Zantrex 3 Fat Burner Review

Zantrex 3 is one ephedra-free fat burner that pushes the advertising hype "envelope" into the stratosphere. For instance...

Quoting a "study" that puts Zantrex 3 head-to-head against the most popular fat burner in the U.S., Klein Becker claims Zantrex 3 is 546% more effective than the best ephedra-based fat burners. Of course, since this "study" is never referenced (in which journal was it published it, who conducted it, and so on), it has exactly the same credibility as no study at all -- none.

Zantrex 3's powers can apparently be attributed to a "proprietary xanthine-based stimulant." This sounds impressive, but xanthine is just another name for caffeine -- yup, the same stuff you get from your coffee!

Sidebar: That's another disturbing trend that rubs me the wrong way about fat burners these days. Simple, common- place ingredients are disguised by unfamiliar nomenclature.

Let's face it -- stating that Zantrex 3's fat burning powers can be ascribed to a "proprietary xanthine-based stimulant" is a lot more effective than stating that Zantrex 3 works simply because it contains a ton of caffeine. It simply sounds more "scientific." However, there's no doubt in my mind that it is misleading!

The fact that Zantrex 3 is hyped as ephedra-free might give you the impression that this is a stimulant-free fat burner. In fact, one serving of Zantrex 3 will provide you with more caffeine than you'd obtain from 3 cups of coffee. It's also important to note that caffeine has many of the side-effects associated with ephedra, and may not be for everyone (see Zantrex 3 side effects).

With that said, I want to emphasize that caffeine is a pretty decent fat burner, although it pales in comparison to ephedra, (actually it works best when combined with ephedra).

Of course, most of the caffeine in Zantrex 3 is derived from natural sources -- like yerba mate, green tea, guarana, cocoa and kola nut, so you're getting benefits up and above the caffeine content these herbals are standardized for. Green tea, for example, (reviewed here) is a pretty exciting compound showing great potential as a weight loss agent, and yerba mate has also been shown to increase metabolism and stimulate weight loss.

Interestingly enough, Zantrex 3 also contains maca root, ginseng, and damiana -- herbals that are best known for their ability to work as aphrodisiacs. I guess the makers of Zantrex 3 feel it never hurts to feel a little more "frisky!" :-)

Despite this, one study (J Hum Nutr Diet. 2001 Jun;14(3):243-50 -- click here!) showed that the combination of yerba mate, damiana and guarana delayed gastric emptying (leading to increased feeling of satiety) and increased weight loss.

Schizonepeta (also known as "Japanese catnip"), another ingredient in this compilation, is used in herbal medicine for numerous purposes, although none are validated by any real scientific research, and none are directly related to weight loss (for more on Schizonepeta, click here).

So what's the bottom line on Zantrex 3?

This product's massive caffeine content means you will experience more "nervous" energy (lots of jitters, too!), a suppressed appetite (although not suppressed to the extent of ephedra), and an increased metabolic rate. Keep in mind too, that Klein Becker, the manufacturer of this product, has a serious credibility probloem, having already been fined by the FTC for making false and unsubstantiated claims about their products.

If you alter your diet accordingly, monitor your caloric intake, and implement a practical exercise program, Zantrex 3 may provide you with an extra edge. I would caution that this is not a miracle pill. If you don't intend to make these modifications to your lifestyle, don't waste your money on Zantrex 3 (for more information on what you can experience from ephedra-free fat burners, click here!).

I'd also suggest those of you considering using Zantrex-3 should check out what other visitors to this site have said about the product!

One last comment... for what it is, Zantrex 3 is also a little on the pricey side -- US$50 buys you a three week supply.

Have you used Zantrex 3? Tell me what you think!

To learn about Zantrex 3 side effects, including some visitor comments, click here!

To read visitor comments on Zantrex 3, click here!

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