The Top 6 Vitamins For Weight Loss
Weight loss is a common goal for many individuals, but achieving it can be challenging due to various factors such as food cravings, constipation, stress, lack of sleep, and slow metabolism.
Despite the common belief that weight loss requires a strong will, these issues can actually impede progress.
In this article, we will explore six vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and herbs that can aid in weight loss by addressing these obstacles.
By taking digestive enzymes and bile, consuming vitamin B-complex, increasing intake of potassium and magnesium, adding L-tryptophan to your bedtime routine, and using apple cider vinegar and chromium, individuals can support their bodies in burning and eliminating fat more efficiently.
It is important to note that this information is intended for educational purposes only and individuals should consult with their doctor regarding any medical concerns.
Digestive Enzymes (with Bile)
You can take 1-2 capsules of digestive enzymes before each meal, to improve your body’s ability to burn fat, and digest foods more effectively.
Make sure that your chosen brand contains ox bile or bile salts in the ingredients list. Many people struggle with digestive problems as they age, such as acid reflux, indigestion, constipation, gallbladder problems and liver disease. Digestive enzymes & bile can help to support your digestive system in breaking down fats from your food and your stored body fat, and majorly reduce bloating. Allowing you to absorb more nutrients and speed up your metabolism for faster weight loss.
Vitamin B (Complex)
If you suffer from stress, or you have severe cravings for junk foods when you’re on diet, then you may need to load up on B vitamins.
B vitamins, especially B1, B12 and B9 are important as they are used to form chemical reactions in your cells, that converts stored body fat into useable energy so that you can burn it as fuel. They help you to feel more satisfied and less likely to overeat or crave more food than you need. Many people are deficient in B vitamins because they eat too many refined foods, or they are under a lot of stress.
I recommend eating 3 tablespoons of nutritional yeast (unfortified) on a daily basis, which is the best natural source of B vitamins. This is a deactivated yeast which has a very cheesy and nutty flavour and can be added to soups, yoghurts, salads, curries or stir-fries.
I also recommend eating seafood at least twice per week including wild salmon, mussels, crab meat and shellfish, as these are rich in blood-building Vitamin B12. If you’re finding this information helpful please hit the like button, subscribe and turn on all notifications to stay updated with my latest health and nutrition tips.
Potassium & Magnesium (Electrolytes)
Most people do not consume enough vegetables nowadays to meet their potassium and magnesium requirements. This can cause your blood sugars to fluctuate, leaving you dizzy, weak and tired between meals. These two minerals are called electrolytes, as they help your cells make electrical energy and balance the fluids inside your body. You can take 1-2 teaspoons of a high-quality electrolyte powder in 16oz of water daily, to help speed up your weight loss, and flush out excess water in your body (edema).
Make sure that your chosen brand contains at least 1000mg of potassium citrate and 120mg of magnesium citrate.
I also recommend adding 1/4 a teaspoon of sea salt to your drink as you need more sodium when you’re losing weight. These minerals help to stabilize your blood sugars, improve fat-burning metabolism and reduce fat storage hormones (insulin & leptin). The best way to get these minerals however is naturally by eating leafy green vegetables like broccoli, brussels sprouts, salad veggies, cabbage and especially avocados.
L-Tryptophan
Did you know that you burn more fat off your body in delta wave sleep than you do whilst you are awake?
If you struggle to sleep at night, you live in a state of stress or you don’t get at least 8 hours, you will find it much harder to lose weight. Sleep is important to help reset and balance out your hormones each day. If you wish you can take a supplement containing 250mg of l-tryptophan, 45 minutes before you go to bed, on an empty stomach.
This is an amino acid which crosses the blood-brain barrier and is converted into serotonin (“happy hormone”), and melatonin (“sleep hormone”). This will help you to get more sleep, lose more weight, and improve your mood the following day.
This will improve your motivation and “willpower” as a bonus. Try to sleep more if possible, even if this involves taking a nap, or going to bed an hour earlier each night.
Trace Minerals (Zn, Cr, Se, I)
Many of the soils that we grow our food in have now been depleted of trace minerals because of over-farming and the use of chemical herbicides. The chemicals used (such as glyphosate), bind to the minerals and make them unavailable to the plants, fruits and vegetables.
However we need these trace minerals in very tiny amounts in our bodies to help us transport fuel (insulin) and support our thyroid glands (metabolism).
To put these minerals back into your body and speed up weight loss, I recommend eating sea foods like sea kelp, clams, mussels, nori, shrimp, kombu, Irish moss etc..
The sea is still rich in these minerals, so we can easily obtain them from sea foods. Alternatively you can purchase liquid trace mineral drops and put 20 drops in a glass of water every day.
Turmeric (with Black Pepper)
Lastly I’d like to talk about a herbal remedy, turmeric with black pepper. Turmeric is a golden-coloured spice, which has been used for thousands of years for its amazing healing properties, and is well known today for its ability to aid weight loss.
If you wish you take can 2000mg of powdered turmeric in capsules 2x per day with a meal to speed up your metabolism and lower inflammation throughout your body. Turmeric contains an natural active ingredient called curcumin, which supports your pancreas in regulating insulin levels for faster weight loss.
Studies show us that curcumin and turmeric can increase your BMR, allowing you to burn more calories just simply being alive and at rest. So start taking turmeric capsules, or adding turmeric powder to your cooking. Eating a little fat and also black pepper helps your body to absorb the curcumin more effectively. Try to get as many of these nutrients into your diet as you can, preferably getting them from food sources and supplement when necessary.
Now that you’ve learned about some of the top vitamins for weight loss, let’s explore 6 lifestyle tips you can use to maximise your weight loss, no matter what diet you are following.
How To Lose Weight Fast
1. Cut back on refined and starchy foods that contain sugar, flour or grains such as breads, cereals, pancakes, biscuits, cakes, pasta, rice and potatoes. These turn into blood sugar (glucose) very quickly and prevent you from burning body fat.
2. Replace these with nutrient dense whole foods such as avocados, wild salmon, sardines, grass fed beef, pasture raised eggs and chicken, broccoli, brussels sprouts, seaweed, cabbage, sauerkraut, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds etc.
The key is to eat REAL foods, rather than processed. Try to use organic produce and grass fed meats when you can, as these contain more nutrients that will nourish your body and satisfy your cravings.
3. Practise timed eating. Eat all of your calories for the day in a 5 hour window, fasting for the remaining 19 hours. This boosts (HGH) growth hormone by up to 2000%, the main fat burning hormone that also helps you to build muscle.
You can still eat the same amount of food you normally would in a day, just do it in this shorter window to notice some fast weight loss results.
4. Remove inflammatory oils from your diet especially vegetable oils: canola, cottonseed, corn, soy or processed olive oil.
These damage the liver and cause fat to accumulate inside, which slows your thyroid and makes you gain weight. Instead switch to healthy fats like avocado oil, raw coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil when cooking your home made delicious meals.
5. Practice high intensity interval training 1-2 times per week to further boost human growth hormone and speed up the metabolism. Make sure to get lots of rest between workouts, as we burn the most body fat whilst resting.
6. Improve your delta wave sleep by going to bed an hour earlier. Make the room darker by turning off all devices and artificial lights. Make the room slightly cooler if you can, and practise breathing more deeply to drift off.
After doing this for only 1-2 weeks you will soon notice how your cravings diminish, your weight loss improves and you feel better in yourself overall.