Natural Fat Burners: Introducing Nature's Fat Burning Pills

Natural fat burners are extremely popular, as they offer a drug free alternative to weight loss. Many people who are hesitant to use prescription weight loss drugs like Xenical, Ionamin, and Phentermine are more than willing to experiment with natural fat burners.

The exact definition of "natural" as it pertains to the formulation of various fat burners will differ from country to country. In general, if a compound exists in a natural state (i.e., it either is, or can be derived from a plant, natural food, etc.,) it is considered OK as an ingredient.

Sidebar: There are exceptions to this rule. Ephedra, now illegal in many countries, can be derived naturally from Ma Huang, Country Mallow and other natural sources.

What are the sorts of ingredients you can expect to find in a natural fat burner? The ingredients can vary greatly from compilation to compilation. Here, however, is a small list of the usual suspects (I will not provide detailed analysis of the ingredients here -- most are already discussed thoroughly on this Web site) ...

• Yerba mate
• Guarana
• Citrus Aurantium (Synephrine, Bitter Orange)
• Green Tea extract
• Chromium (picolinate, polynicotinate)
• ALA (alpha lipoic acid)
• Hoodia Gordonii
• Citrimax (Garcinia Cambogia, Hydroxycitric acid)
• Chitosan
• Yohimbe
• L-Carnitine
• L-Tyrosine
• 5-HTP
• Guggulstrones
• Coleus Forskohlii
• Calcium
• Phosphorous
• Choline
• Bioperine
• Glucomannan
• Vinpocetine
• Kelp/Bladderwrack
• Salvia sclarea
• Dandelion Leaf
• Caffeine
• Xanthan Gum
• Kola Nut
• Damiana
• Ginger
• DHEA
• Xanthine-based Cocoa extracts
• Phaseous Vulgaris (white kidney bean)
• CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid)

The most common question I receive about natural fat burners is... "do they work?"

That's not an easy question to answer.

There are a few natural ingredients that do have some level of scientific data validating their fat burning characteristics. Green tea, glucomannan, CLA, and ma huang are good examples. Unfortunately, there are just as many whose fat burning powers have yet to be demonstrated conclusively in any widely-recognized clinical study.

This leads me to the two major problems of natural fat burners.

First...

Since fat burner products are unregulated by governing bodies (like the F.D.A in the U.S. and Health Canada in Canada), supplement manufacturers do not have to back up their product's claims with scientific data. This can lead to outrageous product claims (e.g.."Eat all you want and still lose weight") that have absolutely no basis in fact.

Add intense competition and a huge marketplace into the mix, and you have a slew of manufacturers battling to outdo each other. This often leads to an escalation of ridiculous product claims.

There are few industries as happy to take your money and provide almost nothing in return as the supplement industry.

Second...

Since quality control is also largely unregulated in this industry, many inferior products contain only the smallest percentage of the label claims. In other words, you may be paying for 400 mg of green tea extract per serving, but only getting 50 mg. This is a serious and common problem.

Sidebar: If you're interested in learning just how widespread this problem is, visit ConsumerLabs.com. These guys test products, using laboratory analysis to match label claims to each products real ingredients. It's surprising how often a product will contain a mere fraction of the ingredient it is supposed to!

That's not to say natural fat burners do not offer value. Many do. Some companies are ethical, and work to put together well thought-out formulas that work. Others sell only from the Net, radio or TV ads, and are interested in nothing more than divesting you from your money.

Nonetheless, even the best natural fat burners will not provide much in the way of results without an accompanying exercise plan, and calorie-restricted diet.

The key, of course, is to do your due diligence, and buy quality compilations from quality companies. If you're new to natural fat burners, and are looking to get the "real skinny" on them from the only Web site on the planet whose #1 mandate is not to sell you the same fat burners it reviews, click here to visit our home page!

Want to learn more about fat burners? Industry professional Will Brink reviews dozens of top weight loss products in his superb "Fat Loss Revealed" Click here to read my review! Click here to visit the Fat Loss Revealed web site!

Have you been the victim of a product that makes exaggerated claims? Launch a complaint!

US visitors should submit a complaint to the US Federal Trade Commission!

Canadians, submit a complaint at the Canadian Competition Bureau!