Weight Loss and Fat Loss Supplements

Many supplements available from the health and fitness industry and many natural foods have been shown to promote weight loss and fat loss. If you are one of those people that is not convinced that these products or foods work, than pick up the newly-released June 2008 edition of FitnessRx for Women magazine. Read on to see why.

In its "Supplement Edge" section, FitnessRx for Women profiles the most current research and findings for 15 of "the best weight-loss and fat-loss supplements." In today's post, we will discuss the first 7 of these 15 supplements, and tomorrow we will tackle the remaining eight.

So, if you want to lose weight and lose fat, consider including the following 7 supplements in your daily diet:

1. Bitter orange - It is added to supplements because of its appetite-suppressing qualities. In combination with green tea and guarana, it greatly augments calorie burn. When found in conjunction with caffeine, it increases physical endurance and fires up the fat-burning process.
   
2. Caffeine - As previously discussed in Caffeine and Energy Supplements: Some Advice, caffeine has been found to increase both endurance and performance in athletes. It also plays a role in increasing metabolism. In controlled studies, it has been shown to promote both weight loss and fat loss due to its incredible thermogenic and fat oxidation properties.
   
3. Calcium/Vitamin D - Studies have shown that increasing dietary intake of Calcium can result in weight and fat loss (particularly in the trunk region). Vitamin D, which helps to maintain adequate blood calcium levels, has been shown in one study to help women who are dieting lose more body fat.
   
4. CLA - As previously discussed in CLA and the Fight Against Fat and Cancer, CLA has been used for years by bodybuilders to help them achieve a lean body. A year long study of men and women who supplemented with CLA had a 7-9% lower fat mass than those that did not supplement with CLA. What is interesting is that the CLA alone was responsible for the lower fat mass, not other dietary and lifestyle changes.
   
5. Fish oil - In Keep Your High Fat Cravings At Bay, I discussed that consuming too few essential fatty acids (found in high quantities in fish oil) can cause overwhelming cravings for fat. A recent study has also shown that fish oil actually helps you burn fat as well, reducing body fat mass without any other changes to diet and calories consumed. For overweight people who diet, exercise and consume fish oil, research shows fat loss coupled with improvement to both cardiovascular and metabolic health.
   
6. Fiber - People who consume high amounts of dietary fiber are less likely to get fat because they tend to consume less calories overall. Glucomannan (GM) is a soluble fiber that has been shown to help obese and overweight people lose significant weight when taken at doses of 2-4 grams per day.
   
7. Forskolin - To date, studies have been performed on men only, however results do look very promising for women as well. Forskolin has been shown to decrease body fat percentage and overall fat mass, as well as increase bone mass and lean body mass in men.
   

Along with a good diet and exercise, incorporating some of these weight loss and fat loss supplements will help you to reach your ideal body weight that much faster!

Tomorrow, we'll look at green tea, hoodia, MCT oil, yerba mate, dietary protein and leucine, leucine, soy and whey and casein.

Have a healthy, fit and fulfilling day!

Sandy Huard, President, Women's Health Supply International

CLA and the Fight Against Fat and Cancer

Hi All,

I thought I'd share a little information about a promising "good fat" called CLA or "conjugated linoleic acid". Recent university studies point to some promising findings.

CLA is found naturally in dairy products and red meat, however these products also contain significant amounts of saturated fats ("bad fats"). Research does indicate that CLA consumed in its natural form is the preferred intake method and that grain-fed sources of these animal products have the highest amounts of CLA.

Although it’s still not fully understood, CLA likely works by helping to regulate protein and fat metabolism in the body. This in turn can result in a reduction of overall body fat and an increase in lean muscle mass.

In animal studies, CLA has also been shown to protect against many different types of common cancers and to help prevent heart disease. CLA may also play a role in supporting immune function. Human studies are still in their infancy but early results are promising.

Bodybuilding and fitness athletes have been supplementing with CLA for some time now. It is viewed as an excellent support supplement for individuals interested in promoting lean muscle mass, fat reduction, and overall health.

My advice is to check out the research and decide for yourself. Whether you choose natural sources of CLA in your diet or you decide to supplement is up to you. However, do look at the research available particularly the "breast cancer research", which clearly shows reduced risk with adequate CLA intake.

On a side note, I got in the 3T (Totally Tubular Turbo) workout today from TurboJam. Although it is only 32 minutes long, it's a great strength-training workout. You can find 3T and many other great workouts at www.Beachbody.com.

Have a great night!

"Healthy. Fit. Living Fully."

Sandy Huard, President, Women's Health Supply International