6 Natural Foods That Promote Fat Loss

Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is essential for various reasons. When someone is at a higher weight than they are comfortable with, it can drastically affect their mental wellness and overall self-esteem. Aside from improved mental health, losing fat is also a great way to ward off preventable chronic diseases brought on by obesity. Such conditions include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and fatty liver disease.

The health risks alone are enough to encourage a change to eating habits. But where to start? Many suggest going on crash diets or working out incessantly, but those tactics don’t really work for sustainable fat loss. If you want to lose fat and keep it off, you’ll have to put most of your focus into food. So can the food you eat help you lose weight? And if so, what are some natural foods that promote fat loss? Let’s investigate. 

Food to promote weight loss 

Food and fat loss may not seem to go hand in hand, but no matter what you weigh, you still have to eat to fuel your body. That is why avoiding overeating isn’t the only factor, but also focusing heavily on what you do eat. All foods give you energy, even “junk food.” That said, the right foods will offer your body the nutrients and other substances it needs to burn fat on a cellular level. When losing fat, food can be your best friend. 

coffee
Image by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash: What foods help burn belly fat? 

What are the best fat loss foods? 

Choosing the right foods for fat loss doesn’t have to be an arduous guessing game. A few will help your body do what it needs to do to get rid of excess fat while you limit weight-gain foods and move your body more.

1. Fatty fish 

Fatty fish such as salmon, herring, sardines, and mackerel are all great options if your goal is to lose fat. The primary nutrient in these types of fish is omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids can contribute to a reduction in inflammation as well as a reduced risk of heart disease.

When it comes to losing fat, studies have found that eating fatty fish helps fat loss because of its effect on cortisol. Cortisol is one of the body’s stress hormones. When you have high levels of cortisol, the body holds on to fat. However, eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids has been shown to lower cortisol levels, making it easier to lose fat.

These types of fish are also high in protein, a nutrient that increases metabolism and makes you feel fuller for longer. 

2. Coffee

Coffee is a day starter for many people because of its caffeine content – caffeine can help people become more alert in the morning. The substance can also improve mood and increase mental and physical performance.  

Studies find that when people consume caffeine before working out, they burn almost twice as much fat as those who do not. Because of this increase in physical stamina, fat loss during exercise is much easier. Caffeine also boosts the metabolism by as much as 13%, which gives the body more fat-burning power even at rest. 

3. Eggs

Eggs are often overlooked as a healthy food because they are high in cholesterol. However, they are actually nutritional powerhouses because of all the essential vitamins they contain. 

Research finds that people who eat eggs for breakfast are less hungry throughout the day and eat less. Because of this, it is easier to lose fat.

Eggs also contain high amounts of protein, which, as mentioned above, helps increase your metabolic rate and encourage fat burn during downtime. 

4. Green tea

Green tea is hailed as a health food because it has many benefits. Aside from the more commonly known effects, such as reducing the risk of heart disease and protecting against cancer, green tea also provides caffeine and an antioxidant known as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). 

EGCG is crucial for fat loss because of the way it promotes fat burning, especially in the belly area.  

red chili peppers
Image by Ryan Quintal on Unsplash: Are there any healthy snacks for weight loss? Yes!

5. Chili peppers 

Chili peppers add spice to foods. Consuming chili peppers can be great for your health, too. Antioxidants in chili peppers have been shown to reduce inflammation while protecting your cells from damage that could lead to chronic disease because of the ingredient capsaicin.  

Capsaicin can also help promote fat loss for several reasons. The substance reduces overeating because of its ability to make you feel fuller for extended periods. People limiting their calorie intake to lose weight may slow their metabolism. However, adding chili peppers with capsaicin counteracts that slowing of metabolism, which can encourage more fat burn throughout the day. 

6. Olive oil 

Olive oil is a healthy fat, and while eating fat may seem counterintuitive to losing fat, it’s actually a vital piece of the fat loss puzzle. Olive oil can reduce triglyceride levels, raise good cholesterol levels, and encourage the body to produce more of a hormone that helps you feel fuller longer. 

