Supplements that help you achieve that beach body!

Today’s culture places a great deal of emphasis on looking great (in other words – slim!). It seems that on an almost weekly basis there’s a new fad diet in trend – another miracle diet which guarantees that beach bod in just a few weeks. Many of these diets are simply unsustainable, while others are plain unhealthy.

However, if, like many, you’re trying to lose weight the right way, we thought you’d benefit from some insight into the best vitamins and minerals to help you on your weight loss journey - incorporating more of what your body needs – instead of following a fad diet that deprives you of the things you want to eat!

1. B Complex

The main function of the B vitamins is to help your body metabolise carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, and to use the stored energy in food. If you have a well-balanced diet, it’s pretty easy to ensure you’re getting the right amount of the B vitamins. But – what if you’re following a diet that does not include enough meat. Or let’s say you’ve recently become a vegan, or a vegetarian, or you’ve stopped eating gluten. In those cases, getting enough of the B vitamins can be challenging. In other words, low levels of one or more of the B vitamins means your metabolism won’t be functioning at its best. This makes losing weight even harder.

Tip: In general, dietary supplements containing all eight B vitamins are known as B-complex.

2. Vitamin D

Known as the sunshine vitamin (your body converts light from the sun’s rays into this vitamin), Vitamin D is critical to a healthy immune system.

Your body can get all the vitamin D it needs courtesy of the sun. Yet most people today spend too much time indoors, or they live in climates where the sun doesn’t always shine.

Getting enough vitamin D from food is difficult, so supplements are often recommended

Vitamin D may also interact with Leptin, the “I’m full” hormone that tells your brain to stop eating. If you’re low on Vitamin D, you may be lacking Leptin — keeping your brain chowing down before your tummy says “Stop!”. Studies have recently linked Vitamin D deficiency to depression, anxiety, and fatigue, so if you’re experiencing unusual sluggishness, sadness, or stress, it may be time to have your levels checked.

3. Magnesium

Magnesium relaxes muscles, promotes calmness, and can help you achieve a better night’s sleep; all of which sound great for losing weight or staying healthy! A 2013 study in the Journal of Nutrition found that higher magnesium intake is related to lower levels of fasting glucose and insulin (key components of fat and weight gain).

Magnesium also plays a key role in helping produce energy as well as muscle contraction. Magnesium can help you to keep your energy up to burn those extra calories and lose that extra weight.

4. Calcium

Calcium and Vitamin D are best buds. Calcium is stored in fat cells, and some researchers think that the more calcium in a fat cell, the more fat that cell will burn. Calcium also clings to fat in your GI tract, preventing some of the fat form being absorbed into your blood stream. In addition to its metabolic advantage, calcium builds bones, helps blood clot, and help muscles contract.

So, which weight loss supplements are right for me?

Take our quiz for a personalised recommendation tailored to your health and lifestyle needs.