Weight loss is largely about how many calories you eat versus how many you burn. Eating healthy foods and exercising regularly are an integral part of any weight loss plan. However, if you are on the market for vitamins or herbs that can help support your weight loss goals, there are several to consider. Talk to your doctor before taking new vitamins or herbs, as many are not regulated by the FDA and are not guaranteed to work.
Vitamin B5
B vitamins play a vital role in metabolizing, or breaking down, food into energy. Typically given in a B complex, Pantothenic acid, or B5, is particularly important in the break down of fats, helping you utilize what your body has already stored. It also works to help the body create red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout your body's systems. Pantothenic acid is found in meat, free range eggs, liver and wheat germ.
Vitamin B12
A vitamin popular for its energy boosting potential, vitamin B12 is also used in the body's metabolic processes, helping to break down carbohydrates, fats and proteins. You need B12 to make DNA, red blood cells and maintain healthy nerve cells. Your body typically stores an adequate amount, although if you are a vegetarian or vegan, you may need additional supplementation. If you include in your diet foods like fish, shellfish, meat and dairy products, you are already getting B12.
Riboflavin
Riboflavin is also known as vitamin B2. This vitamin makes it possible for your body to use oxygen, which is needed in the breakdown of food and energy production. Like the other B vitamins mentioned, it too is an integral part of carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism.
Hoodia Gordonii
If overeating or excessive appetite are your concerns, there are herbs available that may target your issue. Hoodia gordonii is derived from a succulent desert plant native to South Africa. Indigenous populations used the plant to suppress appetite when on a long hunt or journey. A study published in the "American Journal of Physiology" in 2010 found that a substance within the Hoodia gordonii, a steroid glycoside, induces cholecystokinin production which, in turn, suppresses appetite. The herb itself is available online and in stores; however, its effects have not been clinically tested on humans. Talk to your doctor about Hoodia before trying it.
Senna
Senna is a popular ingredient in dieter's teas, and is also part of herbal blends that claim to help reduce weight. Although senna does work, its claims can be misleading. It is a laxative and a diuretic, encouraging the body to rid itself of water and waste. Although proper elimination and detoxification of the body is important for weight loss, the herb itself can only help reduce water weight. Water weight is quickly regained, so if you are not following a diet and exercise plan, this herb may not be right for you.
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