With summer in full swing, many people have been asking about weight loss supplements, so I wanted to highlight a few of our most effective supplements and explain how they work.
First, let me say that even the best weight loss supplement will not do that much when not paired with a healthy diet and exercise. Exercise doesn’t have to mean an hour long aerobics class, but for weight loss to be effective, increasing your activity level is important.
Another problem with some weight loss supplements is that the amounts used in research to demonstrate their effectiveness are often more than what most people take, and with any supplement if you’re not taking the recommended dose, it often isn’t effective.
For example, the supplement garcinia cambogia does have good results for weight loss, but for it to really work, you need to make sure to take a high potency extract of the supplement at the proper amount. We’d recommend Jarrow’s garcinia cambogia, since it has the highest extract percentage per pill, but to work, it should be taken as six capsules a day- three in the morning and three in the afternoon. Not all weight loss supplements need to be taken as that many pills, but I just mention it because dosing is important. If you’re only taking a fraction of a recommended amount, you’re only going to be getting a fraction of the benefits.
Also, even the most powerful weight loss supplement isn’t going to work in a week. Weight loss takes time, and for there to be a lasting change, experts recommend that you aim for no more than one to two lbs a week. Crash diets and extreme weight loss are unsustainable long term (and can be a shock to your system).
There are many great supplements for weight loss, but I’ll list some of our favorites below:
Metobolic Activators
There is a unique supplement by Life Extention called AMPK Metobolic Activator that we’d especially recommend. It works by increasing the activity of an enzyme in our bodies called AMPK that regulates energy in the cells of the body. When our bodies need energy, this enzyme moves excess fats and sugars into our cells to be converted into energy. This AMPK enzyme tells our bodies when to start burning fat stores for energy.
The AMPK Activator contains two plant ingredients that have been found to activate our body’s own AMPK enzyme, which tells our bodies to start using its fat stores for energy, especially abdominal fat stores.
Another nice thing about this supplement is that it’s just one-a-day to be effective.
Garcinia Cambogia
Garcinia cambogia is also known as Citrimax, and its active ingredient, HCA, has been in numerous studies over the years for its benefits for weight loss. It works in part by inhibiting an enzyme that stores sugars and carbohydrates as fat, blocking the process of fat production.
Instead of being converted into fat, sugar and carbohydrates are converted into glycogen, a fuel that is stored in the liver and muscles that is converted into energy. By raising the body’s levels of glycogen, it can also help with reducing appetite, since it tells the body that its fuel tanks are full. HCA (the active ingredient in garcinia cambogia) can also help to raise the body’s level of serotonin, which helps with boosting mood as well as reducing stress eating.
We’d say the best garcinia cambogia supplement is the one by Jarrow, and it should be taken three capsules, twice a day, thirty to sixty minutes before a meal for best results.
Glucomannan
Unlike the two supplements mentioned above, glucomannan is not involved with raising metabolism or burning fat, which can actually be a good thing since it can be taken at any time, including in the evening. Glucomannan is a special type of fiber that increases many times its size in the stomach, helping you to feel more full and satisfied. Because of that, when taken before a meal (or whenever) the idea is that would eat less since the stomach is partially filled. It’s also nice since it can be taken in the evening to help to curb late night snacking.
Even better, glucomannan is be beneficial for high cholesterol and diabetes, since it can help to control blood sugar levels. Glucomannan is available in both powder and capsules, but if using capsules, make sure to take them with a full glass of water.
L-Carnitine
Carnitine is an amino acid with many benefits particularly for cardiovascular health. While not specifically a weight loss supplement, carnitine can be helpful for weight loss since it’s involved with energy metabolism, and helps to transport fat from the foods we eat to be converted into energy. It can be helpful when you’re exercising since it can help to burn more fat during exercise and give the muscles more energy, reducing fatigue when exercising (which can be especially helpful for people who are just beginning to an exercise regimen).
Carnitine works in part by increasing nitric oxide in the body, which helps heart health and cardiovascular function, and can help with increasing blood flow and cellular energy in the body-especially the muscles.
Protein
Protein, and protein shakes do not help you lose weight. That being said, eating more protein can help you to feel more satisfied for longer, which can help with dieting. Protein also helps with muscle repair after exercise. Protein shakes are a simple, low-calorie way to increase the amount of protein in your diet and are available in milk-based whey protein or plant-based proteins suitable for people with dietary restrictions.
Please stop by the store so we can help you to find the supplement that’s right for you! We’re located at 7228 W. College Drive in Palos Heights.
