Five Supplements that Help Support Your Metabolism
As we age, our metabolism begins to slow down. When it does, we can start to see extra weight in places it never existed before. Eating healthy and exercising regularly are certainly parts of the equation when it comes to an overall healthy metabolism, but did you know that you can also take supplements to ensure that your body’s working at its most tip-top shape? It’s true! There are quite a few supplements on the market that are known to boost metabolism, control weight, and aid in positive health initiatives. Here’s a look at five:
- Iron
Iron’s job is to create energy from nutrients while playing its part towards correct cell functioning and the creation of certain hormones. It also helps carry oxygen to all the cells in your body, and as it does so, it burns fat along the way. Iron is friends with the red blood cells in the body; it uses these cells to deliver oxygen to and from muscles and tissues. If a person has low iron levels, their muscles cannot burn fat for fuel as efficiently as they should. In other words, a lack of iron inhibits the production of metabolism.
Iron is naturally found in foods such as meat, tofu, dark green vegetables, and beans, but it’s also readily available in supplement form.
It’s important to be aware that too much iron can be detrimental to your health. Always follow the directions on supplement packs, and if you have any questions, talk to your doctor.
- B Vitamins
B vitamins are essential for many functions of the body, including metabolism production. They come in a variety of options, including:
- B-12
- Biotin
- Folate
- B-6
- Pantothenic acid or B-5
- Niacin or B-3
- Riboflavin or B-2
- Thiamine or B-1
If you’re deficient in any of the B vitamins, the way your body interacts with the others will likely be affected. This, in turn, can mess with your metabolism. B-12, for example, is responsible for metabolizing proteins and fats. But it can’t do its work alone; it needs B6 and folate to work correctly. In other words, the world of B vitamins is interconnected, and it’s important to ensure your body gets enough of the whole list so these little wonders can work wonderfully together like they’re supposed to.
Some B vitamins, such as B-12, may be harder for some people to get in their diet than others. That’s because certain vitamins are only present in animal products. If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, you might have difficulty getting enough B-12 without supplements.
- Green Tea Extract
Some studies show that green tea extract can boost your rate of metabolism. Green tea is thought to increase energy and boost fat oxidation—two things that can help ramp up your metabolic rate. It contains powerful flavonoid antioxidants (called catechins) and includes a healthy dose of caffeine, which might be responsible for the stimulation of the body’s functions.
In 2012, a study indicated that obese adults were able to lose weight and get ahold of their weight maintenance regimens with the help of green tea. Although this ancient remedy can’t be wholly responsible for a person’s weight loss, it certainly doesn’t hurt to add it to the agenda of supplements that can improve your body’s metabolic functioning. As a note, it’s often best to take green tea supplements with food to minimize any discomfort that may otherwise arise.
- 7-Keto DHEA
A hormone called 7-keto DHEA (formally known as dehydroepiandrosterone) is produced naturally in your body. It’s secreted from the adrenal glands that live on top of your kidneys. In some studies, people have been shown to lose weight when they include 7-keto supplements in their diets. This, of course, would indicate that the participants’ metabolic rates were increased as a result of the supplements. Not only is 7-keto thought to decrease the decline of metabolism, but it’s also said to help boost it when incorporated with a healthy diet.
It works by speeding up the body’s metabolism and converting more energy into heat rather than storing it as fat. In addition to helping people lose fat or maintain healthy weight ranges, 7-keto might help with things like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and memory enhancement.
Like any other supplement, 7-keto can’t do the work alone; if you want to use it as a metabolism-booster, it’s best to ensure you’re also getting the proper diet and exercise in your daily life.
- Magnesium
Magnesium plays a significant role in your body. Its job is to facilitate the chemical reactions that produce energy in the body. In other words, if you don’t have enough magnesium, a lot of things can go awry. Magnesium acts as a cofactor with more than 300 enzyme systems—each of which has special functions to perform within the body. Some of them control blood glucose while others regulate blood pressure.
Despite its importance, it’s thought that many Americans don’t get enough magnesium in their diets. This is where supplements come in. As always, it’s important to follow the directions on the packaging, though. It is possible to overload your body on magnesium, and you certainly don’t want to do that. Instead, stick with nuts, seeds, legumes, and leafy green veggies in your diet, and add a magnesium supplement if you’re not getting enough of this nutrient through your daily diet.
If you’re looking for healthy ways to get your metabolism growing in the right direction, these supplements can certainly help with your cause. They’re best for your body when they’re paired with a great diet and proper exercise, but their job is to fill in the gaps when your everyday fruits, veggies, and proteins simply aren’t cutting it. Sometimes, people’s metabolism needs a little boost, and that’s okay. Particularly as we age, the body can be aided by supplements that are formulated to work with the natural elements that make our systems work like magic. These five supplements offer you a great start to a more balanced metabolism.
You may also like this related post on natural health products.
Sources
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322644
https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/vitamins-to-boost-metabolism#b-vitamins
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/herbal-remedies#1
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10584049/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-keto-dhea
