Why CaloriBurn GP is The Most Powerful Source of Grains of Paradise Known to Science

You may or may not have heard of grains of paradise. It’s an ancient spice, also known as Aframomum melegueta, with a similar composition to ginger, including its active compounds. It’s also from the same family, Zingiberaceae. Grains of paradise has traditional uses in West African medicine and has historically been used to treat ailments related to digestion and intestinal health. It’s also commonly used as a replacement for pepper when flavouring foods and more recently has found a place as a flavouring agent in craft beers!

Over recent years, studies have shown that grains of paradise has other beneficial properties, particularly because of its active compounds, including 6-gingerol and 6-paradol. Grains of paradise has shown potential for:

• Anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory¹ and anti-diabetic properties
• Increasing calorie burning and metabolic rate
• Assisting in body recomposition
• Providing support in optimizing hormonal levels
• Aiding in sexual desire, libido and testosterone-boosting properties²

When we look at the list of beneficial uses for grains of paradise, the one that seems most compelling is its potential for improving body composition via activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT). 

What Is Brown Adipose Tissue?

BAT is a highly thermogenic tissue, as opposed to white adipose tissue (WAT), which has a primary function of storing excess calories as fat. BAT burns calories to generate heat; this process is sometimes referred to as non-shivering thermogenesis. This is how the body maintains homeostasis of temperature, particularly during cold exposure. The result is that burning off BAT also allows the body to maintain energy while still losing fat, thus improving body composition at the same time. In fact, research has also shown that lean people have more BAT than overweight individuals. 

It’s well-known that weight gain is associated with a surplus of calories consumed versus the number of calories expended. The two major drivers for energy expenditure come from basal metabolic rate and physical output. Recent studies show a relationship between how many calories can be burned in a day and the level of BAT activation.³ This activation could be because of the high number of mitochondria that BAT contains. Mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cells; this is where energy gets burned and where heat is derived.

The ways in which the metabolic effect of BAT activation could be accessed are of interest among fat- and weight-loss researchers focusing on how to increase the amount of BAT, how to increase the activity of BAT and how to stimulate BAT induction. Studies on extracts of grains of paradise have shown it to be an effective trigger of BAT activation.

Research on Grains of Paradise & Brown Adipose Tissue

Early research using an extract of grains of paradise (GP) in rats showed that the extracts induced sympathetic nervous system and BAT activity in a dose-dependent manner lasting up to three hours. This stimulation also increased the tissue temperature. These results demonstrated that GP extracts, including the active compound 6-paradol, activate thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue.⁴ Another study in mice given 5 milligrams per kilogram of GP extract showed an anti-obesity effect. Prevention of body weight gain and fat accumulation via improved lipid metabolism was demonstrated in mice fed a high-fat diet. In addition, BAT sympathetic nervous activity was decreased, causing an increase in parasympathetic activity (i.e., relaxation). This indicates that GP has a non-stimulating metabolic weight-loss effect!⁵

Research on 40 mg of Grains of Paradise Increases Metabolic Rate by 400%

Meanwhile, in a single-blind, placebo-controlled study in 19 healthy young men, ingestion of 40 milligrams of Grains of Paradise resulted in a 400% increase in metabolic rate within 30 minutes. Additionally, participants taking Grains of Paradise experienced a 6% increase in energy expenditure compared to a control group.⁶ A second human study by the same researchers examined the effects of supplementing with Grains of Paradise extract daily for four weeks on energy expenditure and body composition in 19 healthy overweight, females in a single-blind placebo-controlled study.⁷ Participants experienced a 7 percent increase in metabolic rate and burned approximately 100 more calories daily versus the placebo group. They also lost roughly 250 percent more visceral fat than those taking the placebo!

Introducing CaloriBurn GP™ By NNB Nutrition

CaloriBurn GP™ by NNB Nutrition is a 100% natural grains of paradise extract that's derived using a proprietary extraction technology that preserves all the metabolism-enhancing bioactive compounds. The unique bioactive profile of CaloriBurn GP™, which includes the compounds 6-paradol, 6-shogaol, and 6-gingerol and 6-Gingerdione has been shown to effectively trigger BAT activation. These bioactive compounds found in CaloriBurn GP™ are provided in the exact levels that multiple human studies have shown to be effective in boosting metabolism and fat oxidation.

CaloriBurn GP™ is standardized by one main bioactive compound and three synergistic compounds. Here are some of the benefits of this formulation:

• Made from 100% natural grains of paradise (Aframomum melegueta)
• Extracted with ethanol and water, so no hazardous solvents are used
• Ensured levels of the four effective compounds are used in the precise levels human studies use
• Complies with the FDA’s ODI and GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) regulations
• Not an inferior product that is “spiked” or “adulterated” with synthetic bioactives

Beware of Adulted & Spiked Grains of Paradise

Although other grains of paradise extracts are in the market already, you should avoid the cheaper, less effective products. Many of these grains of paradise extracts don’t provide authentic levels of beneficial bioactive compounds. A common way to recognize the products that fall short in providing authentic levels of these compounds is when the label shows ratio extracts and doesn’t list the standardized levels of the three compounds.

Other products may even be spiked with a synthetic version of 6-paradol. Because all four bioactives have very similar solubility, one cannot be extracted separately from the others. If a product lists extracted 6-paradol only, chances are that this has been adulterated or it’s using a synthetic compound. Instead, choose products such as Mutant BCAA Thermo, which lists CaloriBurn GP™ on its nutrition label and ensures you’re getting the real deal.

To learn more about the innovations coming from the NNB Nutrition team, be sure to visit the NNB Nutrition website.

Scientific References:

1. Nebojsa MI, et al. Anti-inflammatory activity of grains of paradise (Aframomum melegueta schum) extract. J Agric Food Chem. 2014; 62(43): 10452-7.
2. Massoma Lembè, D et al. Effect of the ethanolic extract from Fagara tessmannii on testicular function, sex reproductive organs and hormone level in adult male rats. Andrologia. 2011;43(2): 139-144.
3. Saito M. Human brown adipose tissue: regulation and anti-obesity potential. Endocr J. 2014;61(5): 409-16.
4. Iwami M, et al. Extract of grains of paradise and its active principle 6-paradol trigger thermogenesis of brown adipose tissue in rats. Autonomic Neuroscience. 2011;161(1): 63-67.

5. Hattori H, et al. Effect of grains of paradise extract intake on obesity and sympathetic nerve activity. Am J Plant Sci. 2017;8(2).
6. Sugita J, et al. Grains of paradise (Aframomum melegueta) extract activates brown adipose tissue and increases whole-body energy expenditure in men. Brit J Nutr. 2013;10(4): 733-8.
7. Sugita J, et al. Daily ingestion of grains of paradise (Aframomum melegueta) extract increases whole-body energy expenditure and decreases visceral fat in humans. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol. 2014;60(1): 22-27.