The best way to lose weight and keep it off is to eat a proper diet and engage in physical activity. However, everyone who has ever tried to lose weight knows how difficult the process can be which is why we seek help with weight loss supplements.
In this article, we will be showing you the top twelve weight loss supplements that can help your body burn fat more efficiently. These supplements are completely natural and chock-full of nutrients as well. So, they don’t just help you lose weight, they also care for your body as well.
Without further ado, here they are:
#1 Lemon Juice
Lemons are known to have an alkalizing effect on the body in addition to their detoxifying qualities. They are rich in vitamin C and can help you maintain a healthy weight.
In fact, according to a study published in 2007 in the Journal of Nutrition, it was discovered that people who take more vitamin C end up putting on less weight than those who do not.
One way to incorporate lemon juice into your diet is by drinking it every morning. Simply dilute some lemon juice in some hot water and drink it first thing every morning. Kickstarting your day with a shot of vitamin C will help you burn fat. It will also help to boost your immune system as well.
#2 Berberine
Berberine is a bioactive compound and is found in the alkaloids of certain plants like barberry, and oregon grape. It is one of the most effective natural supplements available and can help you lose weight if that’s your goal.
Berberine has been used in traditional Chinese and Ayurveda medicine for centuries now. However, in recent times, this extract has begun to receive a lot of attention from the science community thanks to its ability to regulate blood sugar and insulin response. Two very important factors that are central to a successful weight loss journey.
In fact, in a certain meta-analysis, berberine has proven to be as effective as glucose-lowering drugs in the regulation of blood glucose levels. It also activates AMPK, an enzyme that has been nicknamed the “metabolic master switch” which when activated, provides the same benefit to the body as exercise.
#3 Carnosine
Carnosine, or as it is more commonly called, L-carnosine is an amino acid. It comes in a form that is readily usable by the body’s cells and has been proven to help regulate the effects of metabolic syndrome.
Many don’t even know that they suffer from metabolic syndrome which is a condition that makes it difficult to lose weight and affects one in six people in the United States. Metabolic syndrome is typically characterized by the dysregulation of insulin, blood sugar, and inflammatory proteins known as advanced glycation end-products which is why weight loss can be difficult with this condition.
But with carnosine, you can help regulate the effects of metabolic syndrome and also help your body age well.
Carnosine has also been shown to be helpful to vegan diets as these diets typically do not provide any carnosine at all compared to diets that contain meat.
#4 Omega-3 Fatty Acids
It’s possible that inflammation is responsible for your weight gain, and many times, inflammation occurs when you don’t have enough omega-3 fatty acids in your diet which makes your body cells less sensitive to insulin. Naturally, the less sensitive your cells are to insulin, the more your body is likely to store fat.
Currently, omega-3s and fish oil are two of the top supplements recommended by doctors. And that’s not surprising because they not only help with weight loss, but they also help to keep your heart, brain, and body cells healthy.
#5 Spirulina
Spirulina is a blue-green algae, but don’t scrunch up your face. This is a nutrient-dense supplement full of minerals, vitamins, and phytonutrients including tocopherols, phenolic compounds, and antioxidants. We’re looking at a supplement that really works hard here.
There are a couple of reasons spirulina helps with weight loss but a primary one is that it helps to reduce your appetite, fights inflammation, and lowers body fat generally. Studies have shown that spirulina can help to correct the damage caused by oxidative stress which can be caused by being overweight.
Spirulina can also help to improve digestive function as well as a healthy metabolism.
#6 Collagen Peptides
Collagen is the most abundant naturally-occurring protein in the body and facilitates a lot of bodily processes. Collagen also supports skin elasticity, joint health, digestive function, as well as a healthy appetite.
The fact that collagen helps to strengthen your gut and keeps you feeling full for longer are two possible reasons collagen is used as a weight loss supplement. Unlike other proteins, collagen can trigger leptin, the hormone that makes you feel full. This helps you with portion control which ultimately makes you lose weight.
#7 Medium Chain Triglycerides, MCTs
MCTs are a popular weight loss supplement and in recent times, they’ve become a main ingredient in high-fat coffee blends which are usually a staple part of ketogenic weight loss diets.
People who take MCTs have only glowing reports about this supplement. They help to lower the appetite and also help to energize your brain. It’s a special kind of fat that can be super beneficial for those who want to lose weight.
MCTs possess a special molecular structure that makes them able to bypass the normal digestive route. So, they go straight into the liver and while there, get broken down further into free fatty acids. The fatty acids are then sent from the liver into the brain and the muscles where they help to improve cognition and provide energy.
Additionally, MCTs help the body utilize the fatty acids in the liver which helps you feel full for longer and also helps to reduce your appetite and cravings. But the most amazing thing about MCTs is that your body does not store it because it has no need for it. It also boosts energy levels in the body and helps your body burn fat more efficiently.
#8 Probiotic
Probiotics are healthy bacteria that primarily reside in the gut. They facilitate the metabolic processes that go on in the body and also help you to lose weight as well. In fact, studies have shown that people who are obese typically have fewer healthy bacteria in their gut than people who are at a healthy weight.
#9 B Complex
B vitamins are so critical to the healthy functioning of the body. They have a wide range of functions including how they are able to promote a robust and healthy metabolism. The B vitamins are about 8 in number. They include thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, biotin, B12, and folate. These combine synergistically to form vitamin B complex with each vitamin having its own function.
Vitamin B1 helps your body break down carbs in order to release energy. B6, on the other hand, helps to improve blood flow, metabolism, and your adrenal gland’s response to stress. We also have vitamin B12 which plays a very important role in normal metabolic function and the proper utilization of energy in the body.
For the best results, when you want to get your B complex supplement, make sure you look out for fully methylated sources that are free from dyes and additives.
#10 Greens
If you’re trying to lose weight, you must realize that your liver plays a central role in that process. Everything about metabolism, your weight, and your health in general revolves around the health of your liver. So, if you want to lose weight and stay healthy, then take care of your liver.
One food group that does that nicely are greens, specifically, cruciferous greens. Examples of cruciferous vegetables include cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, and leeks which help your body detox naturally. They also help to improve metabolism as well.
Make sure your diet is rich in these kinds of greens including dark green, leafy vegetables. It will help you lose weight faster by ensuring that your insulin functions properly, your blood sugar levels are moderate, and your body gets to flush out toxins efficiently as well.
#11 Garlic
The many benefits of garlic include its ability to boost metabolism, detoxify the body, and burn fat. Garlic also helps your body balance its blood sugar levels which helps you lose weight.
Studies have been conducted on mice in this regard and it was effectively proven that fat mice could lose weight by taking garlic.
There are many ways you can have your garlic but make sure to never overcook it. Always crush the cloves of garlic first to release allicin, the active ingredient in garlic. You can then mix the crushed garlic in a glass of lemon juice and have this mixture first thing every morning.
This will kick your metabolism into gear and help you burn fat more efficiently.
#12 Sleep
No, sleep is not a supplement but good sleep and quality rest can help you lose weight effectively. Your body consists of a host of chemicals and hormones which control each of your body’s functions, your appetite inclusive.
You might wonder what that has to do with sleep and weight loss until you realize that sleep-deprivation can cause a rise in leptin, the hormone that makes you feel hungry and a fall in ghrelin, the hormone that makes you feel full. This, therefore, means that the more you fail to get enough rest, the more likely you are to feel hungry and have sugar cravings which could make you add weight pretty fast.
So, make sure you get your beauty sleep and regularly too.
