A-Z natural weight loss Articles

Discover supplements and lifestyle changes to help you lose weight, naturally. Here are 14 natural weight loss tips that can jump-start your healthy lifestyle.

Top Natural Weight Loss Supplements & Tips

The right supplements can support healthy metabolism, appetitie control, and energy production during a weight management program. These weight loss tips highlight natural options that may help support your health and wellness goals.

Adrenal Supplements

What do adrenal glands have to do with me losing weight, anyway? Well, even though they are the small glands on the upper pole of each kidney, these small glands help you manage stress, produce sex hormones and are responsible for water balance in the body, meaning – if they're out of whack, your body is going to have a hard time losing weight. In fact, signs that you are suffering from adrenal exhaustion are weight gain, fatigue, changes in mood, gut disorders, and low sex drive. Adrenal supplements (also called Adaptogens) can help to balance unhealthy cortisol levels, improve energy, and support healthy weight loss. A great way to jump-start your healthy lifestyle and see results!

Fibre Supplements

Shed yourself of unwanted waste, or water weight. Mostly known as Konjac root, or glucomannan, it is a supplement that absorbs water as it travels through the digestive tract. It increases the bulk of stool, also meaning it provides a better signal to the colon that there is waste to remove. Taken with food, konjac effectively slows the release of the sugars in our food, which leads to faster satiety, and allows the body more time to burn the calories they contain off as energy instead of storing them as body fat. This makes it a helpful aid for reducing the glycemic load of foods. Konjac root is especially indicated for diabetics or people who have constipation. It's a great way to help keep things moving regularly!

Green Tea, Green Coffee Bean & Raspberry Ketones

Add green tea to your daily routine for weight management and overall health. Green tea contains cetechins that may support metabolism and weight loss. Research shows catechins can promote modest weight loss and weight maintenance. Green tea also contains L-theanine, an amino acid that supports focus and mental alertness. It may also support cardiovascular health and overall wellness.

Green coffee bean extract comes from unroasted coffee beans. It contains chlorogenic acid, which may influence glucose and fat metabolism. Some research suggests it may support healthy weight management when combined with lifestyle changes. Many people take green coffee bean extract before meals with water. Always follow the product label or your healthcare practitioner's recommendations.

Raspberry Ketones are said to “trick your body into acting like it's thin” - this supplement has become a household name among health nuts thanks to everyone's favourite daytime doctor, Dr. Oz. By increasing levels of a hormone called adiponectin (a hormone that is naturally higher in people who are thin) it helps to regulate your metabolism. It is said that this pill can help promote weight loss while following a healthy diet and exercise plan! Seeing as it would be impossible to eat 90lbs of raspberries per day to get the recommended dosage that Dr. Oz recommends, it is easier to take a Raspberry Ketone supplement. Just keep in mind, there is still little research on this 'weight-loss miracle', so it is best to use it in moderation, and with self awareness.

Fatty Acids

CLA is perfect for those looking to boost weight-loss and make exercising more tolerable. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is an essential fatty acid, which means it must be taken in through our diet as the body has no way of producing it. CLA is responsible for moving dietary fats into cells; it also moves sugar into cells so that it can be used to make energy, and not stored as fat. Other benefits of taking CLA is it's enhancement in your immune system via its potent antioxidant action, and its ability to decrease fat, improve muscle tone and increase lean muscle mass – overall, increasing your tolerance and/or length of time for exercise.

Protein Supplements

Many think protein is only important when you are trying to bulk up, and gain a bunch of muscle like many of those bulging weight lifters you see. But truth be told, protein gets your body working as soon as it's consumed, sending your metabolism into high gear to break it down. The key is lean protein, and it is a vital step to keeping your body from losing fat, while not taking the muscle with it. Protein supplements are a great way to make sure you get all your recommended protein daily, as shakes range from 10g to 45g of protein per scoop. Look for protein supplements that are 'complete proteins' and contain all nine of the amino acids, if you can. Also, be sure to avoid unnecessary fillers and look for high-quality, clean products.

Lifestyle Tips For Weight Loss

Healthy habits create the foundation for long-term success and sustainable results. These weight loss tips focus on exercise, nutrition, and hormone balance to support a healthy metabolism.

Workout Routines

Workout routines are one of the top weight loss tips because it works. While sticking to the same workout routine may be convenient for your brain, your body eventually suffers. Yes, it is better than doing nothing; however, after a few months of doing the same routine, your body will consume less energy; this is sometimes referred to as muscle memory. This can easily results in the dreaded weight loss plateau. Changing it up will continually challenge your body, and it will burn more calories, giving you the results you're looking for. You can choose to do this in two ways: the intensity of the workout or the type of workout. Incorporating pilates and circuits (much like that of CrossFit) is a great way to keep your body guessing. If you're a runner, perhaps something as small as adding a few sprints, running up steeper hills, or even changing your route could give you better results.

Diet

Smaller Meals, More Often: Try eating five to six smaller meals daily instead of thress large meals. This approach helps regulate blood sugar and control cravings. It may also reduce hunger and support healthy metabilism. Include protein, fiber, and healthy fats in each meal.

Blood Sugar Balancing: Balanced blood sugar supports energy, hormone health, and healthy weight management. Eat every three hours when possible. Divide your plate into protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates. Choose lower-glycemic foods to help maintain stable blood sugar levels. Avoid restrictive fad diets that can disrupt metabolic balance.

Eat Breakfast: Start your day with a balanced breakfast. Breakfast helps regulate metabolism, appetitie, and energy levels. It may also reduce late-night snacking and overeating later. Choose nutrient-dense foods instead of sugary breakfast options.

Food Sensitivities/Intolerance: Food sensitivities can trigger inflammation and affect digestion. They may also reduce energy and make weight management more difficult. Common signs include bloating, fluid retention, IBS, eczema, migraines, fatigue, hives, and asthma. Keep a food journal to identify patterns. Consult a healthcare practitioner if symptoms persist.

Portion Control: Portion control supports healthy eating withouth extreme restriction. Avoid skipping meals, as it can increase hunger later. Measure portions to better understand serving sizes. Build balanced meals with vegetables, protein, and healthy carbs. Consistent portion control can support long-term weight management success.

Hormone Health

Hormone Balancing: If you are truly doing all the right things and still struggling to lose weight or keep it off, then your hormones may be at play. While this whole balancing of hormones for healthy weight-loss may be new to you, it is in no way an unfounded correlation. Hormones control every aspect of weight-loss, including your metabolism, where fat is stored, appetite and even cravings. Something as simple as having excess belly fat can indicate you have high estrogen, low testosterone, low DHEA (a hormone of the adrenal glands, see above), high insulin or high cortisol (stress hormone). Having an underactive thyroid (hypothyroid) can also make it very difficult to lose weight. There are supplements that can help you; you just have to ask. It's best to find out which one of these you may be suffering from by consulting your Naturopathic doctor.