Fat Burning Drinks: Can they help you reduce weight? Expert tells you what works and suggestions to help you!

Weight loss is often a long and exhausting battle for some people, especially the obese and those with a slow metabolic rate.

Fortunately, fat can be burned through regular exercise, portion control, water therapy, and fat burning drinks.

Fat Burning Drinks: To Drink or Not to Drink?

Most studies would tell you to give up certain beverages, especially sodas and anything laced with artificial sweeteners, to effectively lose weight.

Alcohol is often included in the “no-no” list, but an article from the New York Times says otherwise. (1)

Although surrounded by much controversy, alcohol is not at all to be avoided while you’re losing weight.

In fact, frequent light to moderate alcohol intake doesn’t seem to make people fat.

However, binge drinking (and anything eaten in excess) is a contributing factor in obesity risk.

Diet drinks, on the other hand, are a different matter.

Although diet sodas have lower calorie content, they still have a mixed reputation.

There also seems to be no solid evidence that diet sodas and other low-calorie sweetened drinks are better choices for people trying to lose weight.

A study from the journal Obesity revealed that 3,700 people who drank low-calorie sweeteners for eight years put on a lot of weight.

A similar study from the American Journal of Public Health showed that 22 percent of the obese subjects drank diet drinks.

Coffee seems to hold the same position as diet drinks and alcohol. (2)

Though your favourite java fix can slightly boost weight loss, the data remain inconclusive.

There is no sound evidence that proves increased consumption of coffee can result in permanent weight loss.

Let's Consider Some Core Benefits

If eating in moderation is a lot harder to do than it seems, drinking fat burning beverages might just help you shrink your waist fast.

Whether these are natural or chemically engineered, fat burning drinks are definitely holier and safer than having abdominal fat, which raises your cancer risk. ⁽³⁾

There is also a direct link between visceral fat and heart disease.

Ergo, people with larger waists have higher chances of developing heart ailments.

However, drinking fat burning beverages won’t totally eliminate the fats away – they will just help speed up the metabolism and fat burning process.

As with any alternative, the effectiveness of fat burning drinks have to be complemented with regular exercise and healthy eating.

Scientifically Proven Drinks that Burn Fat

Last year, Silicon Valley was taken by storm when a miracle drink that claimed to burn fat was introduced.

The drink called Ketone Ester, although chemically engineered, could burn fat fast without you having to stop eating your favourite foods.

Geoff Woo, CEO of the company that manufactured it, said that Ketone Ester is not fat, protein, or carbohydrates. Nevertheless, the body could use it as an energy source.

But you don’t have to spend lots of British pounds or AU dollars to lose weight quickly. There are natural and readily available fat burning drinks for you, such as:

• Apple Cider Vinegar

ACV is a natural bile stimulant, which keeps the stomach’s PH levels balanced.

According to a study from Japan ⁽⁴⁾, adding 1 or 2 tablespoons of ACV to your diet, preferably mixing it with water and drinking the tonic first thing in the morning, can help people reduce belly fat and body fat percentage.

ACV also increases your feeling of fullness and reduces calorie intake.

In addition, it can improve your metabolism and lower your blood sugar levels.

• Red Wine

New research has found out that dark-coloured Muscadine grapes ⁽⁵⁾, which are used in most red wines, can slow and prevent the formation of fat cells.

Ellagic acid, a chemical found in grape juice, boosts the metabolism of fatty acids in liver cells, lowers blood sugar, and increases the body’s capacity to burn fat better.

Moderation is of importance, though. Drinking more than one glass each day defeats the health benefits of wine.

• Curcumin

Curcumin is a substance present in turmeric and is known to suppress the growth of fat tissues.

In an animal study from Tufts University, animals who ingested a significant amount of curcumin had less body fat than those who didn’t take curcumin.

When made into a tonic and mixed with raw honey and cinnamon, turmeric can also suppress cravings, which makes the drink a healthy substitute for sodas and low-calorie sweeteners.

