There are a number of things to consider while you’re trying to lose weight. It’s important to have a good workout routine in order, maintain a balanced diet, and even get enough sleep. Of course, your metabolism also plays a major role. While there are many factors that can affect your metabolism, one option to consider is taking supplements to provide your body with the nutrients it needs. And as it turns out, there’s one type of vitamin in particular that could make a significant difference in your metabolic rate.
To discover the best metabolism-boosting supplement you can take every morning as you navigate your weight loss journey, we spoke to registered dietitian Juliana Tamayo RD, MS of Fitness Clone. She told us that a B-complex vitamin is a fantastic option not only for your waistline, but also for your overall health.
How B-complex vitamins can boost metabolism
Ensuring you're getting enough B vitamins like thiamin (B1), pyridoxine (B6), folate (B9), and cobalamin (B12) in your diet is a crucial part of keeping your body as healthy as possible—and as it turns out, Tamayo says it can even improve your chances of shedding those extra pounds by giving your metabolism a boost (and it can also help hair growth!).
B vitamins are offered up by a range of foods that many of us eat on a daily basis, like chicken, legumes, whole grains, eggs, fish, and more. However, there are a number of reasons you may want to take a supplement to ensure ample intake; factors like age, genetics, and more can influence your body's need for these vitamins, and you may simply not be getting enough of them in your diet. When this is the case, a supplement is a fantastic option.
"In most cases, vitamin B12 is the most important vitamin to supplement," Tamayo tells us. "It is particularly difficult for vegans and vegetarians to obtain this vitamin through diet." She notes that this vitamin is "directly related to cell metabolism and is needed for energy." Similarly, Thiamin (B1) is "directly essential for the conversion of carbohydrates into energy"; Pyridoxine (B6) is "essential for macronutrient metabolism"; and folate (B9) plays a role in cell metabolism.
For this reason, taking a B-complex vitamin, which offers up all eight B vitamins, is a good way to support a healthy metabolism. This vitamin can help you better metabolism carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Meanwhile, a deficiency could inhibit your body's ability to carry out these functions and may cause it to store these nutrients as fat.
There are other risks posed by a B vitamin deficiency, as well. "When you have low levels of any of these vitamins, you might feel tired, sluggish, and in a bad mood," Tamayo warns. "Low vitamin B12 and low folate also lead to anemia, which is a common deficiency among older Americans." Metabolism aside, all of this can make it difficult to lose weight. After all, you need energy to complete all of your fat-blasting workouts!
The bottom line
Ultimately, your metabolism is affected by a number of factors, from hormone levels to the foods you eat. However, proper nutrition is essential—and that includes getting enough B vitamins. All in all, there are so many reasons to consider taking a daily B-complex vitamin as part of your daily routine. "When you supplement with a B complex, you give your body the necessary levels of B vitamins to support bodily processes, including cell metabolism, energy production, DNA regulation, and red blood cell production," Tamayo concludes. Amazing!
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