Studies also found that people who consume extra virgin olive oil with their meals burn more fat for a few hours following the meal. That means that olive oil helps you eat fewer calories and encourages your body to burn more when you’re at rest. 

Eating to lose fat is an integral part of the weight loss puzzle. You just have to know what foods to eat to ensure that your body continuously burns more fat. 

Featured image by CA Creative on Unsplash

How Quality Of Sleep Can Influence Weight

A good night’s sleep involves a lot more than just sleeping for a set number of hours. Typically, it’s advised that adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. While the time you spend asleep is a great jumping off-point when you’re looking to get quality sleep, it is nowhere near the entire picture of what is means to have high sleep quality. But what is sleep quality, exactly? And how is it connected to your bodyweight? Read on to learn all you need to know about how quality of sleep can influence weight.

What is sleep quality?

To understand sleep quality, it’s important to first understand what sleep is and everything that goes on within your body when you shut your eyes at night. The process of sleep may seem simple – close your eyes, sleep, wake up! – but it’s much more than that.

Sleep revolves around the body’s circadian rhythm, which is our internal clock. The clock itself follows a 24-hour period and affects the physical and mental changes that go on during that period. Importantly, the circadian rhythm controls your sleep–wake cycle, which determines how you sleep at night and how you awake each morning. It’s tied in with consistent, restorative patterns of sleep, so if your circadian rhythm is off, so is your sleep.

person weighing self on scales
Image by I yunmai on Unsplash: How does lack of sleep affect weight?

While you’re in the sleep state of the sleep–wake cycle, you go through various stages, each with its own important physiological purpose. The stages are:

  • Stage 1: Light Sleep. This stage lasts only five to 10 minutes and primes you to get a good night’s rest by slowing down the body and mind.
  • Stage 2: Secondary Light Sleep. This stage causes more changes in the body to prepare you for the next stage. Your eye movements, muscle and brain activity begin to slow. However, brain waves can spike sporadically during this stage, which experts believe helps retain long-term memory.
  • Stages 3 and 4: Deep Sleep. These occur when the body is completely relaxed. Your breath rate, blood pressure, and body temperature are all decreased during this stage so that the body can release hormones designed to repair and produce tissue as well as moderate immune function.
  • Stage 5: REM Sleep. This is probably one of the most well-known stages because of how often it is talked about. It’s the time in which the body processes and stores information through the act of dreaming.

These stages all have a specific role to play in our quality of sleep, but they are also symbiotic in the sense that a person must go through all the stages three or four times per night to get a good quality sleep.

How are sleep and weight related?

It may seem as though sleep and weight couldn’t possibly be related. After all, you’re not overeating in your sleep or slacking out on that exercise session! However, the two often go hand-in-hand because of the physiological processes that occur within the body during sleep.

The connection between sleep and weight has a lot to do with whether a person gets good quality sleep every night, or whether they continue to burn the midnight oil and avoid the shut-eye their body needs to be rested for the following day.

Recent research has found that sleep can play a role in obesity as well as during weight loss journeys. When looking at this from a sleep quality standpoint, the length of sleep as well as how “good” it is are both factors in weight. 

How does bad sleep affect your metabolism?

Your metabolism is the process that turns the food you eat into energy. It also provides cells with energy they need to complete their basic functions. During sleep, the body’s metabolic rate, or the rate at which it burns calories for energy, is reduced by roughly 15%.

Some may draw the conclusion that because you’re burning fewer calories during sleep, you may be able to mitigate this by sleeping less during the night. However, the opposite can be true.

Even though you burn fewer calories during the night, if you don’t spend enough time in good quality sleep, your metabolism can actually malfunction when you are awake, leading to issues that can either drive weight gain or slow weight loss. This is because of how sleep can affect glucose as well as insulin sensitivity. When people do not get proper sleep on a regular basis, their body’s ability to use glucose stores effectively is hindered, as is their insulin response.

woman weighing self after waking up
Image by alan KO on Unsplash: Does bad sleep make you gain weight?

