guarana. You know you have struck gold when you find a product that contains both as well as some White Willow.
MaHuang is the herbal form of Ephedra and has been surrounded by controversy for several years. There is no dispute over the effectiveness of the ingredient for producing thermogenesis which is the production of energy from the burning of fat as fuel.8,9,10 The controversy about MaHuang or Ephedra is over the potential side effects of the ingredient however the same research studies that continually show how effective Ephedra is also show that it is a very safe way to lose bodyfat when used properly. We discussed this issue much more thoroughly in the article The Ephedra Debate: Do You Know the Truth?
Citrus Aurantium, Bitter Orange or Synephrine is a cousin to MaHuang and has been used as a subsitute in weight loss products since the Ephedra ban. While the research data is not near as detailed as that on MaHuang research studies have confirmed this ingredient to be a good thermogenic.
Guarana or Kola contains Caffeine and catechin-polyphenols and has been shown to produce a thermogenic effect similar to Caffeine.13 The overall effect on fat loss is greater than Caffeine alone and appears to be related to the ability of Green Tea Extract to speed up fat oxidation and augment and prolong thermogenesis. 14 More research needs to be done to see if the overall effect of Green Tea Extract can be increased further by combining it with MaHuang and White Willow as with Caffeine, but so far the fat loss evidence on Green Tea Extract is impressive.
Green Tea Extract was quite popular for a while when research was publicized that showed that obese people lost significant weight while using it.9 The problem is the dosage used in most of the research studies where people lost appreciable weight was very high: 1600 mg a day. DHEA is androgenic and at such high levels can definitely produce some unwanted side effects like oily skin or hair loss. Still it seems to be fairly effective in some people at more reasonable dosages (50 mg to 200 mg a day). I know quite a few men who use it in conjunction with their weightlifting and feel it not only helps to reduce body fat but also increases their testosterone levels.
Chitosan is known as the natural "Fat Blocker". There are still very few decent research studies that show that Chitosan can reduce fat absorption other than the one we cited two years ago that showed that Chitosan can prevent the absorption of fat in the intestines.15 Since Chitosan is a type of fiber there is theoretical support that it should be able to aid in fat loss since fiber alone has been shown to have such an effect. 16,17
DHEA has been a popular product for several years for increasing muscle mass as well as decreasing bodyfat. Early studies done in 1988 showed that obese people lost significant weight while using DHEA but the dosage used was fairly high: 1600mg a day.18 Since then there have been plenty of studies indicating that DHEA can cause fat loss but most of them have been done with animals.19,20 There is still no constructive research to indicate the ideal dosage for bodyfat reduction but anecdotal evidence suggests that some type of cycling regimen may be the best approach with the dosage varying between 25mg and 400mg a day.
CLA has become a popular supplement for gaining muscle and losing bodyfat. There is a lot of research data to suggest that CLA may be useful for reducing fat but the most impressive data has been seen in animals.21,22,23,24 The research that has been done on humans contains mixed results but overall CLA seems to show a lot of promise as a supplement for weight loss.25,26 The best approach with CLA may be to combine it with some of the more proven ingredients to create a greater overall effect toward losing fat.
L-Carnitine is an ingredient that works best when combined with either exercise or other ingredients that stimulate metabolism and the need for fat. L-Carnitine is necessary in the transport of fatty acids to the mitochondria where the fatty acids can then be burned for energy. Research has shown that athletes who supplemented their diets with two grams a day of L-Carnitine increased the amount of fat they used for fuel while exercising.27 Many weight loss products contain L-Carnitine as an ingredient but you may want to take more (up to 2000mg a day) to get the best results.
5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) can aid in losing fat by increasing serotonin levels in the brain which can decrease hunger. There have been several studies that have shown oral administration of 5 HTP can reduce caloric intake and promote weight loss even when not accompanied by a strict diet or exercise. 28,29,30 The only drawback to 5- HTP appears to be the cost. The amounts used in the research studies were fairly high; 600 - 900 mg each day, which would cost about $ 5.00 a day however when compared to an equivalent prescription drug 5 HTP is a bargain.
