Fat, thermogenic, thermogenesis, weightloss, weight loss, body fat, ephedrine, ma huang, caffeine, xanthine, BAT, brown adipose tissue, diet, Dieting, aspirin, ephedra, appetite, diabetic, diabetics, diabetes, willow bark, cola, yerba mate

The following are excerpts from

MOST OFTEN ASKED QUESTIONS (p. 48-55)

Q. Give me a quick definition of thermogenesis.
A. Thermogenesis is the body process that creates heat. The fuel for heat production is derived from lipids, or fats. These fats are obtained from the diet or from stored body fat. Thermogenesis is the body's way of disposing of excess calories so they are not deposited as fat. Unfortunately, the process doesn't work very well in most people. Research has shown that stimulation of thermogenesis makes a significant impact on body fat stores. It is the foundation of the science of fat management.

Q. How soon should I see results?
A. This varies from person to person, the range being anywhere from immediately to several weeks or even months. Some people have virtually no brown adipose tissue (BAT) in which thermogenesis can occur, or else the BAT they have contains too few mitochondria to make a difference on fat stores. Consumption of thermogenic by these people will begin to stimulate the growth of BAT and the proliferation of mitochondria; soon a "critical mass" of BAT will accumulate and significant fat loss will occur, all things being equal. Serious thyroid or adrenal disease may inhibit thermogenesis, as will a rigorous exercise program done during the same part of the day as when ingesting the thermogenic.

Q. What causes that jittery feeling during the first few days using thermogenic?
A. Not everyone experiences this problem, but for the few that do, it can cause undue anxiety. Jitteriness usually indicates that you're drinking other sources of caffeine, normally coffee and cola drinks. It may also be felt by persons unusually sensitive to the ephedrine. This feeling generally goes away after 5-15 days.

Q. How does thermogenic affect energy levels?
A. Thermogenic increases the amount of energy you feel, sometimes dramatically. It increases the flow of blood to muscles, thereby increasing the amount of oxygen and nutrients that are available for the muscles to use. The same goes for the brain. As you lose fat, you will also feel more energy. Thermogenic also has a mildly stimulatory affect on the central nervous system.

Q. Why do some companies suggest I not take thermogenic on weekends?
A. To allow the adrenals, both the medulla and the cortex (parasympathetic nervous system) a chance to rebound. Although adrenal stimulation is not necessary for thermogenesis to occur, it is an unavoidable consequence of SNS stimulation. The body needs time each week to replenish adrenal stores being depleted by thermogenic. Constant SNS stimulation is not healthy. Fortunately, the healthy body has a tremendous capacity for replenishing the adrenals.

Q. Can diabetics use thermogenic agents?
A. Basic research shows that stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system by thermogenic does not appreciably influence blood sugar levels. Clinical trials involving patients with diabetes have been successful. Tolerable amounts for the diabetic are generally about half that of non-diabetics. In these reduced amounts, thermogenic may be used 7 days a week. Use of a properly formulated thermogenic is absolutely mandatory! Both insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetics may consume thermogenic.

Q. Can people with high blood pressure consume thermogenic compounds?
A. Again, the answer presupposed consumption of a properly formulated thermogenic, in which case the answer is yes. Sometimes dieting itself lowers blood pressure due to decreased sympathetic activity resulting from caloric restriction. Consumption of thermogenic may offset this tendency; however, much research shows that thermogenic does not raise blood pressure. Nevertheless, most labels will contain warnings about blood pressure. This is because thermogenic stimulates the SNS which typically tends to raise blood pressure.

Q. Can people who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or nursing take thermogenic?
A. No. Fetuses, newborns, and infants have immature nervous systems. It is always best to avoid ingesting stimulants while you are pregnant or nursing. Women who are trying to become pregnant must use their own discretion about when to stop using thermogenic but product manufacturers are bound to include label warnings.

Q. How does thermogenic interact with anti-depressants?
A. Experience has shown that depressive persons react very positively to thermogenic; this fact suggests that persons using anti-depressant drugs should discuss the use of thermogenic with their doctor, and report their progress to him. Thermogenic may increase serotonin levels in the brain.

Q. What is the relationship between caffeine and xanthine?
A. Caffeine is a member of the xanthine family of alkaloids. Most plants that contain caffeine also contain other xanthines. The particular mix of xanthines in a plant dictates the manner in which that plant will affect physiology. Generally, the best mixes of xanthines for overall health are found in yerba mate, kola nut, and (for thermogenesis) in guarana. The worst mixes are found in coffee and green tea.

Q. Should I exercise when on the thermogenic program?
A. Thermogenic consumption will increase the effectiveness of most exercise programs if done properly. Since exercise that raises core body temperature will have a tendency to shut thermogenesis down, do such exercise 3-4 hours after taking the thermogenic. Alternatively, exercise first, but wait until you cool down completely before consuming the thermogenic. Many people adjust their exercise program to the evening. Still another approach is deep breathing exercise which can be done simultaneously since it does not raise core body temperature.

