Natural Weight Loss Supplements

No supplement can work miracles on making extra pounds melt away, but nutrition and weight-loss researchers say that some supplements can give you a small advantage in the battle to be slim (helping you lose about 2 to 3 pounds a month).

If you're restricting carbs on the Atkins or South Beach diets (and the fiber that goes along with them), and consuming a lot of protein and fat, you seriously risk suffering constipation. Supplement your daily diet with a laxative to prevent this situation; a gentle over the counter brand works fine. Fiber is one of the top natural weight loss supplements along with flaxseed (also known as linseed), psyllium, pectin and agar.
Some fad diets that stress eating only one type of food, such as the Grapefruit Diet or Cabbage Soup Diet, miss out completely on a whole world of mandatory nutrients that your body needs not only for good health but for weight loss, too. Though these diets are never recommended, be sure to at least look into taking vitamin and mineral weight loss supplements.
If you're cutting out dairy in your diet, it's important to take a calcium supplement in order to maintain bone density and health. This is especially true for women, who require twice the daily intake of calcium as do men. Make sure you're also getting enough vitamin D, which aids the body in absorbing calcium.
Losing weight successfully means cutting calories and upping your fitness level; as you eat less and get active, obtaining the right vitamins and minerals can get harder, but is no less important. Be sure you take a multi-vitamin every day; even the most astute dieter can misstep and forget this important addition to his or her diet.
Some people find that a fat-free or extremely low-fat diet is best supplemented with capsules containing Omega-3 fatty acids; these supplements help keep your heart, skin and joints healthy. Try fish oil supplements to make sure you're rounding out your dietary intake.

Popular Weight Loss Supplements:

5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan): Derived biochemically from the essential protein amino acid L-tryptophan. Tryptophan and 5-HTP dietary are believed to aid in increasing serotonin levels in the brain, which may have a beneficial effect on sleep, mood, anxiety, aggression, appetite, temperature, sexual behavior, and pain sensation.
7-KETO (3-acetyl-7-oxo-dehydroepiandrosterone): A naturally occurring metabolite of the dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a hormone produced by the body. DHEA is the most abundant of the adrenal steroid hormones and function as a precursor for many important for sex hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone.
Arginine: An essential amino acid that is believed to aid in healing wounds, helping to eliminate ammonia from the body, improving immune function, and enhancing production of several hormones, including glucagon, insulin, and growth hormone.
Chitosan: A polysaccharide compound that is found in the shells of sea crustaceans. While chitosan is not digestible it appears to reduce the absorption of bile acids and cholesterol, whereby lowering levels of blood cholesterol. Chitosan's ability to lower blood cholesterol has been shown in animals and a few human studies showed that about 5 grams a day of chitosan taken for a few weeks was able to produce a 6% drop in cholesterol.
Chromium: A trace element that has been shown to play a role in the body’s processing of different food items. A trace element is a substance that is required by the body in very small amounts for proper growth and functioning. Individuals with likelihood of low chromium levels include: elderly persons, individuals with extremely poor diets or diets very high in refined sugars, pregnant or breast-feeding women, individuals under chronically stressful conditions, and those who depend on total parental nutrition (feeding through an intravenous line). Exercise and increasing age may also reduce body stores of chromium.
CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid): A slightly altered form of the essential fatty acid linoleic acid. CLA is found naturally in animal tissues and food sources, including ruminant meats, poultry, eggs and dairy products, such as cheeses, milk and yogurt that have undergone heat processing treatments. Vegetable fats are generally poorer sources of CLA. However, CLA is produced from linoleic acid in safflower oil and sunflower oil by special treatment of these oils. CLA was originally found in milk fat where it exists in the form of phospholipids and triglycerides. Also, there is evidence that human milk contains CLA.
DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone): A naturally occurring substance found in the body. DHE is produced in the adrenal gland, gonads and brain. DHEA is a steroid hormone. DHEA and its metabolite dehydroepiandrosterone-3-sulfate or DHEAS are the major steroidal products of the adrenal gland. It is important to know that leveles of DHEA and DHEAS in the body decreases progressively from a peak at age 25 to less than 20% of that peak before the age of 70. Further, DHEA serum levels are typically low in chronic diseases, such as cancer and AIDS.
Fiber: Research has shown time and time again that diets high in natural fiber can prevent the development of a number of critical health problems including heart disease. Find out why natural fiber and dietary fiber supplements can help you live a longer, healthy and safer life.
Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate, also known as HMB, is a naturally substance found in living organisms as a metabolite of the essential amino acid L-leucine. It has been reported that preliminary evidence suggests that HMB may possess anticatabolic and immunomodulatory properties. HMB is popular nutritional supplement among athletes involved in intense physical activity.
Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA): A chemical compound produced (an acid) in the fruit of the Garcinia cambogia plant. To produce a supplement the HCA is extracted from the Garcinia cambogia fruit. Garcinia has a long history in India as a popular condiment, and the dried rind is used as a flavoring agent in many culinary dishes. The Garcinia fruit has also been used by Indians to treat gastrointestinal complaints and rheumatism. Hydroxycitric acid, the principal acid in the fruit of Garcinia cambogia, comprises 16% of the content of the dried fruit. This is relatively high concentration when compared with the chemical makeup of other fruits.
L-Tyrosine: A nonessential amino acid produced inside the body from phenylalanine. This amino acid is an important nutritional ingredient and factor for the synthesis of the neurotransmitters epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Thyrosine is also necessary to produce a number of important hormones including thyroxin, which serves an important role regulating the metabolism, skin health, mental health and growth rate.
Pyruvate: A form of an organic acid called pyruvic acid. Pyruvate is involved in energy synthesis in most living organisms. It is not considered an essential nutrient since it can be produced in the cells of the body. Pyruvate, however, is consumed in the daily diet. Most individuals consume between 100 and milligrams to 2 grams per day. Pyruvate can be found in high concentration in a few fruits (apples) and vegetables, as well as in dark beer and red wine.
Soy Protein: In October of 1999 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave permission for companies to market soy protein supplements stating in their advertisements and on product packaging that soy protein may reduce the risk of heart disease. This is only the 11th time the FDA has allowed or endorsed a statement of this magnitude relating to a dietary supplement.
Whey Protein: One of two major protein groups of milk, the other is caseins. Whey is produced as a byproduct of making cheese. In addition to protein, unprocessed, whey contains fat, lactose and a few other substances. Raw whey is processed to produce protein-rich whey protein concentrates and whey protein isolates. Whey protein concentrates are rich in whey protein but also contain fat an lactose. Whey protein isolates are low in fat and lactose.

Natural Weight Loss Supplements

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