Yohimbe Bark Extract started showing up in weight loss products a few years ago and is usually combined with ephedrine and caffeine. There has been some research done with the synthetic version Yohimbine that indicates that it can aid in fat loss by increasing energy expenditures.31 As far as combining Yohimbe with Ephedrine and Caffeine like several products on the market have done, there is evidence to indicate that this is a bad combination. A study done in 1998 showed that when Yohimbine was added to the combination of Ephedrine and Caffeine there was additional negative stress placed upon the cardiovascular system.32
Phaseolus Vulgaris Extract is a purified extract of the White Kidney Bean. Research has shown that Phaseolus vulgaris extract can inhibit alpha-amylase which is the enzyme responsible for carbohydrate digestion.33 Products that contain Phaseolus vulgaris extract are usually called Carb Blocker or something similar since they are supposed to block the digestion of carbohydrates. At best Phaseolus Vulgaris Extract can help prevent the accumulation fat from ingesting to many carbohydrates however it is debatable how much of an overall effect this will have upon fat loss.
St. John's Wort has been used in many weight loss products but there is not a lot of research to show that it can directly contribute to fat loss. There is one study done with rats that has shown that St John's Wort can prevent increased appetite due to stress.34 The effect of St John's Wort in regard to depression is much better documented. Numerous studies have shown St John's Wort to be a very effective anti-depressant by increasing serotonin levels in the brain which is similar to the effect that 5-HTP can have.35,36 Since many people overeat because of stress there is a theoretical basis for using St. John's Wort to prevent overeating. It also makes some sense to use St. John's Wort in a combination that includes MaHuang and Guarana since a commonly reported side effect of these two ingredients is irritability. If St John's Wort can help someone better tolerate these highly effective ingredients then the overall contribution toward fat loss may be quite high.
L-Phenylalanine still does not have a lot of research data indicating that it can aid in fat loss other than the one I cited two years ago that shows it can act as an appetite suppressant.37 There is some data that shows that Phenylalanine can be converted to phenylethylamine (PEA) which is found in high concentrations in chocolate and might explain why some people feel less chocolate cravings when they are using Phenylalanine.38 There is also a study that shows that a combination containing Phenylalanine, Chromium Picolinate, Capsicum and other lipotropic nutrients was able to produce favorable changes in body composition. 39
Chromium Picolinate was one of the most popular weight loss supplements in the 90's but the popularity has declined and research data continues to give mixed data about the effectiveness of supplementation. While the early research on Chromium Picolinate was impressive most of the more recent studies done with humans have not shown much of an effect on fat loss.40,41,42 I have always felt that the best results are attained from Chromium Picolinate with long-term use, which may explain why most of these studies have shown such poor results. There is still enough evidence to support the use of Chromium Picolinate just don't expect any immediate results.
Forskolin or Forskohlii is a plant derived compound that is supposed to stimulate the release of fatty acids from storage.43 The research done on animals is promising but there is very little research that has been done on humans and what there is did not show much of an impact on fat loss.44 There is a theoretical reason to believe that Forskolin may enhance the effect of MaHuang and Guarana in the same way as L-Carnitine but there is no research data available to support this theory.
Aminophylline is used in topical solutions to reduce cellulite. I could only find one research study on Aminophylline but the results showed improvements in the texture of the skin in as little as three weeks of use. 45 Usually spot reduction of fat is impossible but a lotion containing Aminophylline may be a viable option for those problem areas.
Pyruvate has received a fair amount of media attention concerning it's ability to help promote fat loss. There is some legitimate research that indicates Pyruvate can help increase the mobilization of fat stores and aid in fat loss.46,47 The problem is that the studies where Pyruvate was shown to work used a pretty high dosage, between 6 and 36 grams a day, which would be cost prohibitive for most people. If you can tolerate some of the above reviewed ingredients then you will definitely get more bang for you buck with one of them than with Pyruvate.
