Can Jodie Marsh JST Jodie Semtex fat burner help you lose weight and get the toned body you want?

Jodie Marsh claims that JST Jodie Semtex is one of the most powerful fat burner slimming pills on the market. But will Semtex really help you to lose weight and get a toned and lean body like Jodie Marsh?

What is Semtex and does Semtex work?

Fat burners, sometimes referred to as 'weight loss pills' or 'thermogenic pills', are very popular at the moment, in particular the Jodie Marsh Semtex fat burning supplement (advertised as Semtex Extreme). We have noticed several of our website visitors looking for a Semtex review having read stories about how it has helped men and women across the UK lose weight.

I have seen Jodie shout about Semtex as the strongest fat burner available but is it as extreme as the name suggests and as good as she claims? Or is it just a clever marketing strategy built around her recent television appearances and extra publicity in the newspapers and magazines?

We look at the key active ingredients in Semtex and investigate how it compares with other fat burners on the market today.

You will find the claim 'this is the strongest and best fat burner around' on many fat burners but they can't all be true!

So to get to the bottom of this we must look at the ingredients found in some of the most popular fat burners and compare these with one another to explore how true these claims actually are.

Main ingredients in JST Jodie Semtex

The most common ingredients found in fat burners are Caffeine Anhydrous, Green Tea Extract and Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA). Is Semtex unique with the ingredients it uses? How do the dosage profiles compare with some of the best selling fat burners in the sports nutrition sector? Is Semtex simply a marketing success without substance?

Main benefits of JST Jodie Semtex

  1. Semtex contains ingredients that research has shown help with fat burning (see below)
  2. Semtex is very high in caffeine which research has suggested provides a mental stimulation to workout
  3. Semtex contains appetite suppressant ingredients to stop you snacking on unhealthy foods

JST Jodie Semtex side effects and disadvantages

  1. Semtex doesn't contain special fat burning ingredients, the ingredients used are found in many alternative fat burners
  2. Semtex costs around £1 per serving (£30.49 for 30 servings in most places online) when other fat burners with similar ingredients and dosages cost considerably less
  3. Semtex has been shown to cause rashes for a small minority of users
  4. The high caffeine content can potentially cause problems with heart rate and adrenal fatigue (where the body feels tired and drained a few hours after use)

Further information about the main ingredients in JST Jodie Semtex

Semtex claims to be a thermogenic formula which increases metabolism, helps increase energy levels and helps to burn calories in combination with a healthy diet. It is pleasing to see that Jodie Marsh's website 1 highlights the need to take Semtex in parallel with a healthy diet because this is sometimes ignored in nutritional supplement advertising.

  • Citrus Aurantium (320mg)
  • Caffeine (from Anhydrous Cocoa, Guarana) (328mg)
  • Capsicum (Cayenne) Extract (190mg)
  • Brazilian Cocoa Extract (240mg)
  • Green Tea Extract (40mg)
  • Guarana Extract (24mg)
  • N-Acetyl-L-Carnitine (20mg)
  • Niacin (35mg)

Health benefits of Citrus Aurantium

Bitter orange extract, the active ingredient in Citrus Aurantium is Synephrine which has the ability to increase thermogenesis and suppress appetite. It targets the beta-3 adrenergic receptors which help break down fat by increasing lipolysis and increasing metabolism. Recent studies have found it can increase heart rate and blood pressure. Semtex instructions state, like all reputable fat burners, 'do not use this product if you have high or low blood pressure'.

Health benefits of Caffeine Anhydrous

A supplement form of caffeine, Caffeine Anhydrous is absorbed faster by the body compared with the caffeine found in coffee. It contains lower amounts of water than caffeine, therefore it is commonly referred to as 'dehydrated caffeine', and is a common ingredient added to weight loss pills and energy drinks designed to improve your physical performance 2.

