Whether it be smoothies and diet choices or the effects of diabetes on weight loss, here on the Metabolism Info Blog we cover a wide range of topics under the larger umbrella of < ahref="http://metabolisminfo.com/how-to-increase-bmr/">metabolism. Metabolism is often thought of as shorthand for food burning, how fast your body will get through the calories that are being ingested. The truth is a bit more complex than that. It controls and guides much of your body’s internal processes including weight loss to an extent. This time on the blog, we are looking at vitamins for weight loss and metabolism function.

As we have discussed elsewhere numerous times, metabolism is the process by which your body converts food calories into usable energy. However, that doesn’t solely mean “burns food.”

Your metabolism is working to meet the various energy quotas your body is asking for it. If you take in more calories than your body requires, it won’t magically burn through the rest of them. But on the flip side, if you’re not eating or drinking enough to meet your needs your metabolism will slow down, all an attempt to keep your available energy stored for when it is truly needed.

So, with that said, are there vitamins for weight loss or supplements that can speed up (or speed down) your metabolism? Here are a few that can help your body work efficiently, and assist with weight loss – if that’s what you’re after.

Vitamins for Metabolism

  • Vitamin B
    • thiamine (B-1)
      riboflavin (B-2)
      niacin (B-3)
      pantothenic acid (B-5)
      pyridoxine (B-6)
      biotin (B-7)
      folic acid (B-9)
      cobalamin (B-12)
    • The numerous diverse types of B vitamins all work to help your metabolism work efficiently, helping to metabolize proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.
  • Iron
    • Iron plays a huge role in the delivery of energy through the body. Iron carries oxygen throughout the body, getting it to all the cells including muscle tissues.
  • Magnesium
    • Magnesium might not be directly metabolism related but it is used as a cofactor for so many processes that it is sure to help support all the necessary systems in your body. We talked about how diabetes can wreak havoc on your system, well magnesium helps with controlling glucose levels in the blood.

Vitamins for Weight Loss

  • Vitamin D
    • Vitamin D is, like many of the others here, one of the most deficient in Americans. But it shouldn’t be neglected! A study by the American Clinical Journal of Nutrition found that obese adults who took the supplement lost significantly more fat from their midsections.

All the vitamins discussed will see effects in weight loss as well as their functions with the metabolism. That’s because as a whole your body is going to be functioning better, more efficiently, and in a better state of health. All of these metabolisms boosting, fat blasting vitamins can be found in pill supplement form but that’s far from the best sources. Anytime you can get your daily dose from food sources you should, aside from tasting a whole lot better it also helps keep your diet on point!

Food Sources for Metabolism Supporting Vitamins

  • Vitamins B
    • beans
    • eggs
    • milk
    • lentils
    • whole grains
    • potatoes
    • bananas
    • lean meat
  • Iron
    • Spinach
    • Beans
    • Shellfish
    • Lean meats
  • Magnesium
    • Seeds
    • Nuts
    • Legumes
    • Green leafy vegetables
  • Vitamin D
    • The Sun! (you’re right that’s not food)
    • Egg yolks
    • Tuna
    • Sardines
    • Salmon
    • Fortified Milk
    • Fortified Yogurt
    • Cod liver oil

Now, with your diet fortified with all of these vitamins for metabolism and weight loss you should begin seeing great effects. Often times we think too big when trying to get our health back or lose weight. While there are tremendous changes that can see big rewards, sometimes it’s a collection of those smaller, micro changes that together create a whole, wide system change.

Think of it like a machine. Replacing one big belt or piston in your engine will see it fix a problem but the engine is still old, still wearing down the belt faster than it should. But replace all the smaller gears and cogs, getting the engine operating how it should and now those belts and pistons are working correctly for a long time to come. By replacing these smaller parts with vitamins for weight loss and metabolism boosts, you can be running an efficient engine for a long time yet to come.

Metabolism is one of the cornerstones of life. Here at the Metabolism Info Blog, we know that, and in our pursuit to master our metabolisms, to harness our bodies’ natural energy factory to live better, healthier lives. Often this means considering adjacent ideas, things like diet or exercises or weight loss supplements to see what can help us in our own quests to master our metabolism and lose weight. To that end, we are looking at a subject we get a lot of questions about: smoothies for weight loss.

Smoothies for Weight Loss

Smoothies for weight loss at least, can be an incredibly nutrient dense, and low-calorie meal. The process by which smoothies are made make them ideal for those looking to lose weight or diet. They are simple to make, the ingredients are all easily controlled, and therefore can be tailored to whatever specifics you need in your diet.

Simply put, smoothies can be an indispensable tool for weight loss, so long as they fit your needs. The easy to create combinations of fruit, veggies, and even protein mean you can personally make a drink that delivers every single necessary nutrient for your diet. All in one easy to drink package. I’m so doing, you will be hitting every nutrition goal while making it incredibly easy to avoid overeating or any possible mistakes.

Weight Loss Start: Smoothie Basics

When it comes time to craft your weight loss smoothie, look at your diet guidelines first and foremost. Knowing how much of individual macronutrients you require for the day can help you decide on where and how your smoothie will slot in.

Get your hands on a blender, any will do. Despite what marketing gurus may tell you, you don’t need a Super Ninja 9000+ BlendEmperor blender to make your healthy smoothies. Just something that is large enough to blend your ingredients together and you are golden. What to throw in? The goal for your smoothie weight loss, you should consider throwing a few of the following in!

  • Avocados
    • A crazy great source of healthy fats, delicious avocados. You need them to give your smoothie a great creamy texture and the fats will keep you satisfied and satiated, one of the possible hurdles in a smoothie dense diet.
  • Chia Seeds
    • Speaking of satiety, these little guys are -packed- with proteins and fiber to help keep you feeling full. Chia seeds can be thrown right into the blender or turned into a gel first. The gel does make their contents even more easily digestible but it’s ultimately up to personal choice.
  • Berries
    • All kinds of berries are welcome. Packed with antioxidants, full of fiber, and a range of delicious tastes, berries are perfect for smoothies for weight loss focused people.
  • Cinnamon
    • This may surprise you, but cinnamon is actually a powerful metabolism boosting compound. The cinnamon assists your body in regulating the metabolism of glucose.
  • Greek yogurt
    • The plain varieties are thick and will make for a perfect foundation to your smoothie. Avoid any with additional fruit, those are often loaded with excess calories.

Ingredients to Avoid:

  • Dairy
    • While dairy can make for a good texture to your smoothie, weight loss demands lower calorie smoothies when possible.
  • Fruit Juice
    • For the same reason as above. Milk and fruit juice are both fairly common base liquids for smoothies but when it comes to weight loss, they are both just too calorie dense with extra sugars. If you’re putting fruit in your smoothie already, don’t worry about juices.

With this basic outline of what makes a good smoothie for weight loss, you too should be able to ramp up your own metabolism and help shed the excess pounds. When it comes to overclocking your metabolism, it is important to remember that it works off calories and if you’re eating too little your body’s system of burning and converting to energy will work less efficiently. That’s why for those who are interested in juicing their metabolism, it is important to keep a reasonable amount of daily ingested calories.

A smoothie for weight loss, or just an after-meal treat, can perfectly deliver the needed nutrition so long as you put a little care into it. Chances are if you’re reading the Metabolism Info blog you are willing to make that effort.