Every excess pound above your
ideal body weight makes developing diabetes or prediabetes extremely easy and
reversing the condition exceedingly difficult. There are several imperatives
regarding diabetes and weight loss. One, movement equals improvement. In order
to reduce inflammation and burn off glycogen released when stress hormones are
present you must exercise moderately (when able) otherwise weight management
will not happen. Second, your meal plan must meet the demands of reversing
diabetes. Finally, taking the right supplements in
adequate amounts will help you on your way.
Keep in mind that there is no
magic bullet out there to get you where you need to go. Depending solely on
supplements is a sure way to not meet your goals. Be sure to think of these
recommendations as Sherpas helping you up the mountain of diabetes reversal.
The goal here is to nourish
the body in such a way as to trigger your body’s natural ability to reduce fat
storage and induce fat cell destruction. Supplement recommendations will be
divided into sections: Fat burning, appetite suppressants,
increased satiety and energy production.
Thermogenic (fat burning):
● Green
tea (or green tea extracts): used for thousands of years for a range of health
benefits green tea and its extracts profoundly increases thermogenic activity
in the body. This helps your body increase fat burning over a sustained period
of time with no side effects (unless you are extremely sensitive to caffeine).
3-4 cups of green tea daily and/or 100 milligrams of green tea extract is
recommended.
● Fucoxanthin:
a component of fucoidan it is derived from edible seaweed. Asian cultures have
used and consumed seaweed full of fucoxanthin for thousands of years and have
experienced wonderful health benefits as a result. In recent years it has been
gaining more and more interest for its thermogenic powers with new human
studies supporting this claim. It is also noted for its ability decrease the
body’s ability to store abdominal and liver fat. 5 milligrams three times daily
is recommended.
Appetite Suppressants:
● L-tryptophan
and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP): these amino acids help to control carbohydrate
and sugar cravings by helping the body produce more serotonin which naturally
deters these cravings. 50-100 milligrams one to three times daily or 100-300
milligrams before bed. Serotonin Max may be a good place to start. *Special note: if you are taking a SSRI
antidepressants or triptans for migraines please consult with your physician
before taking these supplements.
● N-acetyl
L-tyrosine: a naturally occurring amino acid that helps the body increase
dopamine and norepinephrine which decreases appetite and
improves mood. 500-2,000 milligrams daily taken on an empty stomach usually does the trick. Avoid
taking in the late afternoon as it may interfere with sleep.
Increase Satiety:
● Fiber:
fiber does so many wonderful things for the body like help control sugar levels
through various mechanisms but the focus here will be on feeling full. Both
soluble and insoluble fiber play a significant role in this process. It is recommended that most people consume at
least 30 grams per day (most only get about 14 grams per day). A high
quality fiber supplement split up over the course of the day (10 grams 3x
daily) will assist with feeling full, reduce cravings and moderate blood sugar
levels.
Increase Energy:
● Acetyl L-carnitine: supports, protects and regenerates mitochondria and mitochondrial
functions. It is also able to cross the blood-brain barrier to support and
energize brain cells and increase the number of neurotransmitters in the brain. Increased energetic output and mitochondrial function (where energy is produced) helps to reduce weight through desiring to move and then doing so!
*Before beginning any supplement regime it is best that you
consult your primary healthcare practitioner or doctor.
