Are you looking to lose weight in a healthy way? Some people often reach for dietary supplements like herbs, enzymes, teas, and weight loss pills to lose weight fast.
And while stats show that 15% of Americans use some weight-loss dietary supplements, you should consider some warnings and precautions before opting for weight-loss pills.
Most diet supplements can cause a wide range of unexpected side effects, even though they are labeled natural.
Instead of using dietary supplements, you can try using some natural fat burners that will help you lose weight.
What are fat burners?
Another name for fat burners is thermogenic. These thermogenic supplements help you burn stored body fat. They do that by using stored fat in the body, or the fat reserves as a source of energy.
Your body usually uses carbs for energy. But fat burners change the process and use fat instead for energy. The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences at the University of Birmingham describes the term fat burner as “nutrition supplements that are claimed to acutely increase fat metabolism or energy expenditure, impair fat absorption, increase weight loss, and increase fat oxidation during exercise”.
Some of the fat burning supplements that the University of Birmingham claims have fat metabolism-enhancing properties include caffeine, guarana, green tea extract, ephedrine, and garcinia cambogia.
These active ingredients can be helpful when consumed in small amounts. However, they are not for everybody. And you should never over-consume fat-burning supplements. What you can do is go for natural and safe fat burners. Those not only shed extra body weight but do it without side effects.
Natural fat burners
Conjugated linoleic acid
This is the name given to the group of chemicals found in the fatty acid called linoleic acid. It is a type of polyunsaturated fat. We cannot make it on our own, so we have to obtain the supplement from food in our diet. You can up the conjugated linoleic acid consumption by consuming full-fat dairy products like whole milk, whole cheese, but also beef, and butter.
A study from 2009 showed that conjugated linoleic acid has positive effects on energy metabolism. The acid can help obese people decrease body fat mass and increase lean body mass. And while there are supplements with CLA, make sure to always consume it from natural sources.
Grapefruit essential oil
Grapefruit essential oil can be used both topically and as addition to your diet. When consumed, grapefruit essential oil can reduce your appetite, reduce your cravings for sugar and processed foods, and also provide a mild dose of uplifting energy. There are many enzymes in grapefruit that help your body break down sugar.
When applied topically, grapefruit essential oil acts as a diuretic and lymphatic stimulant. That is why grapefruit essential oil is used in many cellulite creams.
Green tea and herbal teas
There is a vast difference between green tea and green tea extract. The former is natural and safe, while the latter can contain chemicals and carry side effects.
Consuming green tea will guarantee you get a healthy dose of caffeine, which we all know helps with fat burning. However, never overdo it. Two to three cups of green tea per day are more than enough.
Probiotic foods
One of the most popular probiotic foods is yogurt. You can also consume kefir. Probiotics are good bacteria that have a number of functions in your body. Probiotics or good bacteria help with your immune, digestive, and hormonal system functions. Consuming probiotics helps people lose weight, but also protect against diseases.
Fat burning foods high in protein and fiber
Last, but not least, include a lot of high protein and high fiber foods in your diet. These help you increase your fat rate without the risk of side effects.
Some high fiber foods include fresh vegetables, berries, chia seeds, and flaxseeds. High protein foods include lean meat, eggs, almonds, cottage cheese, oats, and broccoli.
You can also consume foods like cherries that are high in antioxidants that help remove excess body fat.
Tips for burning fat
While it is important to consume the right foods for losing weight, that is not enough. Shedding pounds requires much more.
Here are some tips to help you get maximum benefits:
– Get enough sleep, between six and eight hours per day to control cortisol levels
– Drink plenty of water
– Manage stress
– Find a way to regulate release of appetite hormones
– Give yourself enough recovery time between workouts