Does quality of sleep affect weight?

When looking at sleep in relation to weight loss programs, research has found that people who get better sleep on a regular basis are more likely to have weight loss success over those who don’t. This is likely because of the aforementioned effects that sleep has on the function of the metabolism.

What’s more is that when people are losing weight, they are often subject to muscle mass loss as well. However, if you incorporate good-quality sleep into your weight loss plan, studies have shown that you are more likely to lose more fat while preserving your muscle mass. 

To sum up: while not getting enough good-quality sleep can be harmful to various areas of your health, it can also be harmful to your waistline.

Featured image by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

How Stress Can Influence Weight

Many factors are at play when it comes to our weight. Food (the types eaten and how much), exercise (how often we move our body), and genetics can all play a role in whether a person gains or loses weight easily, or how well they are able to maintain a healthy weight. Metabolism – the rate at which we burn or store calories – can also influence weight.

There are other lesser-known factors that contribute to weight loss or gain just as strongly as those mentioned above. One such factor that many people either don’t know about, or pay little attention to, is stress levels. Read on to learn how stress can influence weight in terms of both loss and gain.

What is chronic stress?

Everyone experiences stress at some point in their lives. Whether those stresses are small, such as being stuck in traffic while late for work, or large, such as losing a loved one, feeling stressed from time to time is unavoidable. Typically, passing stressors don’t do much in the way of weight gain or loss, because the body can cope well with the type of stress that doesn’t stick around. However, when chronic stress strikes, it’s a whole different story.

Chronic stress is characterized as consistent and unrelenting periods of high stress that tend to last for three months or more. People who experience chronic stress often find themselves dealing with other physical symptoms such as aches and pains or the inability to get a good night’s rest. When a person deals with this level of stress for a long time, several physiological changes can occur.

One such change is the level of cortisol in the blood. Cortisol is referred to as the primary stress hormone. In the natural stress response, cortisol raises and encourages the release of more glucose into the blood stream. That glucose is then used by the brain and bodily tissues as a way to repair injury. It also stops the functioning of certain processes that could hinder a person’s ability to fight or flee in a dangerous situation.  

During a chronic stress situation, levels of cortisol stay high and the processes that are hindered as a form of protection remain that way, even when there’s no threat or danger. This leads to various malfunctions within the body, one of which can affect your weight.

woman eating sandwich
Image by Gardie Design & Social Media Marketing on Unsplash: Does stress cause weight gain or loss?

How does chronic stress affect your weight?

Chronic stress can affect your weight in different ways because of the high levels of cortisol you’re experiencing. High levels of cortisol change the way many processes in the body function and can make it difficult to maintain a healthy weight by either encouraging weight loss or weight gain. But how does stress cause weight gain or loss, exactly?

Can stress cause weight gain?

Cortisol and weight gain often go hand in hand because of the way the hormone affects the body. When a person is constantly under stress, they may experience sugar cravings because the body is using up all the glucose it has stored in order to be ready for the perceived threat.

However, when there is no threat and that glucose storage is getting used up, the body will crave more and more sugar because it won’t have any left to power up the areas needed for the fight or flight response. This increase in sugar cravings can lead to a person eating more sugary foods that cause weight gain. The body also stores sugar after stressful situations so that it’s well prepared, and if these stores don’t get used as energy, they can end up on your waistline. 

If you’re trying to lose weight but are constantly stressed, cortisol will make that difficult, too. This is because cortisol slows down your metabolism. When the metabolism slows, less calories are burned on a day-to-day basis and you will find it increasingly difficult to lose weight.

measuring tape and weight scale
Image by Pixabay on Unsplash: Can you stop cortisol-induced weight gain?

How to stop cortisol weight gain

If you want to stop the cortisol weight gain, you will first have to lower your levels of cortisol – that is, by reducing your stress levels. This can be easier said than done, but one proven way you can do this is by practicing mindful meditation. Studies have shown that the practice of meditation can effectively lower cortisol levels in people who perform it regularly. Regular moderate exercise may also help to lower cortisol levels over time, leaving you less stressed in the long run and more able to either lose weight or maintain your weight over time.