Caffeine Anhydrous is used in fat burners because the absence of water means it cannot degrade other compounds and herbs like Green Tea Extract that are used in combination with it. Potential side effects, according to the book 'Essentials of Sports Nutrition and Supplements', include increased blood pressure, anxiety, stomach distress, diarrhea and insomnia 3.

Health benefits of Green Tea Extract

Green Tea Extract is obtained by crushing and drying out green tea leaves. Used centuries ago by the Chinese to treat headaches, poor digestion and improve life expectancy, Green Tea Extract contains a high level of polyphenols and is a rich source of EGCG, the powerful antioxidant that is over 100 times more potent than vitamin E. As a result of its thermogenic and antioxidant properties, Green Tea Extract is frequently found in weight loss supplements and does not increase heart rate to dangerous levels which other ingredients in fat burners may do (depending on the dosage). A 2007 study found supplementation with Green Tea Extract reduced body fat, blood pressure and cholesterol 4. You can read more about the health benefits of green tea in one of the first articles we published.

Health benefits of Guarana

Guarana is a natural food supplement made from the famous herb native to Brazil and Venezuela. The small fruits are rich in caffeine, containing 4-8% more caffeine than coffee beans, and also contain xanthine which is found in coffee, tea and some fizzy drinks because it acts as a stimulant. Guarana is therefore reputed to increase mental focus, fight fatigue and increase physical endurance.

Some research has indicated that Guarana may act as an appetite suppressant and help to increase fat burning. Like caffeine, Guarana stimulates the adrenal glands, releasing epinephrine, adrenaline and dopamine which enhances thermogenesis (freeing fatty acids and using them for energy production and fat loss). Research has examined the effect of taking Guarana over 14 days amongst sedentary and trained rats and the results indicated that fat burning took place due to the caffeine content within it 5.

Dr. Torben Andersen of Charlottenlund Medical Centre in Denmark researched 44 healthy overweight patients using a combination of Guarana and another two herbs, Yerba Mate and Damiana. The results showed that those taking the herbal combination for 45 days lost an average of 5kg whilst the placebo group only lost an average of 0.45kg 6. Yerba Mate can be found in LA Muscle's extremely popular fat burner Fat Stripper Intense.

Health benefits of N-Acetyl-L-Carnitine

N-Acetyl-L-Carnitine is the most natural form of Carntine, an ingredient found in all fat burning supplements. It is an amino acid naturally produced in the body and works to help convert fat into energy. According to Chris Aceto, author of the book Championship Bodybuilding, N-Acetyl-L-Carnitine can help athletes maintain their levels of testosterone after heavy workouts and may also help improve the uptake of glucose and promote fat burning.

However Dr Eric Brass, a professor of medicine at the University of California, states that 20 years of research have yet to show any real evidence that Carnitine enhances athletic performance 7. 20mg found in Semtex is a safe amount considering the University of Maryland Medical Center recommends dosages of between 1,000 and 3,000mg a day. Side effects may include rashes and diarrhea but the amount used in Semtex suggests this would be extremely unlikely to occur.

Alternative fat burners to JST Jodie Semtex in the UK

 

How JST Jodie Semtex compares with other fat burners

  1. Semtex contains a high level of caffeine and uses capsicum which is also the main ingredient found in Capsiplex, used by celebrities such as Nicola McLean and Chantelle Houghton
  2. Semtex contains 40mg of Guarana Extract, less than USN Xedra Cut and OneOn Fat Burner Capsules
  3. Semtex contains 20mg of N-Acetyl-L-Carnitine, less than OneOn Fat Burner Capsules and Reflex Thermo Fusion
  4. Semtex contains 40mg of Green Tea Extract, less than Reflex Thermo Fusion and Myprotein Thermo Extreme
  5. Semtex costs over £30 for a supplement which has comparable ingredients with other fat burners that are cheaper in price
  6. Semtex does not contain the powerful herb Yerba Mate which helps with fat loss. This is present in LA Muscle Fat Stripper Intense

Are the ingredients in JST Jodie Semtex unique?

