As a trainer I’m constantly asked about what supplements are the best… particularly for fat loss. Now I’m always a little leery of products with terms like “shredd”…”thermoboost”…”lipozene”…etc. The reality is that many supplement companies do an effective job at marketing their product as the miracle breakthrough to monumental fat loss…the holy grail if you will. While some of these products may be effective and produce some results, you can never be sure they will. Why? Well first, the supplement industry is not regulated in the U.S. The FDA has the following statement on their website:
“The FDA does not analyze supplement products before they are sold to consumers. The manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that the ingredient list is accurate and the ingredients are safe. They are also required to make sure that the content matches the amount declared on the label. FDA does not have adequate resources to analyze dietary products sent by consumers who want to know their content. Instead, consumers may contact the manufacturer or commercial laboratory.”
In other words, there is no guarantee the product has the purity and potency as advertised. In fact, consumerlab states that only around 30% of supplements on the market actually do meet the criteria.
Regardless of the stats, a “fat burner” isn’t necessarily the right solution in most cases. Where most people fall short is with their nutrition in general. With that being said, “supplementing” where we are lacking makes more sense. That’s not to say that we shouldn’t strive to improve our eating, but rather include supplements on the days were our nutrition is less than ideal.
Now with that being said, here are the five supplements that I recommend to consider for regular consumption.
Multivitamin*
Food Equivalent: Varied Diet
As many of us are marginally deficient in several micro-nutrients, multivitamins should be taken everyday. Especially if you are eating at a caloric deficit to lose body fat (increase nutrients without calories). Take with meals, daily, or on days where dietary intake is lacking.
Fish Oil Supplement*
Food Equivalent: Fatty fish such as salmon
Traditionally Omega 3s were taken primarily to help improve cardiovascular health, but recent research has shown that the benefits go well beyond improving heart function. Omega 3 supplementation has been shown to:
- Improve nervous system and boost immune health
- Increase fat metabolism and improve weight loss
- Decrease risk of diabetes and certain cancers
- Improve blood pressure
- Improve function for those with inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia
- Aid in workout recovery
- Improve mood and decrease symptoms of depression.
- Improve airway dilation
Much of the available whole-food fish supply contains environmental pollutants. As a result, fish oil supplements should likely be taken every day while reducing fish intake to “occasional.”
Take with meals, daily. High Omega 3 content; should contain at least 30% EPA and DHA. Generally recommended dose is 2000-3000 mg. Though according to consumerlab as high as 9 g per day can be recommended in some cases. Consult with your health care professional to determine which is the optimal dose for you.
Greens Supplement*: Green food blend high in antioxidants, strongly alkaline and vitamin/mineral rich
Food Equivalent: Vegetables, Fruits
Use in circumstances when vegetable and fruits are inaccessible. Frequency depends on fruit and vegetable intake: If vegetable and fruit intake is high (up to 10 servings/day), supplement use will be infrequent. If fruit intake is low, supplement use should be daily or more frequent.
Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs)*: are naturally occurring molecules (leucine, isoleucine, and valine) that the body uses to build proteins. The term “branched chain” refers to the molecular structure of these particular amino acids. Muscles have a particularly high content of BCAAs.
Food Source: Any protein-rich food
BCAAs are thought to aid in improving muscle recovery and minimizing muscle delayed onset muscle soreness, though research has yielded mixed results. However, during high-intensity exercise sessions when fat loss and muscle preservation is desired, supplemented is warranted and recommended.
Green Tea*: contains high levels of substances called catechin polyphenols, known to possess strong antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antitumorigenic, and even antibiotic properties. Based on these findings, as well as observational studies green tea has become popular as a daily drink for preventing cancer and heart disease.
Green tea is often thought to boost metabolism as well. While there are some studies that support this claim, other reviews have been mixed.
Recommended dosage is around 1-3 cups per day. However, green tea does contain caffeine and may conflict with certain medications. Consult with your health care professional prior to consumption.
