Should you supplement for Fat Loss? – Bio-Synergy Thermogen on Test

Fat loss products – throw them in the bin! That’s what my constant stance has been towards the supplements product market. The solid foundations of exercise and diet will always be the key to successful fat loss!

BUT in keeping an open mind…

When given the opportunity by growing supplement company Bio-synergy, I decided to put my own beliefs to the test as besides dabbling in whey protein and creatine in the past, I have shunned supplements in favour of whole foods.

Bio-Synergy’s Fat Loss product: Thermogen

What is Thermogen?

One of the reasons I took on this trial is partly because Bio-Synergy’s credentials are impressive and the product is comprised of 100% natural ingredients. The company has been pioneering in the British health supplement market with a whole raft of industry awards to its name. It’s Skinny Water has been favoured by Hollywood stars for example.
Further, its products have been used by professional sports teams including the British & Irish Lions, Formula 1 teams and the Commonwealth Games. This is quite an impressive portfolio…

Thermogen’s listed ingredient are:

• Thermogen Proprietary Herbal Blend (450mg per pill) - Yerba Mate, Guarana Seed, Kola Nut
• Gelatin (Capsule Shell)
• Magnesium Stearate

Bio Synergy’s claim for its fat burning product is quite rightly qualified – ‘Used in conjunction with a fat burning regime they will help you achieve your goals more effectively than almost anything else you have tried.’

This is a qualification on the ‘Get Ripped’ claim. It is nice to see the company clearly state this on their marketing material for the product because lets face it the only way to get ripped in a healthy way is through exercise and the company is bringing this to the consumer’s attention.

The Proprietary Herbal Blend contains Yerba Mate. Yerba Mate is one of the holly family most widely cultivated from the forests of central South America (Brazil being the biggest producer).  I remember travelling that part of the world and seeing locals drinking this stuff from strange looking wooden cups! The key property we are interested in here is its acclaimed ability to prolong the effects of thermogenesis (fat burning).

Yerba Mate contains 196 chemicals! These include Vitamins A, C, and E, calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, and selenium and 11 polyphenols (powerful antioxidants). Of most interest if the chemical “mateine”. Like caffeine, mateine is a xanthine but it works in harmony with the central nervous system, calming the body and mind. Mate typically contains less than a third caffeine content compared to ground coffee.

Mate has been shown to increase energy, endurance and fat burning in humans. Research indicates the intake of yerba mate to be most effective at 500 to 1,500 mg daily two to three times evenly throughout the day. Clearly Mate is a key fat loss component in Bio-Synergy’s herbal blend. Moving back to Bio Synergy, one pack contains 120 tablets of 450mg content each, which makes one month’s supply if you take 3 per day. At £29.99 for this quantity it is not a cheap option but I think 1 pack could last over 1 month.

In my trial, as Bio Synergy recommend, I took the supplement before meals and/or exercise. Often this included, first thing in the morning before running.

Get Ripped! – Really?

Biosynergy claim their Thermogen supplement can get you noticeable results in 1 month! This (like many others) is a bold claim from a supplement provider.

As part of my Rule Free Fitness lifestyle, I like to stay lean, fit and healthy year round. This is easier and more sustainable that yo-yoing between being overweight and your target weight. It is therefore hard for me to remove any ‘stubborn’ fat given my relatively low body fat percentage already. Yet despite this I was actually shocked to reduce my body fat from 8.8% to 8.0%. This measurement was taken on an electronic weighing scale so there will obviously be a slight degree of inaccuracy but the result certainly does not suggest that supplementing with Thermogen has had no positive fat burning effect over the course of 1 month.

Given my already lean physique 0.8% fat loss is fairly significant and noticeable. Equally, given the lead up to Christmas, I have been tempted by less than perfect foods and my alcohol consumption has increased. Whilst my diet has not been as good as it could have been to promote fat loss, I have kept up my regular exercise as suggested by Bio Synergy to get the most from their supplement – as mentioned earlier this I believe is crucial to everyone’s fat loss goals. It is impossible to state that this fat loss was caused by Thermogen alone as I am not testing in laboratory conditions but I have not had any negative side effects.

There is an added psychological benefit when we supplement. Personally I found this with protein when trying to build muscle and now with Thermogen for fat loss. My workouts have been intense over the past month as after using the product my mind is asking my body to get the most from this fat loss opportunity. This is down to the individual but even if not convinced on the actual fat loss effects of such a product – the mental impact is something you can have control of and should not be underestimated.

Final words

I would suggest that research has shown Yerba Mate to be an effective natural fat loss aid. Bio Synergy have therefore sought to combine this with other natural ingredients to maximise the fat loss potential in its product Thermogen. Though not entirely conclusive in my eyes, if you have hit a fat loss plateau then Thermogen may certainly be worth a closer look but I would once again reiterate that exercise and diet are always going to be the foundations to successful fat loss.

Thermogen may not work for everyone as other components of your diet will need to be healthy but Bio-Synergy have rigorously tested their product and whilst it is not cheap, it may help you reach your fat loss goals more quickly. As with any supplement you should take care before using it and seek medical advice where necessary.

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4. Health Benefits of Coconut Water – Zico Style
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