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Tested Natural Weight Loss Supplements, Part 1
With obesity an increasing problem in the U.S., today we'll begin looking at supplements that can help. All of these are over-the-counter, natural substances you should be able to get at your local health food store or online. And, each of these supplements show effectiveness in clinical studies.
You'll learn about the unique properties of each so you can identify those that seem most useful to your unique situation. If you have questions about any of these, please feel free to email me. I'll do my best to help you sort out the best choices for you.
Because there are so many that have proven benefits, today's article only includes half of them. We'll cover the rest in the next issue.
Here is the first batch of proven weight loss supplements:
- HCA (hydroxycitric acid): extracted from tamarind fruit rind, HCA blocks an enzyme that triggers fatty acids, cholesterol and triglyceride formation. It also lowers blood levels of leptin (the substance that triggers hunger), while increasing serotonin and fat oxidation. In addition, it increases glycogen production, helping increase your feeling of "fullness." It's so effective at this, that study participants taking HCA ate up to 30% less food at every meal.
- MCT (medium chain triglycerides): These are saturated fatty acids found naturally in coconut and butter. They help your body burn more calories - up to 25-30% more. They lead to a drop in LDL (bad) cholesterol and reduction in body fat. And you thought butter was bad for you!
- Green and oolong tea extract: One of the antioxidants in green tea is EGCG. Studies indicate this substance may prevent cancer, high blood pressure, and diabetes. At the same time, it also reduces body fat and keeps you from making more. Studies show that EGCG supplements increase calorie-burning up to 180 calories a day.
- CLA (conjugated linolenic acid): The June 2004 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition presented a study of 180 healthy, overweight men and women who were given either CLA or a placebo for one year. On average the CLA group lost 5 pounds of fat and gained 2 pounds of firming muscle - without diet or exercise. Not bad for 'just' a supplement...
- Chromium: Twenty-five years of research shows that taking supplements of this trace mineral improves the insulin system, which regulates blood sugar levels. With enough chromium, muscle cells can make muscle, there's less extra sugar to be stored as fat, and excess fat can be burned as fuel. In a study, women who took chromium lost 84% of their weight as fat, while women not taking the supplements lost 92% of their weight as muscle.
The Catch
Of course there is a catch to all this: if you sit on the couch all day eating ice cream and cake, it won't matter how many of these supplements you take. You've got to get up and move as well.
In the next part of this article we'll go over 5 additional natural weight loss supplements.
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