Many dietary supplements are sold with the purpose of helping people lose weight, but not all of them use natural ingredients exclusively. If you are wary of chemicals and artificial ingredients, you may prefer natural supplement to aid in your weight loss. Regardless of what type of supplement you use, consult your doctor before taking any weight loss aids.
Calcium
Calcium is mainly touted for its role in maintaining bone strength, and some research indicates that this natural mineral may aid in weight loss. According to the January 2010 issue of the "International Journal of Obesity," daily consumption of 1,500 mg of calcium caused a significant weight loss compared to a lower dose. The researchers found that calcium encouraged fat loss, in particular.
Coconut Oil
Because of its fatty acid content, coconut oil used to be regarded as unhealthy. However, coconut oil contains fatty acids called medium chain triglycerides, which have different characteristics than other types of fatty acids. Consuming medium chain triglycerides, such as those found in coconut oil, rather than other fatty acids can improve weight loss.
Green Tea
Green tea and its extracts are ingredients found in in many weight loss supplements, but research suggests that green tea alone may be enough to encourage weight loss when it's part of a reduced calorie diet. A study published in the January 2006 issue of "Physiology & Behavior" found that green tea supplementation increased weight loss compared to a placebo, and that weight loss that incorporated green tea improved blood pressure and HDL, or good, cholesterol.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid
Another type of fat that may help you lose weight naturally is conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA. According to the results of a 36-week study published in the September 2009 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," supplementation with CLA may induce wight loss, but not muscle loss, on a reduced calorie diet.
References
- "International Journal of Obesity"; Effect of dairy and non-dairy calcium on fecal fat excretion in lactose digester and maldigester obese adults; MS Buchowski et al; January 2010
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Weight-loss diet that includes consumption of medium-chain triacylglycerol oil leads to a greater rate of weight and fat mass loss than does olive oil; MP St-Onge, A Bosarge; March 2008
- "Physiology & Behavior"; Metabolic effects of green tea and of phases of weight loss; K Diepvens et al; January 2006
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Comparison of dietary conjugated linoleic acid with safflower oil on body composition in obese postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes mellitus; LE Norris et al; September 2009
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