supplements to boost metabolism?

skyrocket

Are there any supplements that genuinely boost your metabolism? I'm hoping Ted will tell me there are!
And what about these Phase 2 supplements that are supposed to block carbs?
I need some help!
Sky x

frivolous_fay

I hear drinking 5+ cups of green tea a day helps.

It's whether you can stomach 5 cups a day

skyrocket

I drink it by the bucket load!
I need something on top of that!
Sky x

londonman81

I don't know of any particular supplements or foods that boost metabolism but I have heard that by eating a little bit every so often (graizing), it keeps your metabolism on the boil - like a furnace needing wood every so often.

Eating after long periods of time makes your body think that you are about to run out of food and it will tend to store more body fat as a preparation for less food in future. So , ironically, you will put on more weight by eating less often.

I'd not trust any supplement that can tamper with my metabolism.

tankgirl1

frivolous_fay wrote:

I hear drinking 5+ cups of green tea a day helps.

It's whether you can stomach 5 cups a day

i cant even stand one cup! i keep telling myself its an aquired taste, and i will grow to like it......................

.... and then usually end up pouring it away, and having a cup of coffee! :rolleyes:

Ted_Hutchinson

tankgirl1 wrote:

i cant even stand one cup! i keep telling myself its an aquired taste, and i will grow to like it......................

.... and then usually end up pouring it away, and having a cup of coffee! :rolleyes:

Have you tried a slice of lemon or shaving of root ginger. These are the variations I like to ring the changes.
There are plenty of good reasons why acquiring a taste for Green Tea may be beneficial such as
Can green tea protect against not only sunburn but also melanoma?
Although I've read the research linking Green Tea with weight loss I've not noticed this effect personally, but I have noticed, in these last few days of intense sunshine, that I haven't any suggestion of burning or my skin even going the slightest bit pink or red. Regulars will know that I take a lot of omega 3 both fish oil and linseed meal , this is anti-inflammatory and helps keep skin hydrated, I also took plenty of vitamin d over the winter and have taken advantage of the sun whenever possible so will have a high vitamin d status and this also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent so whether it's the omega 3, the vitamin d3, or the green tea I'm not sure.

Be interesting to know if other Green Tea Drinkers have noticed a reduction in their tendency to start to burn?

Remember it is occasional exposure to sun resulting in burning that is linked to melanoma so DON'T EVER GET SUNBURNT.

Going back to acquiring a taste for Green Tea you may notice a difference between the leaf and the bag teas. I find the leaf tea (Clipper non-organic 125g from Tesco's £1.19) much better for flavour, but I do sometimes use bags (Tesco's own label £1.25 for 50) A small teaspoon of leaf tea brewed in a 2 mug caffetiere (that has never been used for coffee) or teapot for a few minutes definitely produces a clearer brew with a sharper flavour and the sliver of ginger just mellows it nicely.

Ted_Hutchinson

skyrocket wrote:

Are there any supplements that genuinely boost your metabolism? I'm hoping Ted will tell me there are!
And what about these Phase 2 supplements that are supposed to block carbs?
I need some help!
Sky x

Dieting and Metabolism
8 Ways to Speed Up Your Metabolism
may give you a better understanding of the issues. However what they say about CLA may be suspect
The Links between Obesity and Vitamin d obesity research are sufficient for it to be important, while in the UK, to make sure you get outside into direct exposure to sunlight for a part of every day. This is even more important if you are brown or black skinned. Low vitamin d status is definitely linked to metabolic syndrome. There is a reason why we crave carbs in the winter, keeping your vitamin d status high will supress your cravings for food.

skyrocket

Thanks Ted, I take a vit d3 supplement at he moment anyway after reading all the things you have posted on here about it.
Do seaweed/iodine supplements work or is that just a myth?
Sky

Ted_Hutchinson

skyrocket wrote:

Thanks Ted, I take a vit d3 supplement at he moment anyway after reading all the things you have posted on here about it.

Do bear in mind you can get plenty of Vit d3 for free at the moment, unless there are reasons why you cannot go out in the sun. For UK sunworshippers the need for supplements doesn't start until after September when the angle of the sun is lower.

skyrocket wrote:

Do seaweed/iodine supplements work or is that just a myth?
Sky

Thyroid Health: How Much Iodine Helps?
iodine: summary
iodine: foodsources

welshwill

I’m late answering this post, but hopefully I can help you a little.

I take it the primary reason for wanting to increase your metabolism is weight loss? I guess before you take metabolism increasing, thermogenic supplements you have to realise in the end the extent to which they help you will have almost no effect unless your diet & training/cardio in order. I think it’s fair to say that supplements will have maybe 5% to do with your weight loss or progress.

I suppose the main things to take in to account, you’ve probably read it, eat 6 small meals a day rather than 3 larger ones; this aids weight loss by stopping metabolism from slowing. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. With what you’re eating, check out the GI of food, i.e. you want slow absorbing products, lack of sugar foods which will ultimately improve insulin sensitivity.

As for supplements there are various avenues but honestly you wouldn’t go far wrong to take- Fish oil caps, A good Multivit. Fish oils are the #1 supplement I’d recommend you take- ignore the fat content.

Also I think Fish Oil Capsules (get the 1000mg) + the Multivit are still on offer in H&B. Mention of VitD in this thread, simply i'd just go with Fish oil over Cod liver oil; simply as there's a higher chance of Cod liver oil containing toxins.

As for green tea, as everyone knows it’s an excellent anti-oxidant. If you can’t stomach it, you can get green tea extract as a supplement from NOW Foods, or in bulk. -they're capsules.

I’m sure if you look lots online you’ll come across an ECA stack, yes it’s probably the best thing to aid weight loss but HCL is now banned in the UK. Ephedra alkoids are a loophole/ ‘gray area’ in the law. my point- avoid it.

Honest advice about CLA etc.. Don’t bother. I saw the study Ted_Hutchinson posted & I’ve read about it before as well as others. Very few people who have a serious cutting diet can testify to its effect & even if they can… it’s established it requires you to take it for 6 months plus for any real effect so it’s not worth the money.

The metabolism things you find in H&B etc.. just contain L-Carnitine, ALA, Green Tea extract etc… Do yourself a favour don’t go for expensive products which promise things, go for the fish oil, Multivit & green tea extract if you want.

I can't really comment on Phase 2 sorry, only to say there's little reliable long term studies to show the effects of Carbohydrate blockers & their effects on the body/gastrointestinal tract.

Hope I helped a little,

Will