5 dietary supplements that can be used for weight loss

Author: Margarita Kuts - doctor-dietitian, gastroenterologist, and body mesotherapist.
2014-02-25

My patients often ask me: can dietary supplements (nutraceuticals) be used to combat excess weight? It's important to understand what you want to achieve by taking a certain product and how to choose a truly "effective" supplement.

Right now, we see a plethora of trendy "weight loss products" in the media, and each manufacturer tries hard to convince us of its exceptional effectiveness.

But let's face the truth! No weight loss product will yield good results without a well-structured diet and appropriately tailored exercise. This is fundamental.

However, to accelerate the weight loss process while considering dietary adjustments and physical activity, some dietary supplements can indeed help. I've compiled a list of supplements that can be used.

Garcinia Cambogia

The fruit of this plant yields hydroxycitric acid. This substance amazingly affects the human body:

• Reduces appetite;
• Improves digestion;
• Prevents fat accumulation in the body;
• Affects carbohydrate metabolism (prevents excess carbohydrates from turning into fat).

This plant is included in various herbal complexes and products. In my practice, I often prescribe the products "Citrimax" and "Citrimax Plus," which contain Garcinia Cambogia as a key ingredient.

Gymnema Sylvestre

In the East, this plant is used for the treatment and prevention of diabetes. The thing is, the gymnemic acid in Gymnema blocks the absorption of carbohydrates in the body.

If you apply gymnemic potassium (a substance derived from this plant) to the surface of your tongue, you lose the ability to taste sweetness.

Guarana

This plant grows in Brazil. In

CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid)

CLA helps reduce fat tissue and increase muscle mass, essentially improving body composition. This acid is found in dairy products and meat (beef, lamb), but in very small amounts, making it impossible to obtain it from food in the necessary quantities. Our bodies do not synthesize CLA.

It makes sense to use CLA during physical activities, especially during aerobic exercises (walking, running, etc.). Why?

This is because this acid promotes the release of fat from storage into the bloodstream. During physical activity, our muscles need energy, which they will obtain from mobilized fatty acids. As a result, we lose weight, and muscle mass increases. Hence, we achieve a double effect: excess fat disappears, and the silhouette becomes beautiful and toned.

But remember, it's not advisable to take CLA simultaneously with a large amount of fiber (vegetables, fruits, bran), otherwise its absorption in the intestines will be blocked, rendering this supplementation ineffective. You can find CLA in pharmacies under the name "Reduxin Light".

Chitosan

This dietary supplement is derived from the shells of marine crustaceans (shrimp, crabs). Essentially, chitosan is a fiber that is not soluble and not digested in the intestines. In the gastrointestinal tract, chitosan transforms into a gel-like substance that binds dietary fats and prevents their absorption, thus stopping them from being stored as reserve fat.

However, chitosan does not affect existing fat reserves. Do not abuse this substance, as prolonged use may lead to a deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins (K, A, D, E) and essential fatty acids.

In conclusion, I want to emphasize once again that the use of any supplements during the weight loss process is only an addition to the main set of necessary measures, where a balanced diet and physical activity are the cornerstones! Good luck!