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

Caffeine and Energy Supplements: Some Advice

Need a jolt of caffeine to rev up your engine in the morning or throughout the day? Here is some of the latest research, including both the pros and cons of drinking coffee.

Now if you love colas, this article is not for you. You already know that cola is not good for you or neutral at best. Coffee lovers and people with low energy who don't drink coffee, read on.

First the good news about coffee. According to a recent study in the International Journal of Cancer, women who drank 3 or more cups of coffee per day were 50% less likely to develop colon cancer than non-drinkers. Coffee may also cut the risk of other cancers as well, including liver and rectal cancer. It can also slow brain cell loss in elderly women.

Caffeine has also been shown to make athletes run farther and cycle faster. Runners and cyclists who consume about 1 cup of coffee one hour prior to exercise improve both endurance and performance according to the American College of Sports Medicine.

Another very recent (but small study) by the University of Georgia in Athens has shown that 2 cups of coffee consumed prior to workout can cut post-workout muscular pain by almost 50%. Interesting findings. Calls for more research, right?

Now for the not so good news. Too much coffee (4-7 cups a day) can raise cortisol levels. Now cortisol is a stress hormone that promotes fat storage, breaks down muscle tissue and increases blood pressure - not a good thing for anyone, especially body builders.

If you have a gene that causes caffeine to linger in your bloodstream for a long time, you could also be at higher risk for heart disease according to researchers at the University of Toronto. You can't know for sure if you have this gene, so drink coffee in moderation and take cues from your body (if your heart is racing, that's not a good sign).

Don't like coffee? Try some of the energy supplements at our store or one of our energy drinks to improve your endurance and your performance, and to boost your energy levels when needed. This will result in improved concentration and better focusing ability as well.

As for me, I love coffee, so I'll grab a great cup of java (tomorrow morning of course). You decide if coffee, energy supplements or energy drinks work best for you.

Have a great night!

Sandy Huard, President, Women's Health Supply International