The Metabolic Benefits of Supplemental Vitamins
Losing weight is a dream for many. Cutting down to a more desirable size is something that is always on the minds of those who do not feel their lives are the best they can be. However, getting to the size that you’re looking for is a challenge on its own. This tends to result from lifestyle choices that lead to a slowed metabolism.
Metabolism is the rate with which your body will convert anything you eat and drink into energy. This energy, known as glucose, is essential in supporting the functions of your body. When the energy is not used up by the body, it will be stored and hence contribute to weight gain. This means your body will be using fewer calories than what you consume.
As a result, it may look like eating less is the solution, but that could be detrimental to your health, especially if you’re nursing a medical condition.
One part of the weight loss solution is to increase your metabolism, but how can you go about this? A well-balanced diet is mandatory, but if you are on a limited diet, taking some vitamin supplements will help towards achieving a higher metabolism rate as well.
Which vitamins are these?
B Vitamins
These are a group of water-soluble vitamins that play an essential role in fully functional metabolism, especially cell metabolism. Their primary purpose is to help the body process carbohydrates, proteins, and fat. Although they are grouped, they are chemically distinct. Low levels of these B vitamins in the body will mean that your body’s metabolism will not be functioning correctly.
These include:
- Thiamin (B1)
- Riboflavin
- Niacin
- Pantothenic acid
- Pyridoxine
- Biotin
- Folate
- Cobalamin
It is possible to get supplements that contain these eight B vitamins. These are known as B Complex supplements, and they can easily be found at your local drug store or online retailers.
Vitamin B can be found in a wide range of foods, as well. Some good sources include beans, milk, eggs, lean meats, bananas, potatoes, and whole grains.
Vitamin D
It’s little wonder that Superman relies on our sun to give him his superhuman strength. That’s a perfect analogy of how vital vitamin D is to the human body. It boosts protection against infections by helping the immune system. No wonder Superman’s skin is impenetrable.
All you need to do to get vitamin is step into the sunshine and wallow in it. However, this may not be possible for everyone as some live in climates where the sun rarely comes out to play. Others spend too much time indoors and end up missing out on their allotted Vitamin D.
Even though the exact role of vitamin D in weight loss is yet to be discovered, however, a study conducted in 2011 concluded that obese adults taking calcium and vitamin D as supplements did end up losing fat around the stomach, far more than any other group did.
It is not possible to get enough vitamin D from food. It is therefore recommended for one to take Vitamin D supplements. The best source of the vitamin remains a leisurely stroll under the watchful gaze of the sun. If you spend most of your days indoors, it is highly recommended to begin taking vitamin D supplements.
This vitamin can be found in foods such as fish (sardines, tuna, salmon, cod liver oil), fortified cereals, fortified milk products such as yogurts.
As you step out into the blazing smile of the sun, don’t forget to use a healthy amount of sunscreen lest you start looking and moving like The Terminator.
Iron
The very same reason iron is mixed with carbon to make steel is the very same that makes it an essential mineral in the body. Iron is a carrier of oxygen, and this makes it very important for the lifecycle of cells in the body. This is especially true for muscles, as well-oxygenated muscles can do an excellent job of burning fat.
A deficiency of iron in the body can lead to pretty serious effects, such as iron deficiency anemia. This is the most common form of nutritional diseases prevalent in the United States. A deficiency will also lead to decreased athletic performance and even physical endurance.
The body does an excellent job of absorbing iron from meat products than it does from plant-based sources. If you do have to take iron supplements, accompany them with foods that are high in fiber. Iron supplements have been known to be a factor in constipation.
Iron can usually be found in foods such as beans, spinach, lean meats, a number of shellfish, and leafy green vegetables, especially spinach. You can see why Popeye popped open spinach cans on the regular.
Magnesium
This nutrient is known as a silent power with a hand in numerous functions of the body. This makes a deficiency a very serious problem. Magnesium is necessary for the production of energy in the body. Aside from that, it is also required by more than 300 different systems in the body, such as controlling blood sugar, ensuring proper function of the nervous system, and even regulating blood pressure.
Magnesium intake in the United States is below the recommended daily intake. What you can, therefore, do is take supplements to reach the daily requirement. It can be found naturally in foods such as nuts, seeds, leafy green vegetables, and legumes. Snacking on nuts after your workout is one great way to get magnesium.
Do it in moderation, though. Excessive levels of magnesium in the body have been known to cause diarrhea.
Before putting yourself on a course of supplements to help with your weight loss, contact Dr. Kells’ Weight Loss Clinic Salt Lake City. We have a proven system that will help you lose weight and get you to the size you want. We pride ourselves in providing excellent service to each and everyone who contacts us.
Give us a call today!