Slim Down with Fish Oil

In a six-week study, participants took fish oil capsules with EPA and DHA or a vegetable oil placebo. Scientists found that those who took the fish oil lost a pound of fat and gained a pound of muscle. The placebo group put on a pound of fat. The EPA and DHA reduce inflammation, which may impact fact storage. Fish oil is also a great way to keep your heart healthy!

It’s found in turkey, tuna, beans and whole grains, and we recommend you get enough of it. Vitamin B, that is. This metabolism-boosting vitamin can help set off a chemical reaction in your cells that converts the food you’re eating into energy that you can use. If you’re looking for a way to get yourself going in the morning or afternoon, stick to a food rich in this vitamin.

If you're a pre-menopausal woman, you are losing a significant amount of your body's iron each and every month. As iron is an important mineral, you'll need to replenish it. Start taking a multivitamin or iron supplement and make sure it has 18mg of iron or more.

If you take several vitamin or mineral supplements per day, don't take them at the same time. For example, if you take 2 calcium pills each day to get your full daily dosage, take one in the morning and one in the evening. The more nutrients your body has to handle at once, the less it will absorb. Split your doses up and allow your body time to absorb them.

Taking mulltivitamins or mineral supplements on an empty stomach may not only cause an upset stomach, but it may also prevent the absorption of the vitamins into the body. Before you take your vitamins, be sure to eat at least a snack or a small meal. The only mineral that should be taken on an empty stomach for best absorption is iron.

If you take a vitamin and mineral supplements, take a look at the back of the bottle. Any amount of vitamin or mineral over 100% of your recommended daily allowance cannot be absorbed by your body. Most often, the extra vitamins are simply expelled with your urine. In other words, don't be drawn in by bottles that boast big numbers. Taking too much of a certain vitamin or mineral can also be potentially dangerous, so ask your doctor if what you're taking is safe.