  • Semtex relies on the common fat burning ingredients (Caffeine Anhydrous, Green Tea Extract and N-Acetyl-L-Carnitine) to help increase the body's metabolic rate and convert fat into energy (thermogenesis)
  • The ingredients also have appetite suppressant properties which should help to reduce cravings and therefore reduce the amount of calories you accumulate on a daily basis
  • Semtex also has capsicum (cayenne powder) in a fairly high dosage which may increase metabolism
  • So Semtex does not contain unique fat burning ingredients

How powerful is JST Jodie Semtex? Is Semtex safe to use?

Semtex has changed its ingredients since we initially wrote this article to a new formula (maybe Jodie read this) and as a result has upped the caffeine dramatically and doubled the amount of Acetyl-L-Carnitine. This does make Semtex new formula one of the most powerful fat burners on the market.

Is being a powerful fat burner actually good for you?

It is worth thinking about this in more detail; would you want to take a supplement that has such a high dosage of caffeine? Taking caffeine in high dosages can lead to a mental 'crash', can affect your heart rate and lead to adrenal fatigue (i.e. tiredness and feeling drained of energy).

JST Jodie contains 328mg of caffeine. A tall cup of coffee from Starbucks contains 260mg of caffeine and they define this as 'extreme'. So we would not recommend that you take Semtex if you have heart problems or do not react well to caffeine.

Four of the best alternative fat burners to JST Jodie Semtex

Bodybuilding Warehouse Warrior Reborn fat burner

Bodybuilding Warehouse Warrior Blaze Reborn

We would argue that Bodybuilding Warehouse Warrior Blaze Reborn is stronger than Semtex.

The full list of ingredients in Bodybuilding Warehouse Warrior Blaze Reborn is: Acacia Rigidula Extract 98% (Leaves), Caffeine Anhydrous, Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium Extract 30%), Raspberry Ketones, Green Tea Extract (98% Polyphenols), 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), Capsicum, N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine (NALT), BioPerine®

Warrior Blaze Reborn fat burners sell for £29.99 on most websites (90 caps / 90 servings so three times as many as Semtex at the same price) and contain all the ingredients found in other market leading fat burners but in greater quantities.

Myprotein Thermopure and Elle Thermopure

As an alternative, and more cost effective supplement to Semtex, Myprotein sell MP MAX Elle Thermopure which shares very similar ingredients to Myprotein Thermopure mentioned above but is more suited to women.

Elle Thermopure costs just £13.99 for 30 servings (same number of servings as Semtex but at a far cheaper price).

Myprotein offer free standard delivery on orders over £50 and free next day delivery on orders over £100. We also offer many Myprotein discount codes which you can use.

LA Muscle Fat Stripper

Fat Stripper is the slightly cheaper version of LA Muscle Fat Stripper Intense. But don't let that put you off! LA Muscle Fat Stripper costs £49.99, contains 90 caps, and should last around 1 month. It is a pharmaceutical grade weight loss pill, suitable for men and women, 100% natural and also an excellent appetite suppressant. If you're looking to target for stomach and thighs, Fat Stripper will do its best to help you.

The ingredients of LA Muscle Fat Stripper are quite unique because they are rarely found in other fat burners. This is why the cost is slightly higher (you get premium grade ingredients). Choline in Fat Stripper helps the liver breakdown cholesterol, Inositol transports fat out of your body and lowers cholesterol whilst Methion helps prevent fat build up in the liver.

Both Fat Stripper and Fat Stripper Intense will help with fat loss. The difference is that Fat Stripper Intense uses the powerful Yerba Mate ingredient alongside seven other scientific ingredients including Guarana, ALA and Green Tea to metabolise your fat stores.

Re:Active T5 Black Fat Burner

Re:Active T5 Fat Burners are one of the best selling in the UK with the Re:Active T5 Black particularly popular. On sale for £39.95 (60 caps), you get 1-2 months supply of pills (you can take either 1 or 2 caps a day). Re:Active T5 Black acts as a fat burner, metabolism booster and energy enhancer.

