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Fats: Functions and Metabolism
Fats or lipids, along with carbohydrates, are the main energy source of our body. In fact, every gram of fat provides 9 calories versus 4 provided by carbohydrates. Furthermore, unlike the latter, fat stocks are practically infinite (each kg of adipose tissue has a calorific value of about 7800 calories).
Even taking fat burning supplements it is not possible to force all these biological mechanisms. In other words, there are no substances that can significantly accelerate fat consumption.
How they act
The presumed lipolytic function of certain supplements is mainly due to the presence of substances with thermogenic activity able to accelerate the metabolism. Increasing the body's energy expenditure will indirectly burn fat by promoting the loss of excess fatty tissue.
Carnitine
Carnitine, on the other hand, is a supplement in its own right, through which attempts are made to maximize the entry of long chain fatty acids into the cell.
What they contain
Fat-burning supplements are often based on caffeine or substances with similar activity, often mixed together (green tea, mate, cola, sinephrine, guarana). Through the administration of these substances, a hormonal response mediated by catecholamines is triggered in the body which favors the increase of body metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure and the number of respiratory acts (thus increasing blood oxygenation).
The "fat burning" effect of these products is well documented, provided that these substances are present in significant quantities.
Along with caffeine and its analogues, fat burner supplements are often associated with minerals (iodine to improve thyroid function), antioxidants, other substances with a presumed thermogenic effect (calcium pyruvate) and sometimes with natural diuretics.
Side effects
After a certain dose, depending on individual sensitivity and diet, fat-burning supplements can cause quite important side effects such as: hypertension, headache, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia and convulsions.
Alternatives
Is it possible to burn fat naturally?
The most powerful and effective fat burner is aerobic exercise (cycling, running, endurance swimming, cross-country skiing, etc.).
Only an important caloric expenditure can massively stimulate lipolysis.
- To find out how to increase metabolism through diet and exercise, read: Accelerate your metabolism
- To find out the relationship between sport and fat consumption can instead refer to the following article: Aerobic activity and fat consumption
