This story has been updated since it was originally published on Dec. 29, 2020.
If you’re eating a healthy and well-balanced diet, your body is likely already getting the majority of the nutrients it needs to thrive. However, there are naturally occurring gaps in your nutrition that can appear if you opt for a plant-based diet, or struggle with lactose intolerance. As you age, it’s important to stay on top of your vitamin intake to make sure you’re supporting your body and immune system, especially if weight loss is your goal (the type of vitamin doctors say is useless may surprise you!). As you build up your arsenal of vitamins to take each morning, these are the four that health experts recommend becoming your staples.
B Vitamin Complex
Nutrition counselor John Fawkes explains that while taking vitamins may not directly lead to weight loss, they can bolster your energy levels, metabolism, and mood which will help you to stick to your weight loss plan long term. Fawkes notes that a B vitamin complex should be included in your morning routine as it can often be missed out on in your diet. "B vitamins are especially important for energy and metabolism. Without the B vitamin complex, your body has a tough time regulating both physical and mental energy, leading to feelings of stress and lethargy, both of which can trigger your body to store more fat," he says.
Magnesium
Magnesium has the vital function of aiding your body with digestion, so a supplement is recommended in the morning to support this process. Fawkes explains, "Magnesium is a key mineral needed to help your body enter its 'rest and digest' state. There, systems like your metabolism kick into efficient gear, helping you optimize your nutrition when eating healthier to lose weight." It has also been known to help with relaxation, which will in turn improve the quality of your sleep which is important for overall healthy functioning of the body.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D, naturally absorbed through sunlight, is key for healthy weight loss. Fawkes notes, "Vitamin D is not only essential on its own to fuel our immune system and inflammatory responses. It also aids in the digestion of magnesium to bring about better sleep quality and physical restoration for weight loss."
Green Tea/L-Theanine
One key to noticeable weight loss results is the treatment of bloating and inflammation. A green tea supplement will help to ease stress-related inflammation in your body, leaving you feeling lighter and more likely to see weight loss changes. Green tea is specifically thought to reduce belly fat! Fawkes explains the importance of a green tea supplement, specifically as it functions with L-theanine. "When you workout consistently to lose weight, what you're doing is repeatedly putting your body in prolonged states of stress and inflammation. L-theanine can reduce harmful byproducts of workout-induced inflammation and help your body recover more quickly, expediting weight loss."
So there you have it, four vitamins that are essential to overall health and weight loss goals. While you don't need to take all of these vitamins every single morning, it won't hurt to add vitamin B, magnesium, vitamin D, or green tea/L-theanine to your diet!