Ginseng has been thoroughly studied and the results have been very mixed. There is research evidence to believe that Ginseng can improve performance and increase fat utilization but there is also a lot of research that says Ginseng has no supplemental value.48,49 The contradictions in the research may be the result of how the studies were conducted and the type of Ginseng that was used since there are numerous variations (Siberian, Korean, American, etc) and each can exhibit different effects. Another problem with studying Ginseng is that it is an adaptogen, which means it can aid the body in dealing with whatever type of stress that it is subjected to, so that the same type of Ginseng can have both a calming effect or a stimulatory effect depending upon what the body requires. Whatever the reason for the conflicting research there is simple to much practical evidence about Ginseng to completely dismiss it as a possible supplement for fat loss.
Alpha Lipoic Acid has been shown to increase insulin action in the body which can help improve carbohydrate metabolism.50 Further research needs to be done on Alpha Lipoic Acid to see if it really can help increase fat loss but the theoretical premise for using Alpha Lipoic Acid as an adjunct to weight loss is promising.
Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA) is an extract of the Garcinia Cambogia fruit and is usually listed on product labels as either Hydroxycitric Acid or Garcinia Cambogia extract. Early research indicated that Hydroxycitric Acid might be able to block the conversion of carbohydrates to fat in the body.51 Unfortunately the most recent research data shows that HCA is of little very little value for fat loss. Several studies done over the last few years show the same thing that Hydroxycitric Acid is no more effective at promoting fat loss than a placebo.52,53,54,55
Cayenne Pepper research supporting its use for fat loss is pretty weak. I could only find one study directly using Cayenne Pepper that shows that this ingredient can decrease appetite in Caucasian males. 56 There is also a study that uses a combination of herbal ingredients including Cayenne Pepper that shows that the combination was able to promote favorable changes in body composition but there is no way to tell how much of an effect is attributable to the Cayenne Pepper. 57 Since Cayenne Pepper is inexpensive it might be worth adding to your meals but I would not pay more for a weight loss product simple because it contains some of this ingredient.
L-Tyrosine 1s is a non-essential amino acid that can be used by the body to synthesize neurotransmitter chemicals that are essential to the functioning of the brain and nervous system. So far there is little research to support the use of L-Tyrosine for fat loss. Many companies have included this ingredient in their products claiming L-tyrosine will increase the output of T3 thyroid hormones however it probably does not have such an effect which is good. If L-Tyrosine did actually increase T3 thyroid hormones then it would be a terrible ingredient to use for fat loss since any over production of T3 leads to muscle loss and slows metabolism leading to an INCREASE in bodyfat. 58
Bee Pollen is purported to cure many ailments in the human body but there is no research data to confirm that it has any supplemental effects. People who use Bee Pollen sometimes report feeling stimulated after using some so this may explain why some companies put Bee Pollen in their products but there is just no sound scientific evidence to support it's use for fat loss.
Guggulsterone or Guggul Extract is another ingredient used by manufacturers to increase T3 thyroid hormones. Ads claim that Guggulsterone can "preserve or increase thyroid output" and there is some research data showing that it can stimulate thyroid output.59 Unfortunately this is probably the worst effect that an ingredient for fat loss could provide since this will cause muscle loss.60 You would think that the companies that produce products containing such ingredients would be a little smarter. If increasing thyroid output worked for reducing bodyfat then the millions of women who use prescription thyroid medications like Synthroid would be lean and trim but in contrast most of these women are just the opposite.
PRODUCT RATINGS
The way to determine the best product for fat loss it to examine the quality and the quantity of the ingredients that each product contains based on the effectiveness of the ingredients according to research. This is how we ranked the products below and, as with the ingredients, the more red stars mean the better we felt the product should work for fat loss. One thing to keep in mind when looking at different products is that no one product is going to be able to include every ingredient because there are different types of ingredients that can work in different ways. For some people Fat Blocker or Carb Block may be their five star product based on their individual needs. Other products may not work all that great by themselves but can be combined with other products to produce a greater effect than either product can produce alone. An example is the way many people like to combine Fat Blocker with Thermo Phen Phen. Ranking products is somewhat subjective but hopefully the list below gives you a good idea of how to choose the best product based on the ingredients.
