Do Thermogenic Pills Help You Lose Weight?
Content Updated on July 24, 2009
Hello,
What do you think about thermogenics? Do you think they are healthy? I've tried everything else and it seems the bit that these pills speed up my metabolism is starting to really make some difference. I also work out 5 times a week and eat like an athlete, and that wasn't enough before these pills...
Is it possible that I have a thyroid problem?
Thank you
--Lauren
First of all, I would highly recommend going to your doctor and getting your thyroid checked. In fact, get a full physical exam and get everything checked. I've known quite a few people, including family members, who struggled with weight because of hypothyroidism. Others were anemic and just felt tired all the time, so they couldn't get their daily activity level up enough to burn the fat.
There are a few concerns with thermogenics. Yes, they can work. They can speed up your metabolism, which will help you burn more calories and ultimately lose weight. However, they can also have side effects, some of which can be dangerous. They can even be addictive.
Ephedra (also listed as herbal ephedra or Ma Huang) was a common ingredient in many thermogenic pills. It seemed like a miracle herb, but then we learned how dangerous the side effects could be (like heart attacks).
Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are alkaloids found in ephedra plants and do act as stimulants in the human body. They too can have dangerous side effects. They are also ingredients in the production of methamphetamine. Because of this, some people who have started using diet drugs and wish for something stronger have actually started using harder drugs, like meth, either because they believe that it will be more effective in helping them lose weight or because they've developed a tolerance to the stimulant qualities of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine.
Synephrine (also listed as zhi shi, citrus aurantium extract, or oxedrine) is filling in for ephedra in many products, but it too has been known to have side effects, including increasing blood pressure.
Then there's the good ol' caffeine. Since humans have been consuming caffeine for so long, I would venture to say that it's safe in moderation, but I wouldn't consume anything with caffeine after lunch time if you have sleeping problems.
That's another interesting side effect of thermogenic chemicals, difficulty sleeping or achieving deep levels of sleep. When you sleep at deep levels, your body actually burns calories more efficiently. Many obese people don't sleep enough or don't get enough deep sleep, which actually slows their metabolism even more. (It seems ironic to try to lose weight by sleeping, but it really does make a difference.) Deep sleep is also necessary for tissue repair (especially muscle tissue), so by taking chemicals that interfere with deep sleep, you could be slowly damaging your body's tissues and develop a persistent feeling of achiness and lethargy (which will certainly slow down your exercise routine and generally ruin your day).
So get a good checkup by your doctor. Use caffeine in moderation. I highly recommend skipping the thermogenic pills; the risks may outweigh the benefits. If you just can't seem to lose anymore weight, try adding or intensifying the strength training portion of your exercise program. The more muscle you build, the more calories you burn (even during that precious sleep), so you'll slowly start seeing the numbers of the scale go down. Plus, it makes you look good in a bathing suit (and women won't look like body builders if that's a concern).
Good luck!
Sources
Office of Dietary Supplements National Institutes of Health (July 1, 2004). Ephedra and Ephedrine Alkaloids for Weight Loss and Athletic Performance. Retrieved July 24, 2009 from http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/ephedraandephedrine.asp.
Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D. (n.d.). SYNEPHRINE: Is Chih-shih (Zhishi) Toxic? Retrieved July 24, 2009 from http://www.itmonline.org/arts/syneph.htm
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