Research has shown that other activities and stress reduction techniques can also help to lower cortisol levels within the body. These activities include:

  • Music or art therapy
  • Yoga
  • Being out in nature
  • Focusing on positives

Does stress cause you to lose weight?

On the opposite side of the spectrum, stress can also cause a person to lose weight. While most of the clinical research surrounding chronic stress and weight focuses heavily on weight gain, there are some reasons why stress could also cause a person to lose weight, including a loss of appetite or an inability to sit still (causing more calories to be burned throughout the day).

Chronic stress is bad for the body in many ways, and weight fluctuation is one of them. In addition to eating well and exercising, the best thing you can do to maintain a healthy weight is undertake stress management/reduction techniques that can help you curb chronic stress.

Image by Artem Labunsky on Unsplash

What Does “Fat Release” Mean?

There is an entire facet of the health industry focused on fat loss. There are many reasons why people would want to shed fat, from overall health to cosmetic reasons and even to improve mental health.

While many people understand the ins and outs of weight loss when it comes to burning more calories and eating less food, there is less understanding about where exactly fat goes when we lose weight, and how the body gets rid of it. The term “fat release” is sometimes used to define the body’s way of releasing fat – but what does “fat release” mean, exactly, and what bodily processes are involved in losing weight?

What is fat?

Body fat is made up of a grouping of cells known as adipocytes. These create connective tissue that is an important part of the endocrine system. In fact, adipose tissue is now hailed an organ of its own. Fat is stored in adipocytes and can be used to supply energy to the body if needed.

Fat, while often characterized as “bad,” actually has several valuable purposes when it comes to human health. For example, it helps to cushion the body as well as insulate it. There are two main types of body fat, otherwise known as adipose tissue: white and brown. Both types help to create certain hormones and encourage immune system response by helping in the production of cytokines – immune cells that aid in the growth and function of other types of immune cells within the body.

An adequate amount of fat on the body can be helpful. Too much, however, can negatively affect other organs and lead to chronic disease.

doctor helping patient with fat loss
Image by mohamed_hassan on Pixabay: Fat cells cannot actually be eliminated from the body.

The physiology behind fat loss

When fat becomes deposited in the body, it is referred to as lipogenesis. This process occurs when there is more fat than needed for energy, leading to the fat being stored within the adipocytes and accumulating in excess.

When a person decides to lose weight, they change their lifestyle habits, usually to decrease an excess of foods that may be transformed into unused fats within the body. During this time, the body begins to use its fat stores instead of other energy sources, with the fat in the adipocytes being expelled into the bloodstream.

This fat-burning process is actually quite complicated. Fat that is stored in the cell cannot be burned from within the cell. It first has to be expelled as an energy source, as mentioned above.

Where do fat cells go when losing weight?

Fat cells hold excess fat, but when that fat exits the cell, it is transformed into a free fatty acid within the bloodstream and sent to the body’s tissues. This fat can then be used as an energy source for muscles and tissues. The cell that contained the fat, however, doesn’t move from its original spot – it remains exactly where it is.

Instead of the cell itself being removed from the body entirely, it shrinks. So essentially, when losing fat, you aren’t getting rid of fat cells, but rather the buildup of fat within the cells. As they’re emptied of fat, they become smaller, and thus less fat appears on the body externally.

Each fat cell can continuously grow or shrink. It’s all a matter of how much fat is either deposited into or expelled from the cell.

anatomical model of lungs
Image by Robina Weermeijer on Unsplash: How does fat leave the body? Surprisingly, mostly through the lungs.

How does fat release from your body?

The process in which fat is expelled from fat cells involves several different reactions. As mentioned above, these reactions cause the fat to be removed from the cell and sent out into the bloodstream to reach muscles or other tissues that need to use it for energy so they can perform their basic functions.

