The best dietary supplements for weight loss are not always the most expensive products. These time and research-tested ingredients work with your body to promote healthy weight loss. It is important to remember that no supplement causes weight loss without an accompanying diet and exercise plan. Always consult with your doctor before taking any dietary supplement.
Significance
Fast weight loss is a common fitness goal because being overweight can be embarrassing, unhealthy and downright deadly. Obesity has been implicated in maladies such as heart disease, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and even cancer, according to Life Extension Magazine. Dietary supplements offer solutions to help speed up metabolism and accelerate your weight loss results. However, with so many products and manufacturers, each with its own set of flashy marketing tools, it can be hard to know which supplements are safe and effective.
Function
Some dietary supplements act as thermogenics, meaning that they increase your internal body temperate slightly, within the normal range. Thermogenesis refers to generating heat and the subsequent lipolysis or fat burning that occurs as a result of burning calories. Some thermogenics contain stimulants such as caffeine, but others work without stimulating the central nervous system. Herbs, amino acids and even common spices may improve fat burning for faster weight loss, says Jim Stoppani, PhD, in "Supplements 101." In addition, other substances act as hunger suppressants or help to prevent the formation of new body fat.
Thermogenics
Caffeine obviously gives you energy, but it also acts as a thermogenic by increasing the release of fatty acids for energy usage, via the hormone norpepinephrine. Green tea contains a much lower amount of caffeine, but its compound EGCG, epigallocatechin gallate, also accelerates your metabolic rate. When combined, green tea and caffeine make a powerful synergistic fat burning formula, says "Homemade Supplement Secrets" by Jeff Anderson. Other thermogenic stimulants include theobromine, synephrine, yohimbe and beta-phenylethylamine.
Amino Acids
L-Carnitine is an amino acid that transports fatty acids into the mitochondria of cells to be burned for energy, says Stoppani. L-Arginine acts as a precursor to nitric oxide, NO, which dilates blood vessels for more nutrient delivery to cells, muscle building and fat burning, according to "Natural Anabolics" by Jerry Brainum. In addition, L-glutamine contributes by promoting better glucose metabolism and also directly increases fat burning, reports Steven Stiefel in "Amino Action."
Non-Stimulant
Not all weight loss supplements contain stimulants like caffeine. In fact, some dietary fats can help you burn fat faster and prevent body fat storage. Fish oil, flax seed oil and conjugated linoleic acid CLA, increase fatty acid oxidation and act as natural weight loss aids, says the article "Five Fat Fighters" by Matthew Kadey. Fucoxanthin, a brown seaweed extract, has thermogenic effects with no stimulant activity in the body. Hunger suppressants such as 5-HTP, 5-hydroxytryptophan, garcina cambogia and hoodia may also help you lose weight by preventing overeating and food cravings.
References
- Life Extension Magazine; Safely Burn Away Body Fat; Julius Goepp, MD; March 2008
- "Muscle & Fitness Presents 2010 Edition: The Ultimate Supplement Handbook;" Supplements 101; Jim Stoppani PhD; January 2010
- "Homemade Supplement Secrets;" Jeff Anderson; 2008
- "Natural Anabolics;" Jerry Brainum; 2006
- "Muscle & Performance;" Amino Action; Steven Stiefel; October 2010
- "Muscle & Fitness Presents 2010 Edition: The Ultimate Supplement Handbook;" Five Fat Fighters; Matthew Kadey; January 2010
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