Are there vitamins for weight loss or do I need a diet supplement?

We're asked all of the time:  Are there vitamins for weight loss?  Well the short answer is yes...but it's not that simple.  Read on to find out more.

Trying to lose weight can be frustrating. It will be more frustrating if you don't give your body the nutritional support it needs.

You will feel tired and irritable if you cut back on calories without increasing your nutrient intake. You won't have the energy you need to get more exercise unless you add some supplements to your daily routine. Your stomach will growl and you'll have food cravings without proper nutritional support.

While all of this is true, the thousands of different vitamins, herbs and vitamin complexes on the market can actually make it harder for you to get the support you need. The claims made by various weight-loss companies makes it even harder.

Everyone is different. The support you need might be different from what someone else needs. But there are some basics to cover. This article presents the basics. You need...

A Good Multi-Nutritional Supplement

Trying to come up with an eating plan that provides every nutrient you can possibly need every day, without going overboard in terms of calories, is practically impossible. You can think of your multi-nutritional supplement as a bit of insurance against nutrient-deficits in the foods you decide to eat.

It is particularly important to take a good multi-nutritional supplement when you are trying to lose weight because you will undoubtedly need to cut back on calories. The risk of cutting out essential nutrients and experiencing the problems mentioned above is too great.

At a minimum, your supplement should contain:

 ·       B-complex vitamins – for burning fat, sustaining energy and maintaining a good mood

·       Vitamins C and E – for immune system support

·       Calcium, magnesium, vitamin D and vitamin K – to reduce the risk of bone loss that can accompany low calorie diets

·       Iodine – to support thyroid health (a well-functioning thyroid is essential for weight-loss)

·       Amino acids – to reduce the risk of muscle loss that can accompany low calorie diets and help to increase strength during muscle-building activities

·       Beta-carotene and other carotenoids – to protect all the body's cells from free radical damage

Some supplements contain significantly more than this, while others contain much less. Be sure to read the label of ingredients and nutritional facts when you are shopping. The best value for your money is one that contains all of these ingredients and more.

A Good Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplement

Omega-3 fish oil supplements may help reduce food cravings caused by a low fat diet. This supplement provides the healthy fats your body needs for all sorts of cellular functions. Many people find that fish oil improves their mood and reduces depression, a finding supported by scientific studies concerning the concentration of omega-3s in the brain.

In addition, a recent study showed that omega-3 supplementation improved health markers more than weight-loss alone. So, if you are concerned about your health, you need a good omega-3 fish oil supplement.

And Digestive Support

It's not just about what you eat. It's about the nutrients your body is able to absorb. If your diet has been unhealthy, your digestive system may be unhealthy too. The tiny pathways that lead from your digestive system to your bloodstream can become clogged over time with yeast and undigested waste, making it impossible for your body to absorb essential nutrients.

While there are a number of ways to provide digestive support through supplementation, the latest evidence indicates that supplements derived from whole kiwifruit provide the greatest support.

The compounds in kiwifruit have prebiotic activity helping to balance gut flora in the digestive tract, improving nutrient absorption and reducing symptoms like bloating and gas. As a side benefit, this supplement often helps to “shrink” the tummy, making you look better even before you lose a lot of weight.

You May Also Need

 If you are over the age of 35, coenzyme Q10 is another supplement to consider. The body produces large amounts of coenzyme Q10 when we are young, but production starts to decline by the age of 25. This decline is believed to play a role in a variety of age-related health problems. For weight-loss, CoQ10 helps to boost metabolism and increase energy levels.

You might add 5-HTP to your list of weight-loss supplements, too. This compound is a direct precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin plays a role in mood-regulation and appetite. The supplement may act as a natural appetite suppressant. Some of the best multi-nutritional supplements contain 5-HTP.

Conclusion: To Sum It Up

Burning more calories than you use is the only way to lose weight. Nutrients like coenzyme Q10 may help you burn more calories by boosting your metabolism. 5-HTP may reduce your appetite, causing you to eat a little less and lose weight that way. But, so far, we have not found a magic pill that works for everyone.

We believe that the combination of supplements listed here will provide the most nutritional support to help you lose weight safely and naturally. Try to incorporate the various vitamins for weight loss mentioned above, such as B Complex, C, D, E and K (which is essentially all of the vitamin groups), as well as the minerals, amino acids and other supplements we covered.

Most of these can be found in a good quality nutritional supplement, which you can find out more about on our site.  The others are readily available online.

Make sure you consult with your doctor before taking any vitamins for weight loss or other supplements to help you lose weight.  All of the nutrients above are generally regarded as safe, but may interact with any medications you are currently taking.

---

Read more on our HSG weight loss page or return to the HSG home