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No one vitamin or supplement can get rid of belly fat on its own. If you’re trying to burn stubborn visceral fat that hangs around the midsection, a better plan of attack includes eliminating added sugar and processed foods from your diet, including more protein, healthy fat, and unrefined carbs, and making sure you get enough cardio, strength training and even sleep into your regular routine.
But supplements can help bridge any gaps that are slowing down your weight loss and fat burning progress. These four anti-inflammatory vitamins nutritionists say basically blast belly fat help boost your metabolism and create ideal conditions for your body to burn more fat.
B Vitamins
All of the B vitamins (and there are eight of them) play an important role in metabolizing protein, carbs, and fat in your body so that your body uses these nutrients for energy instead of storing them as fat.
Your best best is to take a comprehensive B vitamin supplement that includes B-6, B-12, folate, biotin, B-5, B-3, B-2, and B-1. But you can also get a variety of B vitamins from whole foods like lean meats, grains, dairy, eggs, nuts, and seeds.
If you follow a vegan or vegetarian diet and do not eat meat or dairy, it may be more important for you to get additional B-12, which is only present in animal products.
Probiotics
Though not technically a vitamin, a daily probiotic can do a lot for your health and weight loss goals. Probiotics contain live bacteria — “good” bacteria — that balance the levels of good and “bad” bacteria in your gut. A more balanced gut means less risk of inflammation, disease, obesity, and visceral fat.
Vitamin D
Studies are showing that vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin, is present in lower levels in older women and children who have higher percentages of body fat.
The jury is still out on why this may be the case, but research suggests that vitamin D could help control blood sugar and improve insulin resistance in people with diabetes, according to Medical News Today.
You can take a vitamin D supplement or get this nutrient from the sun, egg yolks, fatty fish like salmon, and dairy products.
Iron
Iron carries oxygen in red blood cells and it’s also crucial for a functioning metabolism and healthy cells. If your muscles aren’t receiving enough oxygen, it’s more difficult for them to burn fat.
Be careful when taking an iron supplement — always check with your doctor first because it can be toxic when consumed in high doses.
You can also get your fill of iron from foods like beans, lentils, nuts, meat, tofu, and brown rice.
