Losing weight is something that a lot of people struggle with around the world. Obtaining a healthy shape can be a challenge, so if you have decided to embark on this journey, you should already feel proud of yourself.
Now that you are brave enough to introduce a healthy and nutritious diet, as well as more activity into your daily routine, let’s find out. Here are the top five supplements that aid in weight loss.
Metabolism 101
Before you run to the nearest pharmacy for all the vitamins and Supplements available with the “fitness” label, it is best to familiarize yourself with the term metabolism and how it works.
Metabolism is a process your body uses to break down food and nutrients and transform it into energy that will support major functions throughout the body. What you eat including, minerals, and vitamins is, therefore, responsible for your metabolism. A faster metabolism burns calories at a faster pace, which is the desired state, as losing weight is nothing more than creating a calorie deficit.
Some minerals and vitamins can help you keep your metabolism working relatively fast over time, and this is where supplements come into the picture.
Cautionary note: If you decide to supplement any vitamins or minerals, make sure that they come from trusted manufacturers like Metagenics; you can look for more information online at or healthline.com.
Iron
Iron plays an essential role in helping your body produce energy from nutrients. It stimulates development, metabolism, and growth. Iron also plays a crucial role in the creation of some hormones, as well as cell functioning.
When it comes to losing weight, iron is responsible for carrying oxygen to the cells in your body, most importantly, your muscles, which helps burn fat. If your diet is not rich with iron, your muscles might not have enough oxygen to burn calories and help you lose weight. A low level of iron can also lead to anemia and a slower metabolism. The symptoms of having not enough iron inside you are fatigue, low energy levels, and weakness.
Here are some natural sources of this crucial mineral:
- Beans
- Spinach
- Lean meats
- Shellfish
If you don’t consume enough of it, it is an excellent idea to try to supplement it, especially if you are trying to lose weight.
B Vitamins
When it comes to energy metabolism, there isn’t a more essential group of vitamins than those starting with the letter B. This whole group of vitamins is responsible for your body burning energy, an activity without which you won’t be able to create a calorie deficit and therefore to lose weight.
Here are the vitamins from the B group:
- B12
- biotin
- B6
- folate
- B5 (pantothenic acid)
- B3 (niacin)
- B2 (riboflavin)
- B1 (thiamine)
A lack of any vitamins from this group can result in problems with the speed of your energy production and a lower level of your overall well-being. A healthy metabolism is a guarantee that the body uses all the nutrients you deliver with food for energy rather than storing them as fat.
You should especially keep an eye out for the level of vitamin B12, as it is present only in animal products, so if you are vegan or vegetarian, supplementing this particular vitamin is a must. Other than that, consider supplementing all vitamins from the B group throughout your weight loss journey, to keep your metabolism at its finest. A great product here to get all your B vitamins is methyl b complex.
Green Tea Extract
Technically speaking, green tea extract is not a vitamin nor a mineral, but it is still a supplement worth taking a closer look at. Green tea is here to improve fat oxidation and energy expenditure, resulting in lower fat production.
The extract found in this popular beverage is known to be full of powerful antioxidants. It also contains a healthy dose of caffeine, which is also linked to weight loss. Research on obese people has shown that green tea extract supplements are able to help reduce their body weight up to 2 pounds, compared to placebo. Green tea is an excellent natural supplement that is safe and is proven scientifically to aid in weight loss.
Vitamin D
You cannot lose weight when your immune system is not properly working. There have been studies that show that a low level of vitamin D which is responsible for the strength of your immune system, can contribute to you putting on weight. Vitamin D can also help you control blood sugar and improve insulin resistance, which is most important to people with diabetes.
The unique point of this particular vitamin is that people can get vitamin D from sunlight, unlike other crucial vitamins and nutrients. Safe exposure to the light coming from our nearest star, the sun is the fastest way to top up vitamin D. If you live in an area where there is not much sunlight or your lifestyle doesn’t enable you to expose yourself to sun enough, please consider supplementing vitamin D. It will boost your immune system as well as help you lose weight.
Calcium
Maintaining blood sugar control, healthy bones, and properly functioning metabolism is often associated with the level of calcium that is present in your body. Studies show that higher calcium and vitamin D intake can aid in diet-related weight loss. Calcium is a crucial mineral when it comes to the human growth process, and parents tend to keep an eye out for it when they are preparing meals for their children. However, calcium is still as important for adults, especially when they wish to lose weight in a healthy way.
Final Thoughts
There are a lot of factors that come into play when it comes to losing weight. You have to take care of your diet and exercise and keep in mind that your body is fully nourished and has everything you need to burn fat. This is when supplements can really help you achieve the end goal, and benefit you during your weight loss journey. Listen to your body’s needs, and you will be halfway there.