*Sources:
Berardi J & Andrews R. The Essentials of Sport and Exercise Nutrition 2nd Edition 2012
www.consumerlab.com
For additional information or more details regarding individual supplements please visit:
www.consumerlab.com
www.dietarysupplementu.com
Most of us know the value and benefit of taking a multivitamin. Today’s food lacks the amount of nutrients our bodies need day in and day out. Supplementing with a multivitamin can obviously help minimize deficiencies we may have. And while a multivitamin should be a staple in almost everyone’s diet, an additional supplement that should be regarded as equally importance is an Omega 3. Omega 3 also known as linolenic acid, is a polyunsaturated fat and is part of the “healthy fat” family. Supplementing with Omega 3 and consuming healthy fats helps improve our cellular function be keeping the cells fluid and more pliable. In contrast, high amounts of saturated fats (animal fats) and trans fatty acids found in processed foods diminishes function by making our cells hard and rigid, Omega 3 consumption can make it easier to balance things out in our body.
Traditionally Omega 3s were taken primarily to help improve cardiovascular health, but recent research has shown that the benefits go well beyond improving heart function. Omega 3 supplementation has been shown to:
- Improve nervous system and boost immune health
- Increase fat metabolism and improve weight loss
- Decrease risk of diabetes and certain cancers
- Improve blood pressure
- Improve function for those with inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia
- Aid in workout recovery
- Improve mood and decrease symptoms of depression.
- Improve airway dilation
You can see why many doctors, therapists, and nutritional experts are so fond of Omega 3s. While many fatty acids can be synthesized by our own body, Omega 3 must be obtained through diet and supplementation. Foods high in Omega 3 include; walnuts, hemp seeds, fish (wild salmon, light tuna, shrimp, etc.), chia seeds, flax (Ground or Oil), soy nuts, olive oil. Try to add at least ½ -1 serving to each meal/snack throughout the day. In addition to food, it is recommended to take a daily Omega 3 supplement as well. The minimum recommended daily amount is generally 2-3g per day in either liquid or capsule form. However, research has shown as high as 9-10g/day may be recommended in certain cases. Consult with your physician to determine the correct dosage for you and start reaping the benefits of this super supplement!
Additional Resources:
Sources:
“The Essentials of Sports and Exercise Nutrition, 2nd Edition – John Berardi, PhD; Ryan Andrews, MS, MA, RD
There are so many diets out there. Paleo, Atkins, The Zone Diet, Eating for your blood type, etc. Each author will make a sound argument for the benefits of their approach, while critics will continue to point out their shortcomings. Now I’m not here to decipher or breakdown the pros and cons of each. Most plans are effective in helping the dieter to create a negative energy balance. In other words, consuming less calories than they burn, resulting in weight loss. But there is not a “one sized fits all” approach when it comes to nutrition. Many factors like genetics, environment, food allergies, and daily energy demands will influence how an individual responds to dietary intake. A weekend warrior training for a triathlon will usually have a higher need for carbohydrates, while an office worker who hasn’t been physically active for five years may require lower amounts of carbohydrates and a higher intake of proteins and healthy fats. But regardless of individual differences and nutritional needs the biggest challenge most people face is consistency. And the journey towards ideal health and body weight ultimately comes down to behavior change. Let’s face it…change is hard! Especially when it comes to nutrition! People overestimate how difficult it is and underestimate how long it will take. Numerous studies show that people are typically most successful when they limit their change to one behavior at a time before introducing a new one. But introduce even two new behaviors at once, and the failure rate is nearly 100%. With that being said, outlined below are several nutritional habits everyone can benefit from. Assess which habits you need to work on implementing most, pick one and put all of your focus and effort into it for the next 3-4 weeks. Once it becomes second nature, then you are ready to introduce the next one. Remember to be patient! The goal is permanent change…one step at a time.
Slow Down! Many of us eat way too fast. It takes about 20 minutes for our sensation of fullness to kick in. The pathway from our stomach, to our brain, and back is long. If you eat too quickly, you are more likely to overeat by the time your brain can communicate it’s time to stop. The long term goal should be taking 15-20 minutes to consume each meal. I know this may be too ambitious for a lot of us and that’s okay! Just by slowing down by 1-2 minutes can make a big difference. From there you can work towards the 15-20 minute goal.
Stop Eating at 80% Fullness: Rather than eating to the point of fullness, focus on eating until you are no longer hungry. In conjunction with slowing down, this again will allow plenty of time for your brain to communicate that it’s time to end the meal. Many benefits come of this, including better overall appetite cues, improved digestion, and increased performance with your workouts as well.
Eat every 2-4 hours: When you go prolonged periods without any food, your body goes into conservation mode simply because it doesn’t know when the next meal is coming. As a result, the body holds onto any excess fat storage which a lot of people would prefer do without. By eating smaller and more frequent meals this will keep your metabolism running at higher levels throughout the day and is more likely to let go of the extra stores.