Q. What affect does thermogenic have on the adrenals?
A. As indicated in the previous answer, thermogenic tends to stress the adrenals. For this reasons, responsible thermogenic compounds include as much nutritional adrenal support ingredients as will fit in the capsule after the appropriate ratios of thermogenic substances are included. For maximum health, thermogenic compounds will contain the minimal amount of thermogenic agents required for SNS stimulation together with the maximum amount of adrenal support possible.

Q. I get exhausted taking thermogenic. Why?
A. People who feel tired and exhausted immediately after consuming thermogenic usually have an adrenal problem. The thermogenic quickly depletes what adrenaline stores they have, leaving them exhausted. Remedy: stop taking the thermogenic and begin rebuilding the adrenals with consumption of licorice root, vitamin C, siberian ginseng, B vitamins.

Q. Can I take thermogenic after 2:00 PM?
A. You can, but it may keep you up all night. In the late evening, when you are not normally engaged in physical labor, the body is especially sensitive to the extra adrenaline circulating in the body that is unavoidably released when you ingest the thermogenic.

Q. What is the fat/lean ratio and how does it relate to weight loss?
A. Since obesity and weight management have entered the province of medicine, it is required that food manufacturers find other ways to talk about health. This turns out to be a fortunate circumstance, since it is rapidly being discovered that the best index of health is not absolute weight, but the amount of fat you have in relation to the amount of lean body mass you have. That's the fat/lean ratio. The lower this figure the better. Measures of this ratio are increasingly easy to obtain. Bio-resistance machines, infra-red devices, skin-fold calipers, and so forth can be found in many doctors' offices and even in some health food stores.

Q. What are the side effects?
A. People react differently to the thermogenic. Most will experience no side effects at all. Some may become constipated at first; if this happens to you, consume a mild laxative, drink more water and/or reduce the amount of thermogenic ingested, especially during the first few weeks. Other people may get nauseated; these persons should reduce the amount of thermogenic ingested, drink more water and take thermogenic with meals. Some men with benign prostatic hypertrophy may experience a worsening of those symptoms; these men should be taking 2-3 capsules of pygeum, serenoa repens, or other effective anti-BPH substance, every day. Transient jitters may occur in some hypersensitive persons; this condition was discussed above.

Q. Should I take thermogenic with meals or between meals?
A. Depends. For maximum impact on stored fat, take between meals. For maximum impact on dietary calories, take with meals. It's not an all-or-none deal, just one of emphasis.

Q. Should thermogenic compounds contain chromium?
A. Thermogenesis that occurs in brown adipose tissue is not appreciably affected by chromium. Thermogenesis that occurs in muscle cells may be facilitated by chromium, but this thermogenesis is not in question when it comes to body fat. Muscle cell thermogenesis seems to function in a healthy manner in the majority of people. Chromium is mainly required for efficient energy-producing metabolism in normal body cells. It plays only a minor role in heat-producing cycles in BAT. Chromium is very important for proper insulin-mediated carbohydrate metabolism. Therefore chromium need not be included in a thermogenic compound. Given the wide number of chromium supplements currently in the marketplace, persons desiring supplemental chromium should experience no trouble acquiring it. In fact, because chromium is now in most daily vitamin and mineral tablets being consumed by the majority of people desiring to consume thermogenic, the addition of chromium to thermogenic could imbalance the daily vitamin/mineral supplement. See Part Four for more information on this problem.

Q. Should thermogenic compounds contain carnitine?
A. Probably not. Research indicates that brown adipose tissue already contains sufficient carnitine to meet the maximum thermogenic metabolic demands it may experience. Also, the amount of carnitine required to make a significant difference in BAT metabolism (500-1,000mg) would not fit in the typical dietary capsule, especially in the presence of other thermogenic nutrients. As with chromium, persons desiring additional carnitine, should acquire it in other forms. Since carnitine is a fairly expensive nutrient, its inclusion in a thermogenic would make the product unnecessarily expensive for the majority of customers who don't need it.

Q. How much thermogenic should I take?
A. This depends on the particular product. Ideally, a daily quantity of thermogenic will be present in 2-3 capsules. Larger capsules (800mg) are best suited for adding a good quantity of adrenal support nutrients. This is the avenue chosen by APRL. Smaller capsules (400mg) must either compromise on the amount of thermogenic or on the amount of adrenal support. Alternatively, a company could choose to put the thermogenic in one product, and the adrenal support in another. There may be other satisfactory variations.
People who are sensitive to any kind of stimulant should consume no more than 2 capsules per day. One capsule or even 1/2 capsule might be a reasonable standard for an extremely sensitive individual. People of great bulk have been known to consume more than the recommended 3 per day.