• Cinnamon and Honey

Cinnamon balances blood sugar levels, helps reduce pain and inflammation, and reduces bad cholesterol.

Mix a tablespoon of cinnamon and a spoonful of honey in a glass of water for a tasty fat-burning concoction.

Use cold water if possible, as warm water can take away the nutrients that should be present in honey and cinnamon.

• Lemon and Lime

Meanwhile, squeezing a lime or two in your honey and cinnamon tonic can speed up metabolism.

Lemon and lime are two of the most popular fat-burning citrus fruits out there.

But lemon water as a fat-burning drink has its share of issues. ⁽⁶⁾

According to Alissa Rumsey, R.D., a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, hot water with lemon doesn’t directly cause weight loss.

However, drinking lemon water in place of sweetened drinks and coffee can indeed result in a calorie deficit.

Lemon also contains polyphenols, plant compounds that act as antioxidants, help the liver burn fat.

• Coffee

Black coffee ⁽⁷⁾ – no sugar, no anything – can boost your metabolism.

Not only is it a potent source of thermogenesis, but it’s also calorie-free.

Caffeine is known to mobilize fats in the body and actively absorb carbohydrates. Since coffee keeps your alert and awake, you have more energy to move about and burn calories.

Green coffee, on the other hand, has high levels of chlorogenic acids, which convert fat into energy.

Purported to be even better than black coffee, green coffee is a free radical scavenger and a natural antioxidant.

• Green Tea

Green tea is another popular fat-burning drink. It is rich in polyphenols and catechins that have excellent fat-burning properties.

To maximise its benefits, drink around 5 cups of green tea a day. Try taking matcha green tea, too, which has higher levels of catechins than regular green tea.

• Dandelion Tea

Like green tea, dandelion tea makes you slimmer as it reduces the toxic load around your belly (i.e. fats and other wastes).

It’s also a natural diuretic that combats water retention.

• Yoghurt

Yoghurt drinks can effectively burn belly fat, as proven by researchers from the University of Knoxville ⁽⁸⁾.

The study has found that dietary calcium, such as that in yogurt, can directly influence weight loss and weight management.

Calcium intake likewise increases body fat breakdown and speeds up metabolism. High levels of calcium can also reduce belly fat.

• Wheatgrass

Whether in capsule form or as a powder drink, wheatgrass is a popular fat burning supplement in the market due to its rich content of vitamins, enzymes, chlorophyll, and minerals.

Its antioxidant properties fight cancer cells and free radicals.

This superfood is also low in calories and contains zero fat. ⁽⁹⁾

Wheatgrass is also known to curb your cravings and increase your metabolism. It also aids in digestion and waste excretion.

• Parsley

While this herb is already a good garnish for your pasta and other meals, it’s also beneficial to your weight loss efforts.

Parsley is low in calories, fat, and sodium. ⁽¹⁰⁾

It’s rich in fibre, too, which helps in the digestion of food and absorption of nutrients.

If eaten regularly, parsley can help you lose weight.

• BCAAs

Studies have shown that branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) have a significant effect on fat loss because BCAA drinks curb your appetite and regulate your satiety.

People who took BCAAs and exercised regularly have shown a drop in their body fat and total weight.

Homemade Fat-Burning Drinks

1. Banana Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie

This protein smoothie can help burn fat because of its yogurt content.

Ingredients:

    ½ cup plain Greek yogurt

    ½ banana

1 cup strawberries

½ tsp vanilla extract

     1 tbsp almond butter

½ cup of water

Procedure:

Blend all of the ingredients until the texture becomes smooth and creamy.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar Lime Water

Mildly refreshing, this detox water drink rids the body of unwanted substances.

Ingredients:

3 squeezed limes

3 tbsp. of apple cider vinegar

water and ice

a few drops/a tsp. of Stevia sweetener

Procedure:

Put all ingredients in a pitcher. Add ice until you reach half of the pitcher.  Fill the pitcher with water and store the concoction in the fridge. Drink when the water has become cool.

