How to Get Rid of Lower Belly Fat with 3 Weight Loss Supplements?
Over the past three years that I’ve maintained my dietary supplement blog, I have to admit that I’ve made a number of mistakes. First, I’ve never really adhered to a regular posting schedule. Second, I also haven’t been great at replying to comments. Lastly, I’ve probably reverted to write to a less general audience on a number of occasions.
I blame the last part somewhat on my previous experience with writing research papers. Why? Habits that we create can often be difficult to change.
Speaking of habits, engrained habits can be difficult to change, can’t they? On that note, I think that the first step of what you’re doing wrong is to identify the problems. In my case, I’ve identified three things that I hope to improve to make this blog more engaging for my readers. For those who’ve kept track of this blog or read it at some point, please provide feedback or just let me know you’re still here.
Getting back to today’s topic of weight loss. Much like anything else weight gain is a complex issue that encompasses our physical activity level, genetics, dietary habits, and other numerous emotional factors.
Sustained Weight Loss Methods:
To accomplish sustained weight loss, it does require substantial changes in several areas of your life. As we age our metabolism slows and along with that our activity level often declines. Sounds like a bad combination in and of itself. Thow stress into the mix, coping with emotional issues with food, or a lifetime of bad dietary habits and we now have a complex problem.
Unfortunately, there are no ‘easy solutions’ for complex problems. If there was, would weight loss products even be on the market? Though there are no easy solutions or quick fixes to accomplish weight loss, there is hope. It starts with identifying problematic factors which contribute towards an unhealthy lifestyle, realizing how these ingrained patterns are having an impact on your health, then finding solutions towards committing to change.
Challenges with Losing Belly Fat?
Why is change so hard? If I had to pinpoint it, I would suggest that it’s because change takes time, effort, commitment, persistence, not to mention a tremendous amount of work. That being said, in those few moments in life when you to experience the success stemming from accomplishing a significant and sustained change, few things feel more rewarding.
Overall, the quality of research in the area of dietary supplements, vitamins, nutraceuticals, or herbal remedies lags behind that of pharmaceutical products. Why? It’s simple. In most cases, the incentive for research for pharmaceutical products revolves around the model of strong patent production for intellectual property.
With some exceptions, that monetary incentive is lacking to support research in the area of natural health products. Rather than industry-sponsored clinical trials, much of the research is conducted at universities. Though many could argue against the methodological quality of some of this research, when you look at the bigger picture in studies such as evidence-based reviews or a meta-analysis, you get a clearer picture. Essentially, these types of reviews look at all of the available evidence or clinical trials for a given natural remedy to see if the bigger picture supports that a given remedy is likely to be effective.
Recently, I came across an evidence-based review for fat modifying supplemental weight loss products. Before we jump the gun here… I repeat, there isn’t an easy button to push when it comes to losing weight. On the same token, I don’t endorse or recommend specific weight loss supplements with my blog. I’m just trying to provide up-to-date and accurate information to help people make their own informed decisions.
From the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity is reaching epidemic proportions. Roughly 1/3 Americans are obesity which is defined by a body mass index of over 30. Now, we’re not talking about simply being overweight here, either. Those numbers are pretty staggering when you sit back and think about it.
Can You Get Rid of Lower Belly Fat with Weight Loss Supplements?
From this recent study, basically, the authors concluded the following:
“While there are several dietary supplements being marketed for the use in weight loss via several different mechanisms of action, there is very little clinical evidence to support their use. Conjugated linoleic acid, pyruvate, and Irvingia gabonensis have shown some potential benefit for weight loss.”
1. Conjugated Linoleic Acid and Body Fat:
Over the past few years, conjugated linoleic acid or CLA has shown more potential in animal rather than human models. I’ve previously written a lengthy article about CLA–if you’re interested follow this link: conjugated linoleic acid for weight loss
2. Do Pyruvate Supplements Help You Shed Fat?
The mechanism for how pyruvate may promote weight loss is still yet, unknown. Clinical trials have looked at doses ranging from 6-16 g of pyruvate per day in subjects who consumed it for three to six weeks. Note that even in these types of trials in which pyruvate supplementation is compared to placebo, the participants in both groups reduce their caloric intake. Pyruvate was noted to be generally well-tolerated by the study authors and its most common side effect was gastrointestinal upset.
3. Irvignia Gabonesis for Weight Loss?
Irvignia gabonensis a mango-like fruit that originates in West Africa. It’s been observed that adiponectin levels increase and leptin levels decrease in response to supplementation with irvingina gabonensis. Leptin is a protein hormone that signals satiety so that you no longer feel hungry. Why might you want to then take something that lowers your leptin levels to lose weight? Obese people tend to have high circulating levels of leptin and may have some degree of leptin resistance much in the same fashion that diabetics have with insulin.
