Fat Burners

Published: 07/06/2006 - Updated: 08/10/2018

Losing body fat is an obsession among the industrialized countries, more specifically, in some sports. Throughout recent years, there have been huge numbers of pills and magic potions that were intended to accelerate the removal of fat outside the body. Many of them were useless and had dangerous side effects. However, there are few natural nutrients that are very useful for removing fat and are completely harmless. These are commonly known as Fat Burners.

Most of the substances that make up these formulas seem to complement the effects of the other, i.e. have a synergistic effect. But we must always remember that fat metabolisers or Fat Burners, must be combined with proper eating habits and proper exercise in order to achieve the desired effect.

Choline: Features 

  • It has been ranked among the B vitamins (like vitamin B7), although it is a substance that may be considered essential because it cannot be synthesized in the body.
  • The importance of this supplement in athletes is due to the ability of the choline to remove the fat.
  • In the market we can find the choline as a supplement directly or in more complex ways in fat metabolisers or nutritional products.
  • Deficiencies: A deficiency in choline may result in the following side effects: stomach ulcers due to deposits of fatty acids in the liver, cardiovascular disease, renal and hepatic dysfunction. Although the body can manufacture Choline itself, may also appear deficient.

Choline: Functions

  • It is a constituent of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
  • Protects the liver in cases of significant alterations of this vital organ
  • Prevents deposits fat in the liver and facilitates the mobilization of fat in the body's cells.
  • Enhances the metabolism of fat tissue, preventing the deposition of fat in the liver and the body's cells.
  • Helps in treatment of hepatitis.
  • Recovers from the damage caused by possible use of doping substances such as anabolic steroids
  • The choline has been used by many nutritionists to improve the functions of memory, since an increase in choline is related to an increase of acetylcholine, the most important neurotransmitter in the transmission of nerve impulses in neurons. Furthermore, the choline is an essential component of myelin sheaths of the nerves.
  • The choline combined with inositol also helps lower cholesterol levels (the phosphatidylcholine is a component of lecithin), and therefore avoids appearance of biliary disorders.
  • The choline prevents fat deposits in the liver and facilitates the mobilization of fat in the body's cells.

Inosine: Features

  • Water-soluble Vitamin.
  • It is found naturally in foods such as lecithin, offal, wheat germ, whole grains, brewer's yeast, molasses, peanuts, citrus fruits.
  • Weaknesses: No known deficiency symptoms are recognized, but we believe that it can cause visual abnormalities, hair loss, constipation and increased cholesterol levels.
  • Recommended dosage: 500-1,000 mg. There is no established RDA.

Inosine: Functions

  • Next to the choline, it helps metabolize fats and cholesterol in arteries and in the liver
  • Helps the endogenous synthesis of lecithin
  • Stimulates cell growth and development of the spinal cord, eye membranes and intestines
  • Used together with vitamin E to help nerve damage in certain forms of muscular dystrophy
  • In some cases, prevents capillary fragility and baldness
  • Collaborates in the nutrition of brain cells
  • Next to the choline, helps the menstrual problems.

Lecithin: Features 

  1. Lecithin is an organic product that is derived from soybeans. It can also be obtained from the yolk, but in egg, lecithin is accompanied by cholesterol, which is less interesting from a nutritional point of view.
  2. It possesses an emulsifier, which facilitates the digestion of fats.
  3. From the chemical point of view, it is a nutrient that belongs to a group of substances like fats, grease and organic phosphorus. More specifically, lecithin is composed of choline, inositol, phosphoric acid, two fatty acids and glycerol. These compounds are found in every cell of the cell bodies.
  4. The most common way of taking lecithin is through direct ingestion, tablespoons in a liquid or in granules or capsules before meals (preferably breakfast).
  5. The recommended dose is 1 to 4 grams / day. Being a fat, you should exercise extreme caution to keep container tightly closed and check the expiration date.

Lecithin: Functions

  • Lecithin is essential for the proper functioning of each of the cells of various organs of the human body, so it is vital for the proper functioning of the body.
  • It is present in many metabolic and biochemical processes and is very important for all those organs that develop basic life functions, such as the liver, pancreas, kidney, brain and nervous system in general.
  • It is proven that in a healthy person, lecithin is 30% of the dry weight of the brain and 73% of the liver, but all those who suffer from serious heart disease is reduced at an alarming rate both.
  • The purpose of nutritional supplements based on lecithin is to increase the supply of available to reconstructive substances that may be required due to a mild illness, a bad diet or an exercise. This means that due to both physical and mental stress, lecithin is an extremely valid for the proper functioning of the body.
  • Applications of dietary lecithin: it has an emulsifier based on action on all body fat and its role on the composition of the structure of body cells.
  • Enhances extraordinarily digestion of fats, improves elasticity of arteries, detoxifies the liver, has purifying action of the kidneys, increases the brain capacity, strengthens the nervous system, providing greater power and tends to have control over the weight.
  • Due to its effect on blood fats, including cholesterol, lecithin is recommended, especially to all those who suffer from high blood cholesterol.