Eat Fruits and/or Vegetables with Each Meal: There is a good reason why mothers harp on their children to eat their fruits and veggies! Nutrient dense and low in calories, fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins, minerals, and actually help buffer the body’s acidic response to protein and grains. One medium sized fruit, ½ cup of raw chopped fruit or vegetables, and 1 cup of raw, leafy vegetables each equal one serving. Aim for 1-2 servings per meal.
Eat “Quality” Carbohydrates: Cut back on the processed, sugary carbs like juice, white flour, muffins, etc and focus your efforts on eating more whole food and fiber rich carbs. This includes a mix of vegetables, beans, legumes, whole grain breads and pastas, quinoa, long grain rice, etc. Typically, vegetables, beans, legumes, and most fruit can be consumed often and at any time of the day. For breads, pasta, and rice, ideally these should be consumed after workouts or physical activity, especially if fat loss is a goal. Primarily this is because the body has its highest tolerance of carbohydrates post-workout than any other time. This will help refuel the body without any carbohydrate “spill over” into fat storage.
Include Protein Dense Foods & Health Fats: Up to1 serving (20-30g) for women and 2 servings for men (40-60 g) should be included with each meal. A portion size of protein is visually about the size of the palm of your hand. Protein dense foods include lean meats such as ground beef, chicken, turkey, bison. Other great protein sources include salmon, tuna, eggs, cottage cheese, tofu, beans, etc. Also, a mixture of fats should also be part of a balanced diet. Vitamins A, D, E, and K, are critical to optimal human function, and can only be absorbed by the body with adequate fat in our diet. Eating a variety of meats, cheeses, nuts, olive oil, and a fish oil supplement are all great ways to getting our daily dose of fat.
Don’t forget to exercise! Of course this goes without saying! Strive for 5 hours of physical activity every week for optimal health and to aid in weight loss. Remember to include a combination of cardiovascular and strength training. Now get out, get active and work on eating healthier…one habit at a time!
For more individual recommendations, healthy recipes, and all other additional information etc, please refer to the list of resources provided below.
References:
Berardi, J, Andrews R. The Essentials of Sport and Exercise Nutrition. Second Edition Pn Inc. 2012
Additional Resources:
www.healthykitchensmakeover.com
We often forget about how important water is to exercise performance and weight loss. We work much harder at finding the right foods and the most effective exercise routine than we do in remembering to drink enough water.
Water plays a crucial role and is involved with practically every function in the human body. It cools the body down during exercise (even when it’s cold outside), carries nutrients to cells, helps digest food, lubricates joints, affects hormone regulation, and is the main component of blood.
Proper water intake is also a key component for weight loss. Fat metabolism simply does not occur at an optimal rate when we are chronically dehydrated. Even new research has shown that increasing water intake can be an effective weight loss tool. Dr. Brenda Davy, a registered dietitian, and colleagues at Virginia Tech found that dieters who drank two cups of water before meals lost an average of five pounds more than dieters who didn’t increase their water intake.
A lack of water also can hinder exercise performance. This is primarily because of a reduction in cardiovascular output, metabolic reactions and an increase in core temperature.
In other words, water can make or break a successful workout. As a general rule, 24 to 32 ounces of water should be consumed two hours before exercise, 4 to 8 ounces every 15 minutes during exercise, and a minimum of 24 ounces after exercise.
TIPS AND GUIDELINES FOR PROPER WATER INTAKE
Daily intake: Current research from the Institute of Medicine found that the average water loss per day was nine cups for women and 13 cups for men, which also is the minimum daily recommendation for each.
You’ve already likely heard this but still do it: Don’t rely on thirst as an indicator. By the time you’re thirsty your body has already lost 1.5 to 2.0 liters! Try sipping 4 to 8 ounces per hour throughout the day.
Out of sight, out of mind: It’s easy to forget about drinking water. Try keeping a water bottle at your desk or work station. The more visible it is, the more likely you’ll be consistent with your daily consumption.
Eat your fruits and vegetables: 19 percent of our fluid intake comes from food. Fruits and vegetables are water-dense and are great for getting additional hydration. Plus, they are packed with nutrients, high in fiber, and low in calories, which also can help you lose weight.

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