Ripped Fuel continues to be one of the leading sellers in the weight loss category. Ripped Fuel has a well-established reputation for fat loss because of effective ingredients like MaHuang, Guarana, and L-Carnitine. This combination is well designed to speed metabolism and burn fat and works best for people that desire extra energy. In addition to being highly effective, Ripped Fuel is also a good value. The only drawback to Ripped Fuel is that it does not contain some White Willow to complete the ultimate thermogenic stack but you can always take an aspirin with the product.
Ripped Fast 2 is the same as Ripped Fuel except that it is made by Universal Nutrition and uses Cola Nitida Extract as the source of Caffeine. The overall effect of Ripped Fast II should be the same as Ripped Fuel and the price is about the same so take your pick. You will find that there are many companies that have products identical to Ripped Fuel on the market. My only advice is to buy from a company that you know and trust to make sure you get the ingredients that are listed on the label otherwise the product may not work as well as the original.
Stacker 2 Fat Burner contains Ephedra, Kola Nut and White Willow, which is the full Thermogenic stack, hence the name "Stacker". Since Stacker 2 does contain the full themogenic stack it should work better than products that only contain part of the stack. Of course Stacker 2 would work even better if combined with some L-Carnitine but overall this is an excellent product produced by a company that did their homework.
Ripped Fuel Extreme is similar to Ripped Fuel but contains a slightly different combination of ingredients. Due to the success of Ripped Fuel, Twinlab has come out with several new versions in an attempt to play off of Ripped Fuel. This version has several excellent ingredients like the old faithful MaHuang and Guarana as well as new ingredients like Green Tea Extract, Forskolin and White Willow. In looking at the ingredients this version seems like it would be better than the original Ripped Fuel but so far most people still seem to favor the original version.
Thermo Phen Phen was rated as an excellent product two years ago and it is still an excellent product due to the intelligent choice of ingredients. Thermo Phen Phen contains all three ingredients; MaHuang, Guarana, White Willow, that comprise the best combination for producing thermogenesis. In addition to promoting fat loss through thermogenesis Thermo Phen Phen also addresses the other side of the energy balance by including ingredients like St. John's Wort and L-Phenylalanine to reduce appetite. While it is not a "magic pill" Thermo Phen Phen can still produce some pretty amazing results.
Diet Fuel is very similar to Ripped Fuel except that in addition to MaHuang, Guarana, and L-Carnitine it also contains 500mg of Garcinia Cambogia extract per serving. As we reviewed above Garcinia Cambogia extract has not been shown to be effective for fat loss. Since Diet Fuel also contains 33 % less MaHuang and Guarana than Ripped Fuel because they added Garcinia Cambogia it makes more sense to just use Ripped Fuel since you are paying extra for an ingredient that does nothing.
Ripped Fuel Thermogenic Male Formula is completely different than the original Ripped Fuel as it contains Yohimbe Bark Extract, DHEA and Chromium Picolinate but contains none of the other ingredients in Ripped Fuel like MaHuang, Guarana or L-Carnitine. Yohimbe and DHEA is not a bad combination since, in addition to fat loss, it can also produce muscle gains, but do not expect to see the same kind of fat loss and energy increase that you would with the original Ripped Fuel.
Fat Blocker is a different way to approach fat loss. Fat Blocker contains Chitosan and two other types of Fiber; Psyllium and Oat Bran, and is designed to prevent the accumulation of fat by blocking the absorption of dietary fat in the intestines. Fat blocker will not work as fast as a thermogenic type product but is very safe since the ingredients are not actually absorbed by the body. Many people that cannot tolerate thermogenic products find Fat Blocker to be an excellent alternative.
Fat Burner is a product that contains ingredients designed to make fat more readily available as an energy source to be used by the body for fuel. The main ingredient responsible for this action is probably the L-Carnitine but sometimes the synergistic effect of the ingredients in Fat Burner seems to work better than L-Carnitine alone. Since Fat Burner mobilizes fat for fuel it will work best when the body's demand for fuel is increased through exercise or through the usage of one of the thermogenic products. Fat Burner is useful for fat loss but seems to work best with people that do not need to lose large amounts of weight and who are fairly active.