Methionine: Features

  • Methionine is an essential amino acid of the group of sulfur, i.e., it contains a sulfur group
  • It is the limiting amino acid in many foods such as soybeans, peanuts, cotton and potatoes. Limiting amino acid is one that determines the percentage of food to be absorbed and to be used at the cellular level
  • Natural sources: Appears to be part of the amino acid sequence of protein from meat, fish, pork, poultry, cottage cheese, yogurt and beans.
  • Deficiencies: Deficiencies in the diet of foods rich in the amino acid methionine can cause anemia, delayed synthesis of protein and fat infiltration in the liver (cirrhosis)
  • Recommended dosage: The dose is usually approximately 0,14-0,28 grams daily per 10 kg body weight should be eating 30-60 minutes before meals.
  • Methionine often appear together in complex ways lipotropic to betaine, choline, inositol and the B vitamins

Methionine: Functions

  • It acts on the initiation of endogenous protein synthesis and transport of the chemical methyl groups, (hence the name, methionine) very important process in the production of many compounds, including choline, creatinine, and adrenaline. It is also necessary in the production of lecithin.
  • Stimulates the metabolism of fats
  • Along with the arginine and glycine, it is one of the three amino acids capable of endogenously synthesize creatine in the body
  • In addition to the choline and inositol, it is an effective liver protector. In fact, it participates in the regeneration of liver tissue and kidney.
  • Methionine itself is a powerful antioxidant that protects cells from the ravages of harmful substances. Contributes to the elimination of toxic byproducts of the liver (alcohol) and has been shown to act against many symptoms of poisoning by copper ore. But also helps increase the absorption of selenium, trace mineral that acts as a potent antioxidant.
  • It plays an important role in the synthesis of genetic material, more specifically in the formation of DNA and RNA
  • Other functions: Influences on the condition of the hair follicle and is seen as an excellent anti-factor.

Pyruvate: Features

  • The pyruvate (or more specifically, pyruvic acid) is a natural component of the body, a byproduct of the metabolism of carbohydrates and protein enzyme for obtaining ATP (the energy molecule in the body) or their direct precursors from glucose.
  • In aerobic conditions pyruvate is used to generate additional ATP
  • Under anaerobic conditions, pyruvate is converted into lactate.
  • Pyruvic acid is chemically very unstable, so it is marketed as its stable form is called Pyruvate salt that is formed by the combination of pyruvic acid with sodium, potassium, calcium or magnesium. You can also stabilize with amino acids such as glycine.
  • Side effects: it seems that some cases have been detected with intestinal disorders in patients treated with high doses of pyruvate (between 30-100 grams) but has not been detected any undesirable effects in recommended doses of 80 to 100 mg per kg body weight / day.
  • The pyruvate is considered as a really promising nutritional supplement in the sports.

Pyruvate: Features

  • Pyruvate improves performance in the exercise because it helps transport glucose into the muscle cell mainly after an hour of exercise.
  • Increases the synthesis of glycogen (glycogen is the form that has the body to store glucose) in this way the body will have an immediate form of energy, the glucose extracted from the blood that passes into the muscle cell and energy stored as glycogen.
  • By increasing the energy content, it increases the resistance in the exercise and delayed onset of fatigue. It is, therefore, a very interesting supplement for sports and prolonged aerobic effort.
  • The pyruvate produces a weight loss caused by loss of fat. That makes the loss through two mechanisms: Increasing the metabolic rate and increasing the use of fat by the body.

About the author
  • Miriam Reyes

    Miriam Reyes is a professional expert in nutrition and dietetics. She has more than 12 years of experience in caring for patients with overweight and eating problems. She studied at the Universidad del Valle de Atemajac (UNIVA), where she obtained a degree in nutrition. Linkedin profile.

2 Replies to “Fat Burners”
  • Jacob says:

    It is always good to know what are you are needing when you want to follow a good routine as an athlete, you know you cannot consume the common food that anyone have, you need some supplements to have the enough substances your body needs, and this article explains that very well

  • Stacy says:

    Interesting article. I had no idea there were so many different types of fat…or that they even had different characteristics like that!! It is very true, however, that in our industrialized society we’ve become absolutely obsessed with “burning fat”. It’s almost like we counteract our 90% sedentary days with 10% of crazy, off-the-wall and over-the-top, intense workouts. I’m not quite so sure that’s the healthiest way of doing it either. Just as eating a balanced diet is important, so is balanced exercise.