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First and foremost, a well-balanced diet should be your frontline plan for getting all the important nutrients your body needs each day. However, sometimes there are natural gaps in your eating habits which can lead you to become deficient in certain vitamins and minerals, making it more difficult to maintain your overall health. Particularly when it comes to weight loss and heart health it can be useful to integrate supplements into your day to day routine which can bolster your system and allow you to feel your best in your body over the years. Although you should always check with your doctor before adding any new vitamins or supplements into your diet, these are the three best for aiding in weight loss and strengthening your heart for a longer life.
Omega-3 Fatty Acid
Omega-3 fatty acid is a great supplement to add into your diet in order to improve your success with weight loss and strengthen your heart. Naturally found in oils, nuts, and seeds, this fatty acid can help with the overall function of your body. Fish oil has been shown to reduce your appetite naturally, allowing for weight loss with ease, and can even be useful in boosting your metabolism. Healthline reports, “In one study, healthy people on a weight loss diet consumed either fewer than 0.3 grams or more than 1.3 grams of fish oil omega-3s per day. The high-fish-oil group reported feeling significantly fuller up to two hours after a meal.” Studies have also shown that consuming omega-3 fatty acids can help to improve heart health, lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of blood clotting.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is naturally created when your body comes in contact with sunlight, but if you spend most of your time inside you may benefit from adding a vitamin D supplement into your diet. While studies are still being done on whether vitamin D has a concrete connection to cardiovascular health, it has been unequivocally shown that people who are categorized as obese frequently have lower levels of vitamin D in their systems. In a study done on postmenopausal women who began taking a vitamin D supplement for weight loss, one of the authors, Dr. Anne McTiernan explained, “We found that those women who received vitamin D and whose blood levels got up to normal lost more weight than women whose blood levels remained low,” says McTiernan. “This suggests that keeping vitamin D in a healthy range could indeed help with weight loss.”
Fiber
Fiber is useful for maintaining healthy digestion and keeping you full for longer, naturally aiding in weight loss and satiety. However, it has also been shown to have profound effects on your heart health. Harvard Health explains, “Basically, intake of at least 25 grams of food fiber a day is associated with a lower weight, blood pressure, blood sugars, cholesterol, as well as lower risk of developing (or dying from) diabetes, heart disease, strokes, and breast or colon cancer.” While you can naturally find fiber in many of your favorite healthy carbs such as wheat bread, fruits, veggies and oats, a supplement can be great for improving heart health and allowing your body to lose weight with ease.