Q. I have seen a variety of so-called "thermogenic" products on store shelves; they never contain exactly the same nutrients. What are the major thermogenic nutrients?
A. The major thermogenic nutrients affecting thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (the organ of thermogenesis) are ma huang, or ephedrine, caffeine, or caffeine-containing herbs like kola nut, gooroo nut, yerba mate, guarana, as well as aspirin, iodine (as from fucus) and cayenne. Minor thermogenic nutrients that can still make a strong impact on some part of the thermogenic process are pantothenic acid, essential fatty acids, vitamin B-6, vitamin C, ginger root, zinc, manganese, magnesium, niacin. Willow bark, wintergreen and meadowsweet are good sources of salicin and other salicylates but these do not play a primary role in thermogenesis; their inclusion in a thermogenic product modulates the action of aspirin but they are not a substitute for aspirin. Many so-called thermogenic components may stimulate thermogenesis in muscle cells, but do not affect metabolism in brown adipose tissue where the most important kind of thermogenesis occurs. Hence such nutrients do little to affect overall fat stores. The herb yohimbe and the alkaloid yohimbine stimulate thermogenesis but are unsafe for general human consumption and should not be included in a product meant to affect thermogenesis.

Q. Why not use willow bark instead of aspirin?
A. Aspirin inhibits the particular prostaglandins that restrict the action of norepinephrine. No component of willow bark has been shown to possess this property. Salicin, the main component of willow bark, from which aspirin can be made, behaves more like substances that do not inhibit prostaglandins than like substances that do, and so is highly unlikely to possess this quality. As of this writing, aspirin remains the substance of choice for enhancing the action of ephedrine through an inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis.

Q. Will I reach a weight plateau with thermogenics?
A. There appears to be an upper limit to the capacity of a given amount of BAT to oxidize fatty acids. Once this limit has been reached, a person may experience a temporary decrease in further fat loss. This plateau may be achieved very quickly, or it may take weeks or months to reach it. At any rate, continued fat loss from this point will depend on the growth of new BAT. Brown adipose tissue mass will increase with continued use of thermogenic. Patience may be required. In other words, quick fat loss during the first few weeks is mediated by current BAT stores; further fat loss will proceed according to how quickly BAT mass increases. Both processes depend on the consumption of thermogenic. Our research has also indicated that once a person plateaus at a fat/lean ratio that is normal for his or her sex and age, further fat loss may not be possible. Thermogenic responds fairly well to innate factors governing individual body composition. It will not stimulate continued loss of tissue of any kind in otherwise healthy individuals demonstrating normal body composition.

Q. How does consumption of the thermogenic affect subjective and objective feelings of heat in the body?
A. Especially at first, activation of brown adipose tissue may create the sensation of heat in areas of the body where BAT is present, i.e., between the shoulder blades, throughout the abdomen, and down the back. In most cases, these sensations subside as the body adjusts to BAT stimulation by increasing blood vessel innervation of BAT that allows the heat to be dissipated more uniformly throughout the body. To our knowledge, consumption of the thermogenic does not increase the frequency, duration or intensity of 'hot flashes' or night sweats. However, it can increase the sweating reflex in some people in the first couple of hours following ingestion. Again, this effect appears to decrease over time.

Q. Do I need to take it forever? Is there any kind of a maintenance program?
A. You need only consume the thermogenic compound until you reach the fat/lean ratio appropriate for your sex and age and lifestyle. This is not a hard and fast figure, but a range. Here you will probably plateau out. Since it took years to gain the excess fat, and only months to take it off, you can maintain your fat/lean ratio by yearly consuming product for a short period of time, or alternatively, consuming a few capsules per week or month. You will find that fat comes back very slowly if at all. Since BAT shutdown is genetically caused, it is hard to believe that consumption of thermogenic will "cure" the problem. Rather, it will help restore BAT function, stimulate the growth of BAT and thereby help compensate for the genetic failure. Long term maintenance would require boosting the BAT from time to time to prevent repeated atrophy of BAT and loss of thermogenesis.

Disclaimer required by law: The information contained herein is intended for educational purposes only. It is not provided to aid in the diagnosis or treatment of any disease, nor as a prescriptive guide. The author, publisher, pointer, and distributor(s) accept no responsibility for such use. Those individuals suffering from any disease, illness or injury should consult with their doctor. It is hoped that the education of the public about the principles of thermogenesis will lead to a more widespread acceptance of those principles by orthodox medicine with the result that a greater degree of validation and acceptance will ensue.

		JOINAlive & Well -- Health & nutrition forum for those interested in health building, preservation & longevity
			your email address:

metabolics, omnitrition, omni, thermogenics, life plus, formor, easy way, thermojetics, herbalife, metabolics, omnitrition, omni, thermogenics, life plus, formor, easy way, thermojetics, herbalife, metabolics, omnitrition, omni, thermogenics, life plus, formor, easy way, thermojetics, herbalife, metabolics, omnitrition, omni, thermogenics, life plus, formor, easy way, thermojetics, herbalife, metabolics, omnitrition, omni, thermogenics, life plus, formor, easy way, thermojetics, herbalife, metabolics, omnitrition, omni, thermogenics, life plus, formor, easy way, thermojetics, herbalife,