When a crisis hits home, our reaction is usually to grab
the nearest life jacket. In the case of weight loss, people
look for a magic pill; a product that will help them lose
weight while they sleep.
Many people don’t begin to deal with a problem until
it becomes a crisis. The way we handle weight loss in North
America is a prime example. Not only is being overweight a
personal health crisis, it is now a widespread economic crisis
that we all pay for. In 2002, the U.S. Surgeon General estimated
that 65 percent of the population was clinically overweight!
This figure was based on a benchmark of a Body Mass Index
(BMI) of 25 or more. What we pay in health care costs to deal
with the implications of obesity is in the range of $150 billion
dollars per year and the momentum towards this issue and its
related illnesses continues to grow.
When a crisis hits home, our reaction is usually to grab the
nearest life jacket. In the case of weight loss, people look
for a magic pill; a product that will help them lose weight
while they sleep. Unfortunately (despite the billions of dollars
spent on these quick-fix solutions) our continent is still
getting fatter.
Long-term Solutions
A real long term solution to obesity requires that many factors
be addressed. We all know that exercise and balanced nutritious
meals are the foundation of maintaining a healthy body composition.
Poor food choices and bad exercise habits clearly need to
be reversed as well. However, even when a person commits to
making these changes they can lose motivation if results are
slow to materialize. A natural weight loss supplement helps
by allowing people to see results sooner.
This new century has brought with it a new evolution of natural
health products that can be considered “smart formulas.”
While there are still many simple and basic ingredient products
on the market, the healthy trend has been to see formulas
that are geared towards bringing the body back into balance.
As a consumer, it is possible to look for products that target
specific functions in the body in order to address the long
term solutions you’re looking for.
Burning Body Fat
This category is ripe with magic bullet claims. The reality
is that there are some amazing natural ingredients that work
with the human body to begin to break down and utilize existing
fat stores. These are often referred to as having “thermogenic”
properties. One of the newer ingredients appearing in this
category is an extract from the cocoa plant, theobromine.
In the methylxanthine category of components, theobromine
is effective at stimulating overall metabolism, in particular
body fat metabolism.
Coleus forskholii, an Indian herb used in Ayurvedic
compounds, is an important catalyst in increasing cAMP levels
in fat cells, which in turn activate other enzymes to break
down stored fat, a process known as lipolysis. Coleus forskholii
is also known for lowering blood pressure, a known complication
of obesity.
Citrus aurantium, known as “zhi shi” in Chinese
medicine, has traditionally been used to increase energy levels
or “chi.” One of the key compounds found in this
bitter orange fruit is synephrine, which stimulates the metabolic
rate and the utilization of body fat. Another component found
in the plant is octopamine, which appears to aid with appetite
control.
Guarana multitasks as an ingredient. In addition to increasing
energy, reducing fatigue and suppressing appetite, it accelerates
the utilization of body fat stores, especially when taken
in combination with citrus aurantium.
Green tea extract is a multifunctional ingredient that’s
probably lesser known for its properties of oxidizing fat
for energy and increasing caloric expenditures than it is
for its antioxidant properties. Green tea extract also reduces
LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. One of the side effects
of the breakdown of existing body fat stores is the release
of fat-stored toxins into the system. In this event, the antioxidant
properties of green tea extract help to support the body’s
response.
White willow bark, a natural source of salicylates (similar
to aspirin), enhances weight loss when combined with other
ingredients.
Blocking Fat Absorption
Green tea extract reduces the absorption of dietary fats
through the intestinal wall. Lipase is a fat-specific enzyme
that reduces the accumulation of fatty tissues and is responsible
for the breakdown and utilization of healthy dietary fats.
Blocking Carbs
One of the most interesting new ingredients to be accessible
in natural weight loss products is white kidney bean extract.
A very simple and accessible raw material, this extract can
provide active ingredients with as much as 13,500 to 15,000
units of amylase inhibitor (an enzyme that breaks down consumed
starches) per capsule. What does that mean? When starchy carbs
are consumed, there will be fewer enzymes to convert them
to blood sugar, which, if unused for energy expenditure, is
stored as fatty tissue. By taking white kidney bean extract
prior to or during meals, up to 50 percent of consumed starches
are blocked from being absorbed. Banaba leaf (or corosolic
acid) is primarily used to stabilize blood sugar levels. In
some cases, fluctuating blood sugar levels have been correlated
to appetite levels and food cravings.
Conclusion
Today’s smart formula choices can help you achieve
your weight loss goals. The ingredients we’ve discussed
will not only help get your body systems back on track—they’ll
pave the way for better lifestyle choices.
Adding high quality protein supplements (especially whey protein
powders that contain micellar casein for sustained release)
to your diet can accelerate cellular recovery, stabilize blood
sugar levels, moderate appetite levels and protect lean tissue
as you shed body fat. Choosing healthy fats also stabilizes
hormone levels, cardiovascular functions and food cravings.
There’s a whole new world of choices to break the vicious
weight loss cycle. In a matter of a few healthy choices, you’ll
feel the difference and see the results!
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