Caffeine, a central nervous system stimulant used in Stacker 2 as an aid to stay awake, for mental alertness due to fatigue or, in combination with other ingredients for pain relief, and as a power and energy accelerate. Caffeine is available alone as a non-prescription drug over the counter medication, in combination with other non-prescription drugs, and in prescription drug combinations for relief of pain and headache. Like Ephedra, caffeine acts to increase mental alertness while providing additional energy for weight loss and exercise training. Caffeine is more than a stimulant as it goes deep into muscles to provide long lasting power while delaying the onset of muscle fatigue. Also great before working out, caffeine fights fatigue and helps you get ready for your workout. For dieters feeling sluggish that need just a little something extra to get them through the day, caffeine is the obvious no-calorie stimulant solution. Many products containing caffeine anhydrous contain as much caffeine as one or two cups of coffee. It is recommended to limit the use of caffeine containing medications, foods, or beverages while taking caffeine supplements as excess caffeine intake may cause nervousness, irritability, sleeplessness and occasional rapid heart beat.

Green Tea Extract is very popular with the health conscious community, mainly because of the broad antioxidant features, which are provided by the green tea catechins. It is a very popular nutritional supplement, much more popular than regular green tea, because several green tea extract products have no caffeine. Caffeine is actually contained in larger quantities in green tea than in coffee. Besides the already mentioned catechins, further polyphenols are included in the Asian tea favorite. Green tea furthermore contains carotenoids, ascorbic acid – more commonly known as Vitamin C, Minerals and tocopherols. While there are many proven qualities of green tea extracts, some lesser researched effects have been observed, like reduction of LDL cholesterol, increasing the levels of norepinephrine, weight loss and additional antioxidant qualities.

Gymnema Sylvestre is at home in India, predominantly southern and central tropical forests, and has been widely used in traditional Indian medicine as a herb for naturopathic treatment of diabetes, but also in connection with digestive problems, obesity, hyperglycemia, anemia and high cholesterol. It is known to block sweetness receptors in the tongue and is widely considered a sugar blocker. It is also able to reduce cravings for carbohydrates, such as sweet tooth, by simply chewing the leaves of the plant. Main active components are so called gymnemic acids, which are a group of oleanane type saponins. Dammarene saponins, also an ingredient, are gymnemasides. It has been observed that gymnemic acids display some antidiabetic, anti inflammatory and anti sweetener effects, making it an interesting weight control agent.

Kola Nut- The trees found in Africa have seed pods that are inherent with Kola nuts. In regions of western Africa and central Africa, Kola nut trees are commonly found and they tend to grow up to 18 meters in height which is a good 60 feet. Kola nut consists of caffeine and has acts as a powerful anti depressant and stimulant. Kola nuts importance has been realized mainly in western Africa. It is also useful in reducing indigestion, hunger and fatigue. In simple words, it functions as an aphrodisiac. According to tradition, Kola nuts are offered when someone enters their new house and it symbolizes hospitality and friendship. Kola nut can be easily found as there are several street vendors selling them at places such as the bus or train station.

Synthetic Guggulsterones, which is a form of orally administered guggulipid, which increases T3 (tryiidothyronine) levels in animal models. T3 is the conversion product of T4, which is produced by the thyroid gland. Thyroid hormone levels are closely involved in metabolic function. Increased thyroid levels can cause more fat to be burned and stored. While on a diet, the body responds by decreasing T3 levels, therefor decreasing metabolic rate. It is not known how guggulipid increases T3 levels. Guggul, also called guggulipid, is an ethyl acetate extract of the gum resin of the guggul tree.

White Willow Bark, or Salix alba, is a willow commonly found in Europe and adjacent parts of western and central Asia. The bark of the White Willow has been used for centuries against fevers and to ease pains and aches. Already Hippocrates wrote about the White Willow bark powder two thousand five hundred years ago. The active ingredient of the White Willow bark is called salicin, a relative to aspirin and chemical derivative of the salicylic acid. When ingested, salicin is converted to salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid. As a nutritional supplement, White Willow products are being propagated as weight loss additives, whereby the scientific community has yet to provide any corroboration to this allegation. Besides the well known anti inflammatory characteristics, any other uses have not been approved by the FDA.

Yerba Matte, actually yerba maté, as it is called in Brazil, or Ilex paraguariensis in Latin, is a small tree or a shrub which can grow to fifteen meters. It is found naturally in South America, mainly in south of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile. Foliage is evergreen, and the flowers are rather small, additionally there is a smallish fruit of red color. A tea like brewing in warm water, not boiling, is a popular drink in the native area, similar social gathering is common, akin to tea time practice in the United Kingdom. Yerba matte has several xanthines alkaloids which are related to caffeine, but although chemically identical to caffeine the mate xanthine cocktail provides different results, for instance it relaxes smooth muscle tissue and stimulates heart tissue. Yerba Matte is a potent ingredient in Stacker 2.