3. Banana Green Tea Smoothie

Bananas give the smoothie all the goodness of potassium, while green tea provides the refreshing taste and cleansing benefits.

Ingredients:

1 cup baby spinach

1 frozen banana

2 tbsp ground flax

1 ½ cups chilled green tea

1 cup ice cubes

Procedure:

Brew the tea, add ice, and leave it on the fridge to chill.

Mix this with the rest of the ingredients in a blender. Blend for about 2 minutes, or until the texture becomes smooth.

Possible Side Effects of Fat Burning Drinks

Fat burning drinks, especially those that aren’t made of natural ingredients, pose certain risks to your health¹⁴.

They can increase your heart rate, trigger allergies, cause changes in your behavior, and give you stomach problems.

Should you buy commercial fat burning drinks, choose those with premium and safe ingredients.

1.  Cellucor C4 Ripped Pre-Workout Powder

One of the #1 weight loss supplements in the US, C4 Ripped contains ingredients that contribute to weight loss and fat burning.

It has the power of  L-Carnitine, Capsimax Cayenne Fruit Extract, green coffee extract, and Coleus Forskohlii Root extract to convert fat to energy effectively.

C4 Ripped is available in delectable flavours: table Flavors:

There’s a flavour for you.

C4 Ripped is offered in Cherry Limeade, Fruit Punch, Raspberry Lemonade, Tropical Punch, and Icy Blue Razz.

2.  Perfect Keto Chocolate Exogenous Ketones

This product is made from high-quality beta-hydroxy-butyrate (BHB), which strongly complements the Keto diet.

Specifically, this drink regulates your appetite, increases your focus, burns fat to energy, increases your metabolism, and sustains your high level of energy.

It has no additives or fillers.

Perfect Keto may also be mixed with your favorite drink, be it coffee, milk, shake, or any low-cal beverage.

Conclusion

There’s no doubt that fat burning drinks can make your body healthier.

However, it all boils down to choosing the best product out there and checking out which ones are made of the healthiest ingredients.

So go and buy (or make your own!) a fat burning drink to start getting the body you’ve always dreamed of having.

References

1. Brody, J. (2017). Do we need to give up alcohol to lose weight? Not necessarily.  The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/13/well/do-we-need-to-give-up-alcohol-to-lose-weight-not-necessarily.html on July 31, 2018.
2. Zeratsky, K.  (2017). Does caffeine help with weight loss? Weight Loss.  Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/expert-answers/caffeine/faq-20058459 on Aug. 1, 2018.
3. Brody, J. (2018).  The dangers of belly fat. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/11/well/live/belly-fat-health-visceral-fat-waist-cancer.html on July 31, 2018.
4. Spritzler, F.  (2016). Can apple vinegar in your diet help you lose weight? Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/apple-cider-vinegar-weight-loss on July 30, 2018.
5. Angle, S. (2015).  5 everyday drinks you didn’t know could burn fat.  Shape. Retrieved from https://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/healthy-drinks/5-everyday-drinks-you-didnt-know-could-burn-fat on July 29, 2018.
6. Kramer, J.  (2018). Can lemon water really help me lose weight?  Women’s Health. Retrieved from www.womenshealthmag.co.uk/weight-loss/fat-burners/2450/can-lemon-water-really-help-you-lose-weight/ on Aug 1, 2018.
7. Gunnars, K.  (2018). Can coffee increase your metabolism and help you burn fat?  Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/coffee-increase-metabolism on July 30, 2018.
8. Braverman, E.  (2011). For consistent weight loss, eat yogurt every day.  Huffington Post. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-eric-braverman/for-consistent-weight-los_b_161701.html on Aug. 2, 2018.
9. Cronkleton, E.  (2017). Wheatgrass Benefits: 11 Reasons to Enjoy.  Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/wheatgrass-benefits on Aug. 1, 2018.
10. Billings-Smith, L. (2017). Is parsley good for losing pounds? SF Gate. Retrieved from https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/parsley-good-losing-pounds-11926.html on July 31, 2018.

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