We receive a ton of questions on a regular basis – which we don’t mind one bit – but we don’t always have the time to answer them right away. So, in an effort to address some of the most common questions we receive, we’ll be adding a regular section to our newsletter where we answer reader-submitted inquiries. If you’d like to submit a question, please use our contact form.
What is the best supplement to take for fat loss?
First, it depends on what you mean by “best.” There are fat burners on the market that will knock weight off fast, but aren’t necessarily the safest or healthiest option.
Second, no supplement in the world can make up for a poor diet or lack of exercise. If those two aren’t already up to par, that’s where you need to focus your attention (and money). If you need help setting up a diet or exercise program, we can help with that.
Third, there are a number of physiological factors that can make fat loss more difficult than it needs to be, including hormone and nutrient deficiencies, blood sugar abnormalities, and even gastrointestinal dysfunctions. So, the “best” supplement for you could be anything from chromium, to B vitamins, to probiotics.
Fourth, since you’re probably going to disregard the first three points anyway, here are some supplements that will aid in fat loss while also having a positive effect on your health:
- Green tea extract
- DHEA
- Fish oil
- Glucomannan
- Yohimbe (with caution, as yohimbe sensitivities are common)
- Yerba maté
- Synephrine
- Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)
- Caffeine
- Acetyl-L-carnitine
- Vegetables
Well, technically vegetables aren’t a supplement, but we figured if we put them there you might be more likely to “take” them.
Acai berries are everywhere. What do you think about them? I know they were featured on Oprah.
Acai berries are simply the next health-fad-cash-cow. Are they healthy? Absolutely. Are they better than other fruits? Not at all.
Divine fruit? Hardly!
If you’re already eating fresh fruits and vegetables, there’s no need to add acai berries (which, unless you live in the Amazon, don’t come fresh). However, if the only way to get fruit into your diet is via acai, then by all means go for it. The berry concentrates or powders are the best options (regarding price and nutritional value) and can easily be added to a protein drink or even plain old water. A better choice, though, is a mixed greens powder that contains several different freeze dried fruits and vegetables, that way you’re getting a wide variety of antioxidants and nutrients.
Oh, and unless you want to be a billionaire TV personality, it’s generally best not to take advice from Oprah.
I like to use energy drinks before my workout. Are they good or bad? I’m afraid if I cut them out my workouts will suffer.
There are a literally thousands of factors that can affect energy production. If you found out what areas you need to fix to improve your energy levels, you probably wouldn’t have to rely on energy drinks. With that said, they do help, especially on squat days.
If you can limit their use to pre-workout only, they shouldn’t have any negative effects. If you find yourself needing two or three just to get through the day, it’s time to cut back. A better option outside of the pre-workout window is green tea or yerba maté tea.
I’m a 50 year old man and my sex drive isn’t what it used to be. Is there anything natural I can take to increase my libido, or is hormone replacement the best option?
Like just about everything else, there are numerous factors that can affect libido in both men and women. Generally speaking, though, there are a number of options to improve your sex drive without the need for hormone replacement.
Before you start popping pills, the best thing to do would be to have your hormone levels tested. This will let you know what specific areas are causing a problem. You should also have your cholesterol and nutrient levels checked. It is possible for your cholesterol to be too low, which can negatively impact testosterone production, and minerals like zinc and copper are also important.
Other areas that affect testosterone production include exercise (weight training can increase testosterone), diet (fat, carb, protein, and soy intake can all affect testosterone), and sleep (inadequate sleep can lower testosterone).
Boosting testosterone? Or learning through osmosis?
With that said, there are a whole bunch of supplements that can help boost testosterone and sex drive. They include:
- Tribulus terrestris
- Avena sativa
- Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali)
- Vitex agnus castus (Vitex or chasteberry)
- Maca (Lepidium meyenii or Lepidium peruvianum)
- Epimedium (Horny goat weed or Icariin)
- Yohimbe
- Xanthoparmelia scabrosa
- Cnidium monnieri
- Muira puama
- Ashwagandha
- Urtica dioica (Stinging nettle)
- Deer antler velvet
Most testosterone boosting or libido enhancing products will contain a stack of several of these ingredients, plus some other nutrients. You can also have HHS put together a testosterone boosting supplement strategy. Call or email for pricing.
