Everyday people waste their hard earned money on weight-loss supplements. They go to vitamin stores and natural food stores and walk out with bags of the newest "fat-burners". Most of these supplements and fat-burners do not work and they can have unwanted side effects.

If you want to lose weight and keep it off there are some supplements that can help. A one-a-day multivitamin, a calcium/vitamin D pill, a fish-oil pill, and green tea extract can help you shed pounds with no adverse side effects.

Multivitamins

You get most of your nutrients from carbohydrates. Vegetables, fruits, and whole grains are filled with vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, flavanoids, and antioxidants that keep your body running well.

When you decrease your calorie or carbohydrate intake, you do not typically get all the nutrients you need. Taking a one-a-day multivitamin can help fill in the voids in your nutrition plan.

Calcium and Vitamin D

I recommend that everyone, especially women, take a calcium/vitamin D supplement. The combination of calcium and vitamin D can help you:

* Lose weight,
* Prevent osteoporosis,
* Decrease blood pressure, and
* Prevent cardiovascular disease.

Taking a calcium/vitamin D pill will supplement for what you are not receiving in your diet.

Fish-oil Pills

Fish-oil pills have polyunsaturated fats in them called omega-3 fatty acids. These "good" fats can help you:

* Lose weight
* Improve your cardiovascular health
* Decrease your LDL "bad" cholesterol
* Increase your HDL "good" cholesterol

To get the full benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, you should eat at least two servings of fatty cold water fish per week or take a daily fish-oil supplement that provides at least 600mg of omega-3 fatty acids

Green Tea

Green tea is filled with phytochemicals and antioxidants. These phytochemicals and antioxidants have many potential benefits, including:

* Boosting metabolism
* Decreasing your risk of cardiovascular disease
* Decreasing your risk of cancer

To boost your metabolism and lose weight you could drink four cups of brewed green tea every day. You may not like the idea of drinking multiple cups of tea everyday. Instead of drinking the tea, you can also take 500mg of green tea extract (standardized for EGCG) once daily.

The combination of a one-a-day multivitamin, a calcium/vitamin D pill, a fish-oil pill, and green tea extract can help you lose weight. Stay away from those over-the-counter weight loss pills. They are a big waste of money.

Please consult your physician, registered dietitian, or certified fitness professional before starting or changing your diet or exercise program.