Its quick formula is claimed to work in just 20 minutes to suppress hunger and help burn fat in areas you don't want fat showing like the stomach and thighs. T5 Fat Burners also have a special time release system meaning they keep your body in fat burning mode for hours without the crash in energy that most fat burners provide. This fat burner has 250mg of caffeine, less than others, which will help avoid adrenal fatigue symptoms.

Green tea and omega 3 fish oils are a great alternative to fat burner pills

Green tea for weight loss

You might want to consider buying Green Tea Extract supplements such as Myprotein Mega Green Tea Extract, Desirable Body Green Tea Weight Loss tablets or Evolution Slimming Green Tea Extra Strength 10,000mg because they contain far less caffeine so won't affect your heart rate.

Hundreds of studies have shown green tea, and in particular Green Tea Extract, to be extremely beneficial for overall health and weight loss.

As well as being low in caffeine, Green Tea Extract is full of EGCG which helps to increase your metabolism as well as being full of antioxidants. It's no coincidence that the number 1 drink after water, amongst bodybuilders, bikini models and dedicated athletes, tends to be green tea.

JST Jodie discount codes and fat burner discount codes

Omega 3 fish oils for weight loss

Omega 3 fish oils such as Omega 3 Super from MyVitamins are an excellent supplement to help with fat burning as well as maintaining mental and physical health.

A research study conducted at the Institute of Physiology in Prague took a group of overweight men and women with one group given fish oils and the other a placebo. Each group did 45 minutes of exercise for three times a week at 75% of their maximum heart rate. Results showed that after 12 weeks, those supplementing with fish oils significantly reduced body fat when compared with the placebo sample. The researchers felt this was because fat oxidation is increased within the fat cells and so the fish oils helped with upregulating mitochondria (the energy 'engine' of the cells), therefore increasing fat burning 8.

 

Other products in the JST Jodie range

 

So what should you buy for fat loss and body toning?

  1. If you want to lose weight or simply maintain a toned physique, we would recommend buying one of either a fat burner (if you don't mind taking in lots of caffeine) or a strong green tea supplement such as those mentioned above. If you're after a fat burner, we have recommended our best four with Bodybuilding Warehouse Warrior Reborn and Re:Active T5 Black Fat Burners our choices in terms of value for money.

    We feel the best option for your health, and best value for money, would be to buy Evolution Slimming Green Tea Extra Strength 10,000mg in the 270 caps size if you want to avoid the high caffeine levels of fat burners. These green tea caps cost just £4 more than Semtex (£34.95) but are significantly lower in caffeine, will work as a fat burner and contain three times as many servings (90 servings) as Semtex.


  2. We would then recommend you buy a tub of omega 3 fish oils and consume 2-4 a day to maintain optimum health and further help with fat loss if that is what you are aspiring to. Slimming.com Krill Oil is rich in omega 3 and Krill Oil is 48 times stronger than regular Omega 3!


  3. Then, as well as taking these supplements, make sure your diet is perfected to your body composition objectives on a daily basis and do regular exercise. After 1-2 months by doing this you should start to see the results that you want.

 

References

  1. http://www.jstjodie.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath;=43&products;_id=59&zenid;=50njjel2jm7i3m3ui0jc56igf4
  2. http://www.livestrong.com/caffeine-anhydrous/
  3. http://www.livestrong.com/article/474530-anhydrous-caffeine-vs-caffeine/
  4. http://www.livestrong.com/article/517227-damage-from-fat-burners/
  5. http://altmedicine.about.com/od/completeazindex/a/guarana.htm
  6. http://fat-burners.realsolutionsmag.com/fat-burner-Guarana.html
  7. http://www.livestrong.com/article/552774-n-acetyl-l-cysteine-and-acetyl-l-carnitine/
  8. Research Supports Fish Oils For Fat Loss by MyVitamins.com