Weight gain is a fast becoming a serious health concern for most people, especially for health-conscious ones. Some people manage to shed off the extra pounds through exercises, and some by keeping a check over their diet. And when exercise and diet are not in the scenario, then medications or supplements come handy for some people. This article discusses one such dietary supplement that helps in weight loss. If we go by the dictionary meaning of thermogenics, it refers to the process of heat production that occur in living organisms. The ‘thermogenics’ we are discussing here, as mentioned already, are a class of dietary supplements widely used for weight loss, especially by bodybuilders.
Working Mechanism of Thermogenics
To understand the working of thermogenic supplements, first you need to know what is metabolism. It is simply defined as the process the body undertakes to convert the food and liquid consumed into energy. During this process, the food content is combined with oxygen, in order to release the energy. This process continues even when the body is sleeping, to keep with the voluntary functions of breathing, blood circulation, regulation of hormone levels, and growing and repairing of cells, to name a few. The action of thermogenics is directly related to the metabolism of the body. True to their name, these supplements increase the core temperature of the body by a slight degree, and this in turn stimulates the metabolic rate. And this speeds up heart rate, breathing, and other bodily functions, thus, increasing the need for energy. To meet the additional energy requirement, the body uses its store of fat cells thus, resulting in weight loss. It should be known that these drugs do not burn fat directly, but they work to increase different bodily functions, and they are the ones which increase the metabolic rate, and encourage weight loss. Caffeine, ginger and ephedrine are the commonly used active ingredients in these supplements meant for weight loss. People using these supplements experience increased levels of energy, better muscle response, increased mental alertness, and improved motor skills.
Side Effects of Thermogenics
As beneficial these supplements may be, for most people, they also have their own share of side effects. One common side effect is associated with the digestive system of the body. People complain about abdominal cramping, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, flatulence, and distension of the abdomen. Besides these, thermogenic supplements are also known to trigger headaches, and this may be accompanied by palpitations, fluttering sensation in the chest, cardiac arrhythmia, hypertension (increased blood pressure), and in more severe cases, heart attack may also be a repercussion. Some people have also been found to have an impaired immune system by the use of these weight loss supplements. This may occur when the use starts disrupting the sleep of the user, or affecting the adrenal glands. Other side effects may be flushing, heartburn, itchy skin and overheating of the body. In addition, there might also occur some psychological side effects too, and these may include mood swings, increased irritability, and feeling of withdrawal. These symptoms may be worse in people suffering from depression, anxiety or bipolar disorders.
It is important to know that thermogenics have the property to stimulate and cause the central nervous system, and other bodily systems, to function faster and more than normal. Ergo, overdose or improper use may spell trouble. So, before going for weight loss supplements such as these, better discuss your overall health and any medical conditions you may have, with your health care provider.
