BEST supplements for weight loss: Losing weight is extremely important as weighing too much is not good for one’s health. Being overweight increases a person’s risk of health conditions such as heart problems, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. Luckily, there is a supplement one can take to help make the journey of weight loss a bit easier.

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If a person is overweight or obese, losing weight can reduce the risk of some potentially serious health problems.

Most people who need to lose weight can get health benefits from losing even a small amount (about 5 percent) of their weight if they keep it off, according to the NHS.

Trying to lose weight, however, is no easy feat, especially around Christmas time.

According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, obesity rates are at an all time high.

There are many supplements out there claiming to be the holy grail of weight loss but unfortunately most are a waste of time.

When it comes to the best supplements for weight loss, one in particular could help.

Glucomannan is a natural dietary fibre which has been promoted as an effective weight-loss supplement.

The supplement is water-soluble and extracted from the roots of the elephant yam, also known as konjac.

Glucomannan comprises 40 percent of the dry weight of the elephant yam, which is originally from Southeast Asia.

What is glucomannan’s benefits

Glucomannan has the ability to absorb water and is one of the most vicious dietary fibres know.

The supplement absorbs so much liquid that a small amount of glucomannan added to a glass of water turns the entire content into a gel.

These unique properties are believed to mediate its effects on weight loss.

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How does it aid in weight loss

Like other soluble fibres, glucomannan is believed to help with weight loss in several ways.

The supplement is very low in calories and takes up space in the stomach. It promotes a feeling of fullness, reducing food intake at a subsequent meal, it delays stomach emptying contributing to increased satiety and like other soluble fibres, it reduces the absorption of protein and fat.

Glucomannan also feeds the friendly bacteria in the intestine, which turn it into short-chain fatty acids like butyrate, shown to protect against fat gain in some studies.

Several trials have studied the effects of glucomannan on weight loss.

In the largest study, 176 healthy but overweight people on a calorie-restricted diet were randomly assigned either a glucomannan supplement or a placebo.

The results were significantly weight loss among those taking the glucomannan supplement.

The study noted the supplement’s benefit in weight loss, particularly when combined with a weight-reducing diet.

It’s important to speak with your GP before embarking on any new supplements for weight loss. 

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