The fizzy drink that claims to burn more than 200 calories in three hours

By Daily Mail Reporter
Updated: 10:15, 30 November 2010

Aspire contains caffeine, green tea and ginger, which boosts metabolism

It sounds like a slimmer’s dream – a fizzy drink that actually makes you thinner.

Cranberry-flavoured Aspire is said to burn off 209 calories within three hours of drinking it.

Scientists at Leeds Metropolitan University found that when caffeine and green tea were combined with amino acid and ginger, there was a ‘thermogenic effect’, whereby the body generates more heat to digest food and temporarily stimulates metabolism.

However the drink, available from the health retailer Holland & Barrett at £1.59 for a 250ml can, was tested on only 20 subjects – 11 men and nine women.

There are just 12.5 calories per can. Aspire said that while there are no known side-effects, it was not advisable for those sensitive to caffeine.

The drink has been launched by Fahrenheit 60, a company based in Milton Keynes.

A spokesman said: ‘This is a UK first – a fully-researched and proven calorie-burning soft drink for the mass market.

‘Thermogenic products have been used by athletes for many years.

‘Yet what we’ve managed to create with Aspire is to bring those calorie burning properties to many more people in a unique and convenient drink with proven functional benefits.

‘It’s an exciting place to be, and could spark more companies to innovate and offer customers new food and drink products which are suited for their lifestyles.’

Dr John O’Hara, who led the research study, said: ‘The finished case study data from 20 participants suggests that Aspire increases energy expenditure on
average of 1.16 calories per minute. Over a three hour period Aspire expends an average of 209 calories.’

The £13,500 research project was conducted over three months.

The drink is available from health retailer Holland & Barrett, Selfridges and health supplement chain GNC.

A spokeswoman said: ‘Functional food is growing fast as customers look for new products which are targeted to their individual lifestyles.

‘Aspire offers proven benefits and could prompt more brands to research new ranges which combine active ingredients for extra functionality.’

In 2006, Coca-Cola and nestle developed a green-tea drink that claimed to burn calories.

Researchers have found that green tea stimulates the brown calorie-burning adipose tissue.

Coca-Cola claimed that drinking three cans of Enviga could help burn 60 to 100 calories. The drink was never launched in the UK.

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