This is an archived article and the information in the story may be outdated. Please check the time stamp on the story to see when it was updated last.
The only pooch a woman really wants to see a cute dog. As for the one that makes her jeans feel tight? It’s aggravating. And it’s unhealthy. You can do all the crunches and planks you can muster, but they won’t necessarily whittle your middle. Try adding one of these supplements to your balanced routine of cardio, weight training and a sensible diet to help make your pooch a thing of a past.
[Photos: Shutterstock]
Magnesium
The right dose of magnesium attacks belly fat on two fronts. First, it helps you get a good night’s sleep (7 to 9 hours is recommended by experts), which in turn can help you drop pounds. A study in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that women who slept 5 or fewer hours per night were more likely to experience major weight gain over 16 years than those who got more sleep. Lack of shut eye can increase levels of the hormone ghrelin. Its one job is to stimulate your appetite. “Magnesium is necessary in the chemical reaction that allows insulin to usher glucose into cells, where glucose is converted into energy,” says Dr. Carolyn Dean, MD, author of The Magnesium Miracle. When you don’t have enough magnesium to do this job, both insulin and glucose become elevated. “The excess glucose gets stored as belly fat,” she says. Adequate levels of magnesium in the body are essential for the absorption and metabolism of vitamin D. And this matters why? Magnesium converts vitamin D into its active form, says Dr. Dean, which is another weight loss friend. See the next slide!
Vitamin D
People with a deficiency are more susceptible to colds. Feeling icky causes them to skip exercise and reach for a comforting sleeve of cookies (or two). “When you have optimum vitamin D levels your body releases more leptin, the hormone that tells you that you’re full, no need to eat more,” says Dr. Dean. A University of Minnesota study found a link between vitamin D and belly fat. The thinking is D reduces the production of cortisol, a stress hormone that causes belly fat storage.
Probiotics
Probiotics are live “good” bacteria, like those found in yogurt and kefir, connected with diminishing belly bloat. When the flora in your gut is unbalanced, your middle puffs up. Dr. Douglas Lord, M.D of the Nava Health & Vitality Center recommends a pill that gives you a variety of probiotic strains in the billions. Yes. He said billions.
Green Tea Supplements
Stretching out on the couch with a soothing cup of green tea is more than a great way to relax. The antioxidants in green tea rev up your metabolism and help your body break down fat, says Dr. Eric Braverman, MD, of PATH Medical. A study from The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that green tea, or a green tea supplement, may specifically be able to help increase the loss of belly fat when combined with consistent exercise and mindful eating.
