Not bad, huh? But, you're probably wondering what specifically makes it one of the best weight loss supplements, right? How does it help with weight loss?
Well, while it's not some magical pill that will actually cause fat loss itself (there is no such thing), it WILL help your body do everything required of it (lose fat, build & maintain muscle, recover from exercise, etc.) just a little bit better. This includes improved insulin sensitivity and calorie partitioning (meaning calories would be more likely to be used for something useful rather than get stored on your body as fat). I've also seen 2 studies now, one published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and the other in the International Journal of Obesity, and both came to the conclusion that people lose more weight when they combine proper diet and exercise with a fish oil supplement, as opposed to people who just eat right and exercise correctly without fish oil.
The difference wasn't super huge, but it definitely exists. And when you add any possible fat loss benefits to that long list of general health benefits I mentioned earlier, you can clearly see why fish oil is at the top of my list of recommended weight loss supplements. What is the best brand? As for fish oil brands, I use and fully recommend Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega. As someone who is extra cautious about supplements and what I put into my body in general, I spent a lot of time doing a lot of research on fish oil (including reading 2 different independent lab tests) before coming to the conclusion that Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega is honestly as high quality as fish oil supplements get.
I personally order it from right here for the best price I've seen it sold for. Protein Powder. Protein is an essential part of every diet no matter what your goals are (weight loss, building muscle, just being healthy in general, etc.), as it plays a key role in muscle, cell and organ function as well as being present in bone, skin and hair. That's all well and good, but you're probably wondering what specifically makes protein powder my pick for being one of the 3 best weight loss supplements, right?
I actually have 2 really good reasons. How does it help with weight loss? First, protein is satiating (which is a fancy word for "filling"). Studies have been done and all modern research shows that protein is much more filling than either fat or carbs, and this makes it an extremely important factor in controlling your appetite and avoiding hunger cravings. It's one of the main reasons most weight loss diets are high in protein. It will keep you fuller longer, and that will prevent you from eating something you shouldn't or just eating too much in general. But wait, there's more!
The second reason protein powder is on my list of best weight loss supplements is that, in addition to being necessary for building and repairing muscle tissue, protein is also a requirement for maintaining muscle. Your goal might be "weight" loss, but it's really fat that you're looking to lose, not muscle. Ensuring you eat enough protein each day is key in preventing muscle loss. For all of these reasons and more, it is recommended that the average healthy adult diet should contain AT LEAST 0. But again, that's just a minimum.
Someone who is working out and getting in shape and actively trying to lose fat or build muscle has higher protein requirements than the average person. The most common recommendation in this case is close to 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight (a 2.
Now a lot of people are going to see that protein recommendation and think "Wow, how am I supposed to eat that much protein each day? I'd have to do nothing but sit around cooking chicken and fish." Here's where protein powder comes in, and here's why it's on my list of best weight loss supplements. While you should get the majority of your protein intake from high protein foods (chicken, fish, turkey, lean meats, egg whites, etc.), protein powder is a quick, simple, convenient way to ensure you get enough protein each day. Take a scoop, pour in any liquid you want (water is fine), mix with a spoon for about 1.
And not only that, but all research shows that a whey protein shake along with some type of carb source is the ideal meal for right after your workout. Why? Because your goal at this time is to get nutrients into your body and digested as soon as possible, and whey protein powder is the fastest absorbing source of protein.