We’ve all been there. We’ve seen a TV show or read an article about some celebrity’s dramatic weight loss and we’ve been sucked in. We’ve found that elusive combination of pills that seem to work for others and we’ve been dreaming of the day we can fit into those designer dresses or cocktail dresses. So we’ve spent a lot of time searching for weight loss supplements that will help us reach our goals. We’re sure that you have too.
What if we told you that there really is no “secret” to weight loss and that those celebrity diets and pills are just marketing tricks? What if we told you that there are actually quite a few simple changes that you can make that will help you shed those extra pounds?
Is it possible that vitamins are the answer to our prayers?
There’s no question that the right vitamins can boost our bodies’ defences against disease and allow us to maintain a healthy weight. But did you know that not all vitamins are created equal? Some dietary supplements boast impressive scientific study after scientific study, but when it comes down to it, those studies often don’t prove how effective those pills will be in boosting your health.
So what does all this mean for you? It means that you’ve probably been tricked by the flashy commercials and tricked by the so-called experts who claim that vitamins are the key to weight loss. But here’s the good news: you don’t need to take these supplements to be effective. In fact, there’s a whole other way of looking at vitamins that can help you shed those extra pounds.
The Best Vitamins for Weight Loss
When we talk about losing weight, most of us think about diets and exercising. But what happens when we don’t really want to change our ways and we just want to shed those extra pounds? For those of us who have tried and failed to lose weight in the past, vitamins have often been seen as a last resort, something to help us while we’re eating less sugar and exercising more.
But that approach fails to acknowledge that not all vitamins are created equal. Some vitamins can actually boost your health and allow you to lose weight while others don’t do much at all.
Here’s a list of the best vitamins for weight loss:
Vitamin C
As we’ve established, not all vitamins are created equal and some can actually do more harm than good when it comes to weight loss. But vitamin C is a great example of the kind of vitamin that can help you achieve your goals. Most people see vitamin C as a necessary supplement since we don’t get it naturally in the same amounts in nature that we need, but there are actually some very exciting research projects that prove that it’s possible to get the necessary daily amount of vitamin C from food alone.
The problem is that our bodies don’t process vitamin C efficiently. So even if you do eat the right food, your body may not be able to use it effectively. Vitamin C is also very unstable and easily damaged by heat and light. So if you take vitamin C supplements, make sure to buy only the organic kind and use a food-grade preservative to keep it fresh.
Vitamin E
Speaking of eggs and chicken, did you know that they’re one of the best sources of vitamin E? And what’s more, getting your daily requirement of vitamin E from food is actually quite easy. You just need to consume nuts, seeds and vegetable oils.
But what if you’re allergic to nuts or seeds? Or what if you just don’t like the way they taste? In those cases, you can supplement with vitamin E acetate, which is a synthetic version of vitamin E that’s more stable and easy to take. Just make sure to avoid taking vitamin E supplements if you have epilepsy or liver problems.
Chamomile Flower Extract
If, like many of us, you’re not a fan of taking supplements, you can get the same effect from food alone with chamomile flower extract.
This plant offers a variety of health benefits and it’s loaded with compounds that act as powerful antioxidants. In addition to offering protection against free radicals, chamomile flower extract has been shown to increase metabolic rate and encourage the body to process fat. So, if you’re looking to lose weight, you might want to consider giving chamomile flower extract a try.
Green Tea
If you hate to cook, you can get the same effect from capsules or tablets with green tea. Did you know that green tea increases your body’s production of insulin, the hormone that allows your body to process sugar? The hormone responds negatively to insulin so it’s obvious that green tea can help you regulate your blood sugar levels.
If blood sugar is stable, you’re less likely to gain weight. Plus, green tea has been shown to suppress the appetite and promote weight loss in mice. So while we’re not sure how exactly it works, there’s certainly evidence to support the theory that drinking green tea can help you lose weight.
Grapefruit
Did you know that grapefruit helps regulate the digestion process and encourages the liver to metabolize fat? If you’re looking for a natural solution, grapefruit is a great option. But if you’re looking for something more exciting, you can get the same effect from a pill by using hydroxycitric acid (HCA).
This is an ingredient that occurs naturally in grapefruit and it has a lot of weight loss promise. One study found that people who consumed HCA daily for 12 weeks lost more weight than those who didn’t. So if you’re looking for an easy, natural way to shed those extra pounds, consider giving grapefruit a try.
Ferulic Acid
Like many of the vitamins on this list, ferulic acid is also a substance that occurs naturally in the wall of plant cells. However, it’s more commonly found in the wall of plant cells than it is in food. That means that you have to get it from supplements or food that’s been fortified with ferulic acid (like mushrooms and some breads).
Ferulic acid has been shown to inhibit the absorption of nutrients and toxins in the intestine. So if you’re looking for a solution that will help you stay healthy while losing weight, consider giving ferulic acid a try.
Caffeine
Did you know that caffeine is one of the best ways to increase metabolic rate? Just like with the vitamins on this list, there’s a lot of evidence to suggest that caffeine can increase the body’s ability to burn calories. It’s also been proven to inhibit the absorption of nutrients and toxins in the intestine, just like ferulic acid. So if you’re looking for a way to increase your metabolism, consider giving caffeine a try.
Unlike many of the items on this list, caffeine is readily available in most places. You don’t necessarily need to take supplements or eat food fortified with caffeine if you’re already consuming it in coffee or other products that contain caffeine. That being said, taking caffeine in supplement form can help you get the benefits that it has been shown to offer.
Resveratrol
Did you know that resveratrol, in addition to being found in red wine, has been shown to help reduce inflammation, promote heart health and protect the brain from damage? While these are all very exciting findings, resveratrol is probably better known for its ability to fight cancer. If you’re looking for an ingredient that can protect you from disease and allow you to lose weight, consider giving resveratrol a try.
There’s a problem with trying to lose weight using only natural products though. Sometimes the foods that we love may not be as good for us as we think. For example, did you know that chocolate is a great source of antioxidants, but it also contains a lot of sugar? The sugar in chocolate could potentially cause your blood sugar levels to rise, putting you at risk for diabetes.
When it comes to our health, we need to be mindful of what we put into our bodies. If we’re not used to eating a lot of avocados, they can cause digestive problems which in turn can lead to poor weight loss results. If we’re not sure how a food product will affect our bodies, it’s always best to go for the natural option. Even if it means losing out on some flavor.