Weight Management Supplements

A healthy weight journey should start with eating nutrient-rich, whole foods and exercising regularly. Working out goes beyond cardio; resistance and weightlifting training are crucial to toning and maintaining muscle mass. But sometimes, we fall off the wagon between healthy meals and trips to the gym, which makes it more challenging to bid goodbye to that stubborn weight. 

The good news? Choosing the right nutrients to manage your healthy weight journey is a proactive way to maximize results and reap the fruits of your hard labor. Let’s jump right in. 

Supplements To Support Weight Management

Complementing healthy lifestyle habits, like eating balanced meals and exercising regularly, with the right dietary nutrients may be helpful for maintaining a healthy weight. 

Note: The following supplements should be taken in conjunction with a healthy diet and regular exercise program. Individual results are not guaranteed, and results may vary.

Hesperidin and G. pentaphyllum

An enzyme called AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK for short) is in every cell in your body. It acts as a “fuel gauge” that senses how your body uses energy (like fatty acids and glucose) and restores ATP levels by managing energy-generating and energy-consuming processes. 

Over time, declining AMPK levels can affect the accumulation of abdominal fat (the one around the middle), making it more challenging to keep those stubborn pounds off. Studies show that increasing the activity of this specialized enzyme can promote cells to stop storing fat and start using it for energy. That’s where adding clinically studied ingredients like G. pentaphyllum (Jiaogulan) and hesperidin can help target unwanted fat and promote healthy cellular metabolism. 

G. pentaphyllum is a climbing vine native to Asia. It may help promote healthy AMPK enzyme levels and activity. Hesperidin is a citrus flavonoid (plant compound) that also helps support AMPK activity.^1-4

DHEA

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is the most abundant hormone in your body. It plays a vital role in everything from sex life to immune health and thermogenesis—the process of producing cellular energy in the form of heat. 

Studies show that dietary supplements with DHEA derivates can safely encourage thermogenesis and healthy weight management and body composition when combined with diet and exercise.^5-7 

Plant extracts from green tea, resveratrol, and curcumin can also contribute to managing a healthy weight by quenching free radicals and combating oxidative stress. 

Saffron 

Nothing throws a wrench in your progress like consuming a surplus of calories between meals. And it’s not on you. Snacking can be deceptively difficult to control: forget your meal plan when emotional factors and everyday stress come knocking at your door. But adding a saffron supplement to your daily habits can be the ace up your sleeve in your healthy weight journey. How? Saffron extract helps you kick the urge to stress-eat to the curb by working with neurotransmitter signals in the brain to help reduce snacking and provide appetite management support without caffeine.^8,9

Lemon verbena and hibiscus flower

Feeling satisfied after meals is a big part of staying on track with your healthy weight goals. This well-known concept is backed by science. Clinical research shows that having a little encouragement in making healthy food choices can go a long way in creating lasting weight changes. Two botanical ingredients stand out when giving you that extra hand at feeling full and satisfied after meals: lemon verbena and hibiscus flower extracts. In a clinical study, participants who took the botanical combo, and paired it with whole foods and exercise, reported a significant reduction in body BMI and body fat percentage compared to placebo.^10,11 Adding this botanical combo to your daily routine can help you (honestly) say “no thank you” to second servings and maintain a healthy weight for the long run.

Indian Sphaeranthus and mangosteen

Excess fat around the trunk of the body can indicate a higher risk of developing chronic disease. If this feels familiar, don’t lose heart. Commit to building sustainable daily habits around balanced meals, daily exercise, restful sleep, and stress management. 

Complementing your healthy lifestyle with Indian Sphaeranthus and mangosteen can also help keep that waistline in check. In a clinical study, participants taking this botanical combo, alongside balanced meals and exercise, reported a significant drop in waist and hip circumference compared to placebo.^12,13

Cayenne pepper

If you’re following a healthy diet and an exercise regimen, you can also add a cayenne pepper dietary supplement to support your body’s thermogenesis and burn fat for energy. Capsaicin, the compound in red chili that makes it spicy, can help burn energy by activating a type of body fat called brown adipose tissue.¹ But don’t underestimate it! Taking cayenne pepper as a dietary supplement will spice up your routine and help you manage a healthy weight by prompting your body to keep burning fat even when you’re consuming fewer calories. 

If you have a sensitivity to spicy foods, take with your largest meal.

Takeaway 

Maintaining a healthy weight goes hand in hand with prioritizing your overall well-being. Pairing an active lifestyle with the right dietary supplements may support your journey, helping you stay on track and thrive at every stage in life.

References:

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5. J Nutr Biochem. 2007;18(9):629-34.
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8. J Integr Med. 2015;13(4):231-40.
9. Nutr Res. 2010;30(5):305-13.
10. Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):2999.
11. Food Funct. 2018;9(6):3173-3184.
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13. J Med Food 2013 Vol. 16 Issue 6 Pages 529-37
14. J Diet Suppl. 2021;18(4):387-405