Excessive visceral fat in the abdominal region may increase an individual's risk for medical complications, such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension. According to an article published in the 2003 edition of "USA Today," those with the greatest risk of developing health problems are men and women with waists measuring wider than 40 inches and 35 inches, respectively. A well-balanced diet along with regular physical activity may help to rid the body of excess belly fat. The aid of medically approved supplements, however, may improve your chances of effective reduction of belly fat. Discuss your health conditions with your medical adviser before ingesting fat burning supplements.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid
CLA, an abbreviated medical term for conjugated linoleic acid, is an omega-6 fatty acid commonly found in food products, such as sunflower oil, safflower oil and grass-fed dairy products. According to a 2010 study that was published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," it was discovered that CLA has fat-burning properties. Not only does it sustain lean muscle tissue for maximum calorie-burn, but it also aids in the prevention of fat storage. According to the study, the participants who ingested 3 g of CLA over a seven month period experienced a greater decrease in belly fat than participants who ingested a placebo.
Green Tea Extract
Green tea contains the antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG, which is reputed to elevate the body's metabolic rate, resulting in a reduction of belly fat. The December 2008 edition of "The Journal of Nutrition" published a study in which overweight or obese participants were required to follow a moderate exercise plan while either forgoing the supplements or supplementing the diet with green tea catechins. In the study, Kevin C. Maki and his research team concluded that green tea extract has a positive impact on belly fat reduction as those who ingested green tea catechins experienced a greater reduction in belly fat than the control group that did not ingest the green tea catechins.
Calcium
In the 2004 publication of "Obesity Research," Michael B. Zemel and colleagues found a relationship between calcium intake and belly fat reduction. In the study, subjects were placed on a restricted calorie diet and were required to supplement their diet with calcium, ranging in doses of 400 mg to 1,200 mg. What they found was that participants who supplemented their diet with a minimum dosage of 800 mg experienced greater abdominal fat loss than those who ingested the minimum dosage of 400 mg to 500 mg.
Additional Supplements
Additional supplements that may improve abdominal fat loss include forskolin and 7-keto. According to the University of Illinois Medical Center, 7-keto is a natural anti-catabolic metabolite known to enhance thyroid activity. It is a thermogenic supplement that aids in burning calories more efficiently. In addition to 7-keto, forskolin is another supplement that encourages fat loss by increasing the body's level of testosterone, which is a hormone responsible for sustaining muscle mass and improving fat burning activities.
References
- "Journal of Nutrition"; Green Tea Catechin Consumption Enhances Exercise-Induced Abdominal Fat Loss in Overweight and Obese Adults; Kevin C. Make, et al.; December 2008
- "Obesity Research"; Calcium and Dairy Acceleration of Weight and Fat Loss During Energy Restrictino in Obese Adults; Zemel M.B., et al.; April 2004
- "USA Today"; Belly Full of Danger; Nanci Helmich; February 2003
- University of Illinois Medical Center: 7-Keto: A Better Way to Take DHEA?
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Forskolin
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