Take It Off :: Weight Loss

Take It Off

’Tis the season for vowing to strip off those extra pounds you’ve been accumulating. A natural approach to weight loss that combines behaviour modification, healthy, controlled eating, daily exercise, and weight-loss support supplements is your best bet for success.

Here are two of the most basic and fundamental natural weight-loss supplements that will help make you a happy loser.

Fantastic Fibre from Japan

The regular inclusion of a traditional fibre from Japan, konjac mannan (also called glucomannan) is especially effective as part of a complete and balanced permanent weight-loss plan.

Glucomannan fibre has been shown to decrease and control appetite by expanding in the stomach, thereby creating the sensation of fullness.

A review published in the journal Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine (November 2005) summarized existing studies on the use of glucomannan for weight loss. The authors of the review reported that at doses of 2 to 4 g per day, glucomannan was “well tolerated and resulted in significant weight loss in overweight and obese individuals.”

The Medical Science Monitor, an international medical journal of experimental and clinical research, reported in January 2005 that glucomannan-based fibre supplements induced significantly greater weight reduction than placebo and diet alone during a five-week period.

For the best results, choose a purified glucomannan fibre blend from a reputable Canadian company.

Protein Power

Just because media reports of the high-protein craze are tapering off, don’t discount the power of protein when it comes to losing fat, building muscle, and combatting food cravings. Once the main staple of bodybuilders, protein powders are now recognized for their role in successful weight loss. These concentrated proteins are now made from a wide range of sources including whey, soy, fermented soy, rice, hemp, peas and other legumes, and flax.

When choosing a protein powder, look for one that is low in calories, fats, and carbohydrates, and high in protein. Read labels closely, taking care to avoid artificial sweeteners and high-fructose corn sweeteners. Fortunately, many enlightened supplement companies are now offering unsweetened or stevia-sweetened protein powders. (If you opt for a balanced meal replacement powder, it will naturally be higher in calories, fats, and carbs in order to meet all of the Canadian standards for a meal replacement.)

Enjoy your slimmer, healthier self!

Craving Stoppers

Giving into cravings can sabotage your weight-loss success. Include some or all of these natural-source craving controllers in your slimming program.

bitter melon (Momordica charantia)–Follow dosage recommendations on the label.
chromium GTF (glucose tolerance factor)–Take between 200 and 1,000 mcg daily.
green tea–Drink three cups daily.
magnesium–A daily intake of 400 mg magnesium citrate, chelate, or glycinate is recommended.
prickly pear (Opuntia spp.)–Follow dosage recommendations on the label.
omega-3–Take at least 1,000 mg daily from fish, flax, or hemp sources.

Source: alive #303, January 2008

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