Recommendations: Stimulant-Free Fat Burners

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Many of the weight loss supplements on the market today contain a TON of stimulants (in the form of caffeine, synephrine, dimethyleamylamine, etc).

If you are sensitive to these products, or have an underlying medical condition (high blood pressure, heart disease, etc) that prevents you from experimenting with them, you are probably on the hunt for a stimulant-free fat burner.

If there's a problem here, it's that even for the stimulant-free supplements that have some clinical evidence behind them, they don't tend to yield any more than the subtlest of effects.

Stimulant based fat burners tend to be more effective—not because they are any better at "burning fat", but because they provide users with a "boost" of energy, which may make it easier to be more active, or remain committed to an exercise program.

So it's even more important to have established a smart diet and exercise program prior to supplementing with any product.

The following is a list of stimulant-free fat burners / weight loss supplements that you may find helpful...

Products Worth Investigating Study Status
Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA): A non-essential fatty acid, shown to be moderately helpful when taken at the correct dosage.    
7-Keto DHEA: A metabolite of DHEA, some preliminary evidence shows weight loss benefits, possibly by boosting thyroid function.    
Xanthigen: A combination of brown seaweed and pomegranate oil, the effectiveness of which is demonstrated mostly in animal studies (although some human data exists).
Slim Shots: A palm and oat oil blend that is claimed to increase satiety and suppress appetite.
Forslean (Coleus Forskohlii): A perennial plant of the mint family that has been used in Ayuervedic traditional medicine for ages. Existing clincial data shows a mild weight loss benefit.
Caralluma fimbriata (Slimaluma): An Indian cactus with a reputation as a hunger and appetite suppressant. This has been confirmed in single human study.
Guggulsterones: Obtained from a small, bushy shrub common to India and Pakistan known as Commiphora mukul, evidence suggests guggulsterones exhibits modest weight loss characteristics, perhaps by elevating thyroid function.
Decaffeinated Green Tea Extract: To get the full benefits of green tea, you need to stick with the regular "caffeinated" stuff. Still, decaffeinated green tea has been shown to be moderately helpful.
Legend (rollover icon for explanation)
HS (Human studies): Some human-based studies have been performed on this ingredient/product, or some of the ingredients in this product. This should not be considered absolute "proof" that it works as described.

Studies "vary" in credibility; while some are credible, others may be only preliminary, small, or their methodologies may be flawed (not properly randomized, double blind or placebo controlled) or they may be published in obscure or non-accredited journals.

Other studies may be conducted by people with a vested interest in a positive outcome (i.e., they are managed by the same people retailing the product), and therefore the conclusions must be viewed with skepticism.

And of course, many studies demonstrate only mild or moderate effects, which—with the help of a retailer's creative marketing department—can be made to appear much more dramatic than they are.
AS (Animal studies): Some animal based studies have been performed on this ingredient/product. Positive animal based study results do not always translate over to the same results in humans. However, these are a good first step, and may help to add some credence to pure anecdotal reports.
"In vitro" studies: Literally, these are studies performed "in glass"—basically in a culture dish, not in any animal or human model. While "in vitro" studies are usually the easiest, fastest and most cost-effective to conduct, they are also the "bottom of the ladder" when it comes to clinical evidence. Results obtained when a compound is applied directly to isolated cells or tissues may be different than those obtained when it's swallowed by a human or animal, as it must "survive" the harsh environment of the stomach and first pass through the liver. "In vitro" studies rank above anecdotal evidence, since in-vitro work can at least establish—in a controlled manner—that a supplement compound is biologically active.
AE (Anecdotal evidence): It all starts with anecdotal evidence. In general, anecdotes mean very little, as most individuals are not necessarily aware of the large number of variables that can contribute to a positive outcome for any product/ingredient. Still, when enough people consistently notice a positive effect, it cannot be completely dismissed. On the "scale" of proof that a product works, anecdotal evidence is the least reliable.
 
 

 

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