Top 10 weight loss supplements
(1) Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA), "the universal antioxidant," is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory found inside of the energy producing portion of the cell known as the mitochondria. Alpha lipoic acid enhances ability to metabolize food into energy. --- (2) DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol) is a naturally occurring nutritional substance with powerful anti-inflammatory properties, found in fish. DMAE is important in the production of neurotransmitters. Taking DMAE as a supplement boosts cognitive functions and increases skin firmness and muscle tone - important for anyone on a weight loss or anti-aging program. (huffingtonpost.com)
Supplements that support Weight-Loss
Though a low-cal diet with exercise can result weight-loss, these practices can also drain bodies of the vitamins and minerals we not only need, but are required to compliment weight loss plans. Taking 100 mg of 7-Keto twice daily may increase weight-loss in those who work out at least 3 times a week for 45 minutes and have a daily caloric intake of 1,800 calories, a study showed. Participants (type-2 diabetes and no dietary restrictions) who took 750 mg of 5-HTP per day for two weeks, saw their carb and fat intake decrease. 5-HTP helps inhibit serotonin, which suppress the appetite and thus 5-HTP may also work in controlling appetite. (naturalproductsmarketplace.com)
How to Control Your Most Powerful Weight Loss Hormone
If you are overweight there is a good chance you are generating way too much insulin, "the fat storing hormone," after meals. The more insulin enters bloodstream after a meal, the more fat tissue will be stored after that meal. One trick to keep insulin levels low is to eat a small amount of "monounsaturated fat" before meals. It is found in many foods, but we recommend eating about 1 teaspoon of natural peanut butter with every meal. When you eat this type of unsaturated fat it slows up the absorption of carbohydrates, which has the same effect as eating fiber. (americanchronicle)
Does Calcium Aid in Weight Loss?
You might have seen ads that drinking milk every day can help you lose weight. Or that eating several servings of yogurt a day will burn off fat. Is that true - Can calcium really aid in weight loss efforts? In a study, two groups were put on the same reduced-calorie diet. One group was told to take an 800mg calcium supplement every day. Group that took the calcium supplements lost more weight and burned off more fat, and did both faster, than those who didn't take the calcium supplements. Calcium is not a magic pill, but it can boost weight loss results. (americanchronicle)
Fullness hormone amylin may boost weight loss
A fullness hormone called amylin may help obese people eat less and lose weight without feeling hungry. Study focuses on a diabetes drug called Symlin - a synthetic version of the fullness hormone amylin. During the study, participants in the Symlin group lost 4.5 pounds, while those in the placebo group maintained their weight. (webmd)
Study finds Calcium may prevent weight gain
Daily calcium supplements may have an added benefit for older women besides slowing bone loss: preventing weight gain. Postmenopausal women who took calcium and Vitamin D supplements gained slightly less weight than those who did not, and appeared better able to manage their weight over a 7-year period, researchers reported in a study. "Postmenopausal women should be taking calcium anyway to prevent bone loss and weight gain prevention appears to be an added benefit," said Dr. Bette Caan. The benefits were slight, but statistically significant. (-)
Confusing multivitamin
While many studies suggest multivitamin supplementation can reduce the risk of various diseases, other studies say that they may be toxic at higher levels. Be aware of the quality of ingredients. Laws in different countries differ with respect to how vitamins may be manufactured and distributed. In the US supplement manufacturers are not required to adhere to a pharmaceutical level of testing. This means sometimes bottles are produced where the ingredients do not match the label claims. There are consumer groups that test and rate vitamins to help determine which adhere to the label claims. (ameinfo)
Low-salt diet : Excessive salt may be hard on the heart
The highest-quality study to date on the link between a low-salt diet and heart health confirms what many doctors have long suspected: For a healthy heart, you should cut back on your salt. The new study showed that even in people whose blood pressure was not excessively high, putting down the salt shaker could have heart benefits. The occurrence of heart attack, death caused by heart disease were reduced by 25%-30% in those following a low-salt diet. (abclocal)
Eating garlic, raw or supplement, does not cut cholesterol levels
There has been a belief that garlic could help, supported by lab and animal studies. But a comparison of raw garlic and two garlic supplements in Archives of Internal Medicine found none of the 3 had any effect. Garlic has been used for thousands of years in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Allicin, a compound in garlic, has been shown to prevent the formation of cholesterol in animal studies and studies in humans also suggested there could be benefits - but those studies were poorly designed, and did not provide conclusive proof. (bbc)
Diet scoop: 6 promising supplements, 6 to avoid
Caffeine: What it is: The wake-you-up chemical in coffee appears to be the most effective weight-loss ingredient. Why try it: A stimulant, caffeine speeds up metabolism and can ward off listlessness from dieting. It may suppress appetite and boost the power of other weight-loss ingredients. Why not: More than 400mg per day (3-4 cups of coffee) won't help you lose more weight and could bring on headaches and insomnia. --- EGCG, green tea's main antioxidant: Why try it: EGCG appears to boost metabolism. Why not: EGCG has no risks, but the caffeine in green tea may lead to jitters. (cnn)
Calcium plus vitamin D help cholesterol levels during weight loss
A combination of calcium plus vitamin D during weight loss in overweight women could improve blood cholesterol levels. Researchers recruited 63 women with an average BMI and assigned them to either a daily calcium (600 mg) plus vitamin D (200 IU) supplement for 15 weeks. Calcium has been linked to weight loss, but the results are inconsistent. "Consumption of calcium + D during a weight-loss intervention enhanced the beneficial effect of body weight loss on the lipid and lipoprotein profile in overweight or obese women with usual low daily calcium intake." (foodproductiondaily)