That energy, however, it still within the body until it can be released. When used, it gets broken down into water and carbon dioxide, which in turn become waste products that need to be excreted from the body. Carbon dioxide is expelled through the respiratory system, meaning that it is eventually breathed out of the body. Water can be expelled through urine, sweat, and exhaling breath. Because of this process, the respiratory system is widely considered an integral part of fat metabolism. In fact, research has found that the majority (84%) of fat release from the body occurs through exhaling carbon dioxide, and only 16% is expelled from the body as water.

This might be hard to wrap your mind around – fat doesn’t seem to have much to do with water or breath! But the above chemical processes are how fat loss occurs. Losing weight can be a challenging process for many people, but when you do go about getting rid of excess pounds, it can be helpful to appreciate exactly what your body is doing to help you achieve this. 

Featured image by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

How To Lose Weight Safely

There is no shortage of weight loss tips, pills, concoctions, and programs out there. There is an entire multi-billion-dollar industry dedicated to helping people shed unwanted pounds. But while some of these products or tips work wonders, many others make bold miracle promises – and may not be healthy or even safe at all.

In some cases, people want to lose weight for their health, whereas other scenarios revolve around conforming to traditional “beauty standards.” Whatever a person’s motivation, losing weight can be a convoluted process simply because of the sheer number of possible ways out there. So, considering the dangerous side of weight loss, what’s the best way to shed extra pounds in a healthy manner? Read on to learn how to lose weight safely.

Can losing weight be dangerous?

While losing weight in and of itself isn’t typically dangerous and can be beneficial to one’s health, the way you go about it can be dangerous. For example, if a person decides that they want to lose weight fast and begins eating too little or not eating the right things, they may end up hindering their health rather than improving it.

Rapid weight loss is possibly the most detrimental and dangerous kind, as it can lead to health issues such as:

Because rapid weight loss is typically everyone’s goal, people who aim to lose weight the fastest are the most at risk.

plate with sad face
Image by Thought Catalog on Unsplash: What are the dangers of weight loss?

What is the safest and healthiest way to lose weight?

The timeline for losing weight should always be slow and steady. Studies have found that losing weight at a pace of one to two pounds per week is the best way to not only maintain your health, but also be sure that the weight is kept off long-term. This is for a couple of reasons: people who lose weight slowly are less likely to gain it back, and during slow weight loss, many people adopt new, healthier lifestyle habits that they can take with them throughout the rest of their lives.

What you eat also matters. While being in a calorie deficit is vital to ensure that you’re burning more than you’re taking in, thus causing your body to lose weight, it’s not the entire picture. The foods you eat while losing weight are important, too.

Eating nutrient-dense wholefoods such as vegetables, fruits, lean meats, and wholegrain products will give your body what you need while keeping you in a calorie deficit. If you continue to eat poorly while in a calorie deficit, not only will your body become deprived of nutrients, you will also be forced to eat much less throughout the day.

Safe weight loss tips

There are many aspects involved in safe weight loss. The best way to lose weight safely and effectively is by following these tips:

1. Talk to your doctor first

Prior to beginning any diet plan, you should speak to your doctor about your current health situation and what your body can handle when it comes to losing weight. Your doctor knows you and your medical history, and will be able to supervise your weight loss so that it works effectively and doesn’t cause negative health repercussions.

2. Avoid overly processed foods

Processed foods are always high in things that can hinder weight loss, such as added sugar, fat, sodium, and calories. They have little to no nutritional value, too. Studies have also found that in some cases, processed foods can lead to addictive behaviors that cause a person to binge-eat, which can obviously hinder your weight loss efforts. Instead of processed foods, eat wholefoods that are as nutrient-dense as possible.

3. Practice mindful and slow eating

When you sit down for a meal, your body is hungry. As you eat, the body receives the food and will eventually send you a signal that it has had enough. The problem with this signal is that in some cases, people do not receive it fast enough, because they are eating too fast or eating mindlessly while doing something else.

When you focus