SPONSORED BLOG: Three Supplements for Summer Weight Loss
Since the New Year we’ve all been grinding away at our resolutions, right? Well, if one of your resolutions was to lose weight, don’t stop now. Summer is right around the corner, and if you’re anything like me, you don’t want to miss out on sunshine because you put your health and wellness on the backburner. Sometimes we need a little boost to help us reach our weight-loss goals. The whole idea of supplementation is that it helps avoid deficiencies that can arise as a result of your diet. Supplements that promote weight loss aid the body by helping it use the fat it’s stored for energy; boosting insulin sensitivity and glucose health; escalating protein synthesis; detoxifying and getting rid of toxins and impurities; and supporting ideal hormone levels for fat loss. Fortunately, the vitamin and supplement industry heard our cry and has created some of the most natural weight-loss supplements to support us in gaining our beach bodies back--just in time for the sunbathing season.
1) Garcina cambogia (GC). This pumpkin-shaped fruit is native to Indonesia but also grown in India, Southeast Asia, and West and Central Africa. The ingredient is thought to effectively make meals more “filling”. If used in conjunction with proper diet and exercise, the average person could potentially lose up to approximately 4 pounds a month! Hydroxycitric acid (HCA) is the natural extract in GC that helps block fat and suppress your appetite. It blocks fat by inhibiting a primary enzyme called citrate lyase, which halts the fat-making process, and the production of bad cholesterol and triglycerides decrease. In order to suppress the appetite, HCA increases serotonin levels to improve mood and suppresses the drive to react to stressful situations by indulging in emotional or reactive eating.
2) Green coffee bean. A component in coffee called chlorogenic acid might be the source of coffee’s anti-obesity effects. Chlorogenic acid has been shown to obstruct the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate, which promotes the formation of glucose, or sugar, in the liver. Basically, this acid slows the absorption of fat from food intake and also activates the breakdown of extra fat. However, just drinking traditional coffee will not give you the same results since roasted beans are stripped of a significant portion of chlorogenic acid. A study published in 2012 by the Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity Journal showed promising results when 16 adults, who were considered overweight, were given doses of green coffee bean extract for 12 weeks and lost an average of almost 18 pounds. Tip: When purchasing green coffee bean extract, be sure that you go with one that contains the chlorogenic acid extract, which can be printed as either GCA® (green coffee antioxidant) or Svetol®. Also, look for a capsule that has at least 45% chlorogenic acid. More than that is OK, but less has not been tested in studies that exhibit weight loss. 
3) Moringa. AKA “The Miracle Tree.” Moringa is chock-full of vitamins, is an energy booster, and helps aid weight loss?! Winner, winner, chicken dinner! The proteins and minerals in this product deliver nutrients without unhealthy fats or high-calorie carbs. The B-vitamins in moringa specifically help you digest and convert your food into energy and can increase your metabolism, which causes your body to burn calories faster. If you start taking moringa, you may notice that you no longer crave junk food. This is because it attacks cravings that can lead you to ingest sugary and fatty foods. Overall, it is a superb supplement that promotes healthy aging and boasts a high nutrient intake. 
There’s still time for you to buckle down and get serious about your weight loss before the first day of summer (which is June 21, in case you were wondering). Remember, though, just because a supplement works for someone else does not mean it will work for your body, too. And while supplements are a great contributing factor, they alone will not result in significant weight loss—the real results come from focusing fat loss around a training regimen and balanced diet in addition to taking your supplements. Diet is 80 percent of a weight loss plan. Pay your doctor a visit and double check that you have the green light to start introducing any of these into your daily regimen. Then go throw on your suit, grab your sunscreen and meet me out at the beach!
