Unless you’re sitting down to three square, home cooked meals a day and eating at least two healthy snacks between them, chances are you could use a supplement or two. Following are just a few you may want to consider.
Healthy Fats
In our diet conscious world, we tend to avoid any fat as if it were The Plague. That isn’t exactly what we should be doing. Believe it or not, our bodies need some special fats that we just cannot create ourselves. Supplements like Omega-3 Fatty Acids (fats derived from fish) are important for heart health so if you aren’t eating at least two servings of fish or other seafood every week, you should consider adding this to your supplement program. CLA is another important fat. This one helps you to burn the fat you have and increase muscle mass. No, before you get excited and expect this to be like taking steroids, it is not. CLA helps you to keep from wasting your own muscle tissue when you don’t eat enough protein. You see, your body needs protein whether you eat it or not. If you don’t eat enough, your body will break down your muscle and use that. It is a very efficient system, but the idea of cannibalizing one’s muscle tissue because you can’t be bothered to eat enough protein is pretty scary considering the heart is a muscle.
Fiber
Yes, yes, we all hear it. Fiber, fiber, fiber, blah, blah, blah. Well, there is a very good reason for why we keep hearing it. We need fiber and most of us aren’t getting enough.
So, what’s the big deal, you say? Why do you need fiber?
Well, for starters, if you don’t get enough fiber stuff starts sitting around a little longer than it should in your bowels. Instead of moving on, like it should, food just sticks around long past it’s expiration date, if you know what I mean.
The second good reason for getting more fiber in your diet is heart health. Unless you’ve been living in a cave, you’ve seen the Cheerios commercials. Fiber helps to keep your circulatory system clean and that means your heart keeps pumping and your blood keeps moving. Good enough reason for me!
A fairly inexpensive and painless way to add fiber to your diet without eating three salads a day (although a good idea if you can) is to use a fiber supplement like Metamucil or Benefiber. If you can’t bear the grit or flavor of Metamucil, try Benefiber. It really is the most unnoticeable form of fiber I’ve ever experienced. In fact, I add it to my coffee every morning. It is simple, dissolves instantly, has no flavor and doesn’t change the consistency of your beverage.
Multi-Vitamins
I consider multi-vitamins an insurance policy. Whatever I’m not getting enough of, my multi covers it. One that I like in particular is Emergen-C. This is actually a vitamin powder that comes in a small packet. You just mix it with water and drink. It comes in a multitude of flavors and is very tasty. In fact, my husband and I always use it whenever we feel a cold coming on. It usually nips it.
Special Supplements
Are you eating those healthy snacks between meals or are you opting for chips or a candy bar? Well, snack bars like The Zone Bar can help to keep a healthy lifestyle on track. I like to keep one in my purse just in case I’m out and about and hear the call of the drive-thru.
Are you a carbohydrate addict? Do you gain weight just thinking about bread, cookies, crackers and cake? Well, a Carbohydrate Blocker won’t do anything about cutting your sugar intake but it sure can help keep you from storing extra starchy calories as fat.
Some supplements you just need. Others simply make life a little easier. Maybe it is time you considered adding some to your lifestyle.
Are you subscribed to the Families.com Weight Loss Blog? With the click of a button, you can receive an email notification anytime a new blog is posted in the Families.com Weight Loss Blog! Just look to the right of this blog and find the subscription center (it looks just like this picture). Click on “Subscribe via Email”. You’ll be instantly subscribed and the email address that you registered at Families.com with will receive an instant notification whenever we post a new Weight Loss Blog! Don’t miss a thing – subscribe now!