Whether you decide to try to lose weight the old fashioned way, or you prefer to experiment with popular diets that hit the market, make sure that you get all the necessary vitamins and minerals for proper body functioning. A nutritional boost is always welcome, even if you try to eat as healthy as possible. On the other hand, if you are on a diet that cuts essential food groups, vitamin supplements are necessary to be able to avoid nutritional imbalances that might ultimately make you sick. If you would like to go beyond the one multivitamin a day concept, here are a few vitamins that you might want to focus your attention on:
B vitamins The vitamins from the B complex have a multitude of functions through the body. While you might think that vegetarians and vegans might have to worry more about their B vitamin intake, these vitamins can be an invaluable as they can provide an important energy boost. Here are the B vitamins that can create a positive impact in terms of weight loss:
Vitamin B6 has an important role in metabolizing fats and regulating thyroid. While the correlation between the first function and weight loss can be easily understood, many people might be unaware of the fact that thyroid problems are one of the causes of weight gain. Moreover, increasing your intake of vitamin B6 will also speed up your metabolism, thus helping you burn more calories. Natural sources of B vitamins are whole grains, bananas, dried fruit, molasses, avocados or chicken.
Biotin(Vitamin H) is a vitamin from the B complex that is also crucial when it comes to weight loss, as it ensures proper enzyme functioning, while also balancing blood sugar levels. In addition to preventing energy highs and lows, this vitamin can also make it easier to resist sugary snacks that might seem a good choice when trying to beat afternoon slumps. Good natural sources are eggs (great source of choline, another essential nutrient for weight loss), beans, nuts or Swiss chard.
Vitamin D This vitamin has received a great deal of attention lately after it was discovered that this vitamin has a lot more health benefits than it was previously thought. And, while more researches need to be done in order to determine the exact correlation between vitamin D and weight loss, studies seem to point out the fact that those with higher D vitamin levels were able to lose more weight than those without. Vitamin D and calcium might be an even better combo as calcium is another nutrient that might help weight loss. Good sources of vitamin D are cod liver oil, salmon, mackerel, eggs, fortified foods, cheese and mushrooms.
Vitamins C and E Together, these two vitamins have an important role in fighting free radicals. Both of these vitamins can boost the immune system and fight fatigue. In addition, vitamin C helps the body convert glucose into energy instead of being stored as fat. Vitamin E helps preserve vitamin C, they can be taken together for a greater effect. Incorporate foods such as citric fruits, leafy greens, broccoli, liver, wheat germ oil, berries, watermelon or peas to be able to boost your intake of these two vitamins.
Another supplement that might be beneficial is chromium as it helps reduce sugar cravings and helps process carbohydrates. It can be naturally found in sweet potatoes, corn, seafood, tomatoes or spinach. If you decide to take supplements instead of relying on natural sources, make sure to check with your doctor for the right dosage and precautions. Overdosing on fat soluble vitamins might have unpleasant effects, so make sure that you get the right recommendations for you.
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