Image by: Bruce
By Jake Bradshaw

We all want to believe in a magic pill that changes our body from flab to fab in a matter of weeks. The before and after pictures alone are enough to make you want to click the purchase button. But do these products really work or are they just a scam?

It might come as a surprise to you that not all of them are rip offs, in fact, many of them might be the very thing you need for your workout regime. All it takes is a bit of knowledge of what to look for. But first, here are a few facts you need to know.

Fact vs. Fiction

Many people think supplements are a waste of money, but the truth of the matter is all supplements have their benefits, otherwise, they wouldn’t be on the market. Never start taking supplements thinking you’re going to wake up with the perfect body overnight. Pills don’t do the work for you, rather they help you along the way.

The Truth About Hormone Boosters

Many supplements brag about their testosterone-boosting qualities. With higher testosterone, muscle mass, strength, and your libido will increase – so they say. However in 2005, the FDA took many popular “testosterone boosting” supplements out of the stores for safety concerns.

The truth of the matter is that hormone boosters also increase estrogen which leads to a drastic lowering of cholesterol, and not to mention, “man boobs.” The best way to go about this is to visit your doctor to check your hormone levels. Unless you have low levels, there is no reason to take over the counter boosters.

Instone Forza-T and Tribulus Shots are two products that claim to increase testosterone. Recently they were debunked by two studies published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology and New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers found no physical benefits that consumers were told to expect from the supplement.

In reality, more testosterone creates more adrenaline and cell production. This doesn’t necessarily target the muscles, per say, so don’t get the messages mixed.

The Truth About Fat Burners

Many fat burning products have natural or man-made chemicals which boost your metabolism and (supposedly) help your body burn fat. Don’t let this fool you into thinking you can eat whatever you want and still lose weight. Many products claim this and it’s just not true.

Fat burners merely assist you in your workout regime. When you combine them with weight training, a good diet, and cardio, they give you energy to keep going. In a sense, it helps turn the fat into fuel. However, our body needs fat. Often times, men will continue to take these supplements after they’ve met their goal weight.

When there is no fat to burn into fuel, our body will steal from our muscles, and fat burners may increase this process more than it should. They should only be taken during long periods of weight loss, not for maintenance. This will only steal energy from your muscles, liver and other organs.

If it makes you feel better, the FDA is pretty tough on harmful ingredients in American-made products. Most of the content in fat burners are safe and won’t cause drastic harm, like cancer or things of that nature.

Everyone Is Different, So Find Your Mixture

We all have different reactions when it comes to supplements. No two people who have the same workout regiment, the same diet, and take the same supplements will have the same body or metabolism. This can translate to the kinds of brands you take as well.

Two brands of fat burners will have different mixtures and components which may target certain areas of your body better than the other. Don’t assume because one brand failed to give you results that all similar products are fake. It’s a matter of finding the correct mixture for your natural biorhythms.