Tone N Tighten is another Fat Burner type product that contains a slightly different formula and is fairly popular with women. The ingredients in Tone N Tighten are designed to help the body better utilize energy as fuel so, as with Fat Burner, you will see the best results with this product if you combine it with exercise or at least a more thermogenic product.
Carb Block is another product that works to prevent the accumulation of fat by blocking carbohydrate absorption. Carb Block contains which will inhibit the enzyme responsible for carbohydrate digestion and thus block carbohydrates from being absorbed by the body. Carb Block also contains Chromium and Alapha Lipoic Acid and can be of use to anyone that has a hard time avoiding sweets. Carb Block is a viable alternative to stimulate type products but will probably not produce weight loss as quickly since it is mainly preventive.
Dymetadrine Extreme would be an excellent product if it did not contain L-Tyrosine. Dymatadrine Extreme contains the full thermogenic stack with Ephedra, Caffeine, and White Willow as well as some L-Phenylalanine. Is it worth the risk of losing muscle from the effects of L-Tyrosine to use Dymatadrine when there are several other products that contain all of the other ingredients that Dymatadrine contains except for the L-Tyrosine?
Dexatrim Natural has Bitter Orange Peel Extract as the main ingredient, which contains Synephrine, and, as we reviewed above, is a weak substitute for MaHuang. Dexatrim Natural also contains three different forms of Caffeine so at least if you do not lose much fat you should get plenty of energy from this product.
Cutting Gel is a fairly new product containing and is unique in it's claim that you can use it to spot reduce problem areas. The research data on is low and since Cutting Gel is a newer product the jury is still out as to whether or not it has any value for fat loss. The manufacturer claims that the product helps to mobilize fat in the areas beneath the skin where the gel is applied. If this is the case then Cutting Gel will probably work best for people who exercise or use a Thermogenic type product to increase the demand for energy so that the released fat will be burned for fuel.
Hydroxycut gets its name from Hydroxycitric Acid, which is the main component in this product. As we saw when reviewing the ingredients above, Hydroxycitric Acid is basically useless for fat loss so the only reason this product is not completely useless is because it does contain some proven ingredients like MaHuang, Guarana, White Willow and L-Carnitine. The amount of these ingredients, however, is pretty low when compared to other products containing the same ones and since Hydroxycut is one of the more expensive products on the market it would not be a great choice.
Metabolife 356 contains a whole lot of ingredients but only three of them have any research data to support their use in a weight loss product. Products like this amaze me because it really looks like somebody who knew nothing about which ingredients work for fat loss and which ones do not work just decided to throw together as many popular ingredients as possible in the hopes that someone would buy the product. (See the Metabolife 356 ingredients Click Here) At least they did put some MaHuang and Guarana in the product but as I predicted two years ago, before you could see the exact amount listed on the label, the quantity of these two effective ingredients is less than half as much as you would get in a serving of a product like Ripped Fuel. Since the formula has not changed in two years what I said last time is still holds true; you may lose some weight with Metabolife 356 but there are much better products available at much better prices.
Animal Cuts contains more proven ingredients for fat loss than any other product but it is the negative ingredients that keep Animal Cuts from receiving a better rating. Guggulsterone as well as Soy have both been shown to increase T3 Thyroid levels, which can cause muscle loss. The amounts of these two ingredients is fairly low and may not be enough to produce this effect and since there are so many other excellent ingredients in this product it may be worth trying, just keep a careful watch on your muscle.
Chroma Slim gets the first part of its name from Chromium Picolinate which is one of the main ingredients. Chroma Slim also contains L-Carnitine and is similar to many Fat Burner type products. Chromo Slim was fairly popular several years ago when the research on Chromium Picolinate was more encouraging. Demand for Chroma Slim has decreased probably because the latest research on Chromium Picolinate has not shown very good results. Choma Slim can still help you lose weight but since the ingredients are very similar to Fat Burner you can save a lot of money by going with Fat Burner.
Atkins Dieter's Advantage only contains one ingredient that has been shown to be very effective for fat loss, which is L-Carnitine. Unfortunately the amount of L-Carnitine is pretty low, 50 mg, and what appears to be the main ingredient for weight loss in this product is Garcinia Cambogia extract. As we reviewed above, Garcinia Cambogia extract has been shown in numerous research studies to have no effect on fat loss. Since you can get about 10 times as much L-Carnitine for what this product costs it is not one of the best choices you can make if you are trying lose fat.
Adipokinetix contains several excellent ingredients like Caffeine, Norephedrine and Yohombine but the problem is that research has shown that such a combination can be dangerous. As we reviewed above, when Yohimbine is combined with Caffeine and Ephedrine it caused negative cardiovascular stress. Why take the risk of having cardiovascular problems when there are so many other products that work as well or better for losing fat.
Phen Free contains Citrus Aurantium, Caffeine, and Yohimbine as the main ingredients for fat loss. As we just talked about with Adipokinetix, combining Yohimbine with Ephedrine and Caffeine can have a bad effect upon the cardiovascular system. Since Citrus Aurantium is a weaker cousin to Ephedrine it may not have as negative an effect but is it really worth the risk since at best this is a weak formula for weight loss anyways.
Hollywood 48-Hour Diet does not contain any ingredients that will help you to lose fat. This product will probably work pretty good if you are interested in losing some water weight fast since it contains a variety of fruit juices which can be diuretic. Make sure you understand that you are only losing water weight and not actual bodyfat. An alternative to using the Hollywood 48-Hour Diet would be to go sit in a sauna for a couple of hours since a sauna is also very effective for losing water weight and will not produce any gastrointestinal problems.
AM 300 is another product that contains a lot of useless ingredients. Products like this always remind me of the times when so called friends informed they were "Independent Distributors" and tried to get me to buy toothpaste or some similar product that was usually in a very plain label and cost at least twice what I would pay for the same thing for at WalMart. I always would ask them why I should pay twice as much to buy from them instead of WalMart but no one every gave me a good answer. In much the same way, why pay more for a product like AM 300 when there are so many better products available for less money.
Metabolite is copycat of Metabolife 356 (the label even says "Compare to Metabolife 356") except for one difference. Metabolite contains the same ingredients as Metabolife 356 except that it does not contain Guarana. I wonder who the genius was that decided to copy a sub par product that contains only 3 useful ingredients to begin with and remove one of those three. Can anyone give me a reason for creating such a product other than they must be trying to make a cheaper product and fool people into buying their product instead of the one they are supposedly copying? What else can I say about Metabolite except buyer beware.
Beta Lean HP contains some decent ingredients like MaHuang, Caffeine, and Green Tea Extract however it does not contain any White Willow to complete the ultimate thermogenic stack. The biggest problem with Beta Lean HP is that the amounts of these key ingredients are pretty low when compared to similar products (only 100 mg of MaHuang per capsule verses 167 for Ripped Fuel) and considering that Beta Lean HP is one of the most expensive products at $ 39.99 a bottle I do not consider it one of the best choices.
Xenedrine continues to advertise heavily about its ability to promote weight loss. There is no question that Xenedrine will promote weight loss since it contains the full thermogenic stack of MaHuang, Guarana, and White Willow. The only question about Xenedrine is whether or not is also causes muscle loss. Early reports about Xenedrine claimed that it could stimulate Thyroid output which could cause muscle loss. Recent ads do not make such a claim but since the formula has not changed any it makes you wonder. Losing muscle and slowing metabolism is catastrophic to long term fat loss and since there are several other products with stronger combinations of the key ingredients MaHuang, Guarana, and White Willow is there really any reason to take such a risk with Xenedrine?
Metabolic Thyrolean is designed to promote weight loss through boosting the output of T3 Thyroid hormones. How dumb can someone be to produce such a product if they are interested in helping people to lose fat and keep the fat off? My suspicion is that the products are not designed for long term fat loss and are really designed instead to trick people into thinking they are losing fat since you will lose weight with such a product. At some point, however, people are going to wake up and realize that such products will only make you fatter in the long run because you have only managed to lose muscle and decrease your metabolism.
 
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