For irvignia gabonensis there is limited data that suggest supplementing with its seed extract at doses ranging between 150mg /day -350mg /day may help to promote weight loss and fat reduction. The authors noted that it appears to be well-tolerated with common side effects including headache, flatulence, and insomnia.
Ineffective Weight Loss Supplements:
From this particular review, they suggested that these were ineffective:
- Garcinia cambogia (Hydroxycitric Acid)
- Chitosan
- Chia Seed (Salvia hispanica)
To read more about dietary supplements for weight loss, click this link to view a recent previous post that I wrote. Also, follow this link for more information about Belkyra for chin fat.
Reference:
- Egras AM, Hamilton WR, Lenz TL, Monaghan MS. An evidence-based review of fat modifying supplemental weight loss products. J Obes. 2011;2011. pii: 297315. Epub 2010 Aug 10.
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18 Comments
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Jarret Morrow, M.D.
Doug, In terms of weight loss supplements, I agree with you here, Doug, these have all been available for a long time. Many or the larger and more successful dietary supplement companies are successful due to their marketing effectiveness rather than quality of products--you're right there again. For weight loss supplements, much of the marketing is based on hype and false claims though there are great supplements for promoting health for other reasons other than weight loss--important distinction. ;)
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Jon R. Patrick
Nice set of tips. Unfortunately, most supplements do one of 2 things: 1. trick your body into thinking you're full when you're not. This is starvation. 2. rev up your metabolism, and we've all read about how dangerous this can be. A new set of supplements uses Leptin - the hormone your cells release to tell your brain "we're full". Our modern lives - stress,poor eating, etc. - mess with our body chemistry, and sometimes those messages don't get through. Leptin supplements, like Mandura TRIM, help cut through the 'clutter' and make sure your brain knows when to stop eating. Naturally. Safe, effective, and Clinically Proven. Find out more at: http://BuyManduraTRIM.com
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Patricia
This is a billion dollar industry and will continue to be so unfortunately. Thanks for giving an unbiased view. I find it incredibly sad that people continue to want a "quick fix" when healthy eating and exercise are so effective. Patricia Perth Australia
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Jill Green
Well I don't know if it's considered a weight loss supplement (doubt it) but adding flax and eating a high fiber diet help me maintain my optimal weight year round- well, except at Christmas, lol :)
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Jarret Morrow, M.D.
Jill, most Americans don't consume enough dietary fiber. There is some evidence that it does help promote weight loss--see the article linked at the end of this one. Aside from that, there are numerous other health benefits from consuming an adequate amount of fiber including reducing cholesterol and insulin levels among others.
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Ross
Changing habits is hard and like you have said there is no point in investing in lots of quick fixes if you dont look at the underlying problematic fundamentals.
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Henway
I'm not skeptical that some supplements actually can help us lose weight by burning fat or reducing our appetite. I'm just skeptical that they alone can help keep the weight off. There's just so many things that are needed, and some aren't physical - losing weight requires mental discipline, a lack of self-hate, patience, and not focusing on results at first.
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Jarret Morrow, M.D.
Henway, I agree that weight loss requires implementing a number of changes both dietary, exercise and psychological.
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Donald Martin
I heard of a great set of new dietary supplements which are all natural and organic, research published by several US medical societies. Has anyone used Sugar Crush or Sugar Crush Daily? Here is their website, Looks like the products help people with diabetes lower their blood sugar levels and lose weight at the same time.
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Jarret Morrow, M.D.
Donald, I'm not familiar with the Sugar Crush products. I do know that several companies have run into problems in the past with FDA when their products are marketed towards diabetics.
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Jake
irvingina gabonensis from were can I get some of that ?
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Jarret Morrow, M.D.
Jake, I've never purchased that supplement myself. It may be available at your local health food store or on the Internet. With supplements, quality can vary quite significantly, so make sure you find a brand that you can trust.
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Ann Harper
I absolutely believe that weight loss supplements can help you lose weight. But without proper nutrition and exercise, it will all come to a waste. I have done this before whereby I only took weight loss pills with no whatsoever effort.. I was so disappointed that I did not get any result. But yeah, people learn and I learnt it the hard ways.. Weight Loss Supplements works only when you are still committed to your nutrition and exercise!
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Gary
I really think weight loss supplements help with losing weight and suppressing appetites, as long as you have a decent amount of activity in your life, but I also think they act as a sort of motivational tool for the dieter. Sit on your backside all day and they're as useful as a chocolate teapot! Walking or light jogging is excellent for getting rid of lower belly fat too.
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Tiffany
Thanks for all the thoughts you ponder in this article! I believe that each individual has its own way to deal with weight loss. Their body has its own unique way of getting rid of extra weight even in the event they use a weight loss supplement.
Comments are closed.
Douglas Robb
Looking at the supplements you reference in this article, I am struck by the fact that all of those supplements are ancient by the standards of the supplement industry. Real science takes take. Selling supplements takes hype + a lack of definitive research