In this, the final part in our series on stacking supplements, we show you how to stack to get ripped

by Jim Stoppani, PhD

May 21, 2010

FLEXONLINE.COM

RIPPED STACK
Bodybuilding is about mass, but it’s not all about mass. You need to keep your bodyfat low to show off your hard-earned mass. Knowing how to stack effective fat burners to get the most burn for your buck is critical for staying big and lean. Stacking these three fat-torching supplements will keep the fat off and the muscle on.

* EVODIAMINE
This extract from the Evodia rutaecarpa fruit works to burn bodyfat through a number of mechanisms. First, it stimulates specific receptors in the central nervous system that boost metabolic rate. Brand new research from Chubu University (Kasugai, Japan) shows that evodiamine can prevent fat gain in rats by enhancing uncoupling proteins, which work to maintain an elevated metabolism. Second, evodiamine reduces hunger and slows digestion, which keeps you feeling fuller longer and leads to a slow, even release of glucose into the bloodstream. This helps to prevent insulin spikes, which can bump up fat storage.

* GREEN TEA
This is one of the hottest fat-burning supplements on the market today because research confirms that it is very effective for boosting metabolic rate and, therefore, fat loss. The active ingredients in green tea are the polyphenols known as cate-chins, which have antioxidant as well as fat-burning effects. The main cat-echin that helps green tea burn fat is epigallocatechin gallate. This cate-chin inhibits the enzyme that breaks down norepinephrine. This neurohormone is involved in regulating metabolic rate and fat burning.

* CAFFEINE
The world’s most popular drug is not just a morning eye opener, it’s also an effective fat burner. The main way that caffeine boosts fat loss is by binding to fat cells, which in turn, enhances the removal of fat and inhibits the storage of fat. In other words, caffeine helps to get more fat out of fat cells and into circulation, where it can travel to tissues, such as muscle cells, to be burned for fuel.

STACK THEM LIKE THIS
Green tea extract and caffeine are readily available as supplements; evodiamine is another matter. The good news is that numerous fat-burner supplements stack the three. Look for one that supplies about 30-50 mg of evodiamine, 250-500 mg of green tea extract standardized for EGCG and 100-400 mg of caffeine per dose. Take it two or three times per day before meals, such as in the morning and early afternoon. One dose should be taken within an hour of workouts, as long as your training sessions aren’t too close to bedtime.

*Take two or three times per day before meals, such as in the morning and early afternoon. One does should be taken within an hour of workouts.