TwinLab's Ripped Fuel (Ephedra Free ) Review
 TwinLab's original Ripped Fuel was a very popular fat burner.
It wasn't groundbreaking by any means, but it did contain the "good ole" ephedra stack (now illegal in the U.S., of course). Those of you familiar with ephedra know that despite the controversy surrounding it, it was quite an effective fat burner. As such, Ripped Fuel gained quite a following of happy users.
The question now is...
Does the new, ephedra-free version of Ripped Fuel pack the same punch as the old version? Is it worth buying at all? Will it help trim the fat? That's the question I'll try to address with this review. Let's get started...
The bulk of the Ripped Fuel compilation consists of 3 ingredients...
i) Citrus aurantum: (also known as bitter orange, synephrine) Up until very recently, synephrine was thought to be the best alternative for ephedra for use in fat burners. However, studies have not bourne out this ingredient's fat burning capabilities. Check this extract about citrus aurantium (synephrine) from this PubMed abstract...
"An extensive search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, BIOSIS, and the Cochrane Collaboration Database identified only 1 eligible randomized placebo controlled trial, which followed 20 patients for 6 weeks, demonstrated no statistically significant benefit for weight loss, and provided limited information about the safety of the herb."
Although they do not say so, I assume the study they are referring to above is this one...
Colker CM, et al. Effects of citrus aurantium extract, caffeine, and St. John's Wort on body fat loss, lipid levels, and mood states in overweight healthy adults. Current Therapeutic Research, March 1999; Vol. 60, No. 3; 145-153.
It is interesting to note that the ephedra free version of Ripped Fuel does indeed contain all three ingredients referenced in the study, and therefore may indeed offer some level of weight loss benefits to users. |
ii) St. John's Wort: reviewed in detail here, St. John's Wort is commonly recommended as a natural alternative to prescription antidepressants.
iii) Guarana seed extract: harvested in Brazil and Uraguay, guarana is a source of caffeine (a mild thermogenic in its own right). It also has antioxidant and diuretic properties, making an ideal ingredient for fat burners. When caffeine is combined with St. John's Wort and citrus aurantium, one study showed positive weight loss results (see reference directly above).
Ripped Fuel also contains smaller amounts of...
- phenylalanine
- coleus forskohilii
- green tea extract
- citrus bioflavanoids
- ginger root
- yohimbe bark
- cayenne
... although at such a low dosage, these ingredients account for little more than window dressing.
So what's the bottom line on the ephedra free Ripped Fuel? Well, there is a bit of research backing up the effectiveness of the formulation. However, I have experimented with a similar product, and found its effects somewhat lackluster. So I'm afraid I can't get overly excited by it.
Sidebar: Keep in mind that during the research study, participants ate a calorie-reduced diet and exercised regularly. If you do this, you may find this product to be somewhat helpful. If not, don't expect much. If you're looking for miracles, you're in the wrong place.
Have you used Ephedra Free Ripped Fuel? Tell me what you think!
Looking for a fat burner recommendation?
Read my review of Lean System Seven!
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!
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TwinLab's Ripped Fuel (Ephedra Free ) Review
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