Dietary Supplements For Healthy Weight Loss

A healthy weight loss goal is approximately 1 to 2 lbs. per week. It iss best to achieve this through a nutritious, low-fat, balanced diet and exercise program. Certain dietary supplements can help the process along by suppressing your appetite, enhancing your metabolism or both. As always, you should consult with your healthcare practitioner before taking any new supplement.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid

Conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA, is a fatty acid found in beef and dairy that has been linked to long-term weight management. The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database states that CLA helps to reduce appetite and increase feelings of fullness. According to Dr. Mercola, M.D., on his website mercola.com, CLA helps to lower body fat while also preserving muscle tissue and increasing lean body mass. The effects were seen in non-exercisers, and even more prominent in those who combined CLA supplements with exercise. The therapeutic dose is 1.8 to 4.5 g daily.

Calcium and Vitamin D

A calcium and vitamin D combination supplement may also be beneficial. Calcium is found in foods such as dairy, nuts, seeds and leafy green vegetables, and studies have found that people with a low calcium intake are more likely to gain weight, have a higher body mass index, and be overweight compared to people with a high calcium intake. Vitamin D is commonly referred to as the sunshine vitamin because you can get it naturally from exposing your skin to the sun, but it is also found in foods such as egg yolks, liver and kidney meat. Studies have found that people with low levels of vitamin D are much more likely to be obese then people with average to high stores of vitamin D. Preliminary research suggests that a calcium/vitamin D combination supplements may be especially beneficial for post menopausal women and help them to both lose weight and to maintain weight loss.

Green Tea

Green tea is a healthy, antioxidant-rich beverage derived from the camellia sinuses herb. The University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, states that extracts of green tea help to boost the metabolism and increase fat burning. The substances thought to be responsible for green tea's fat-burning effects are caffeine, catechins and polyphenols. Preliminary research suggests that green tea not only aids in weight loss but also helps to prevent individuals from regaining the weight. For weight loss purposes, you can drink green tea throughout the day, or for a more pronounced effect, take a green tea extract supplement.

Diacylglycerol

Diacylglycerol is an enzyme formed from a combination of glycine and fatty acids and it is a natural component of many edible oils. A six-month study was done on overweight and obese individuals and cited in the December 2002 edition of the "American Journal of Nutrition." The study found that consuming 8 to 9 g per day of diaclyglycerol oil resulted in a weight loss of 3.6 percent and an 8.3 percent reduction in overall body fat. Diaclyglycerol is also sold as a dietary supplement and you should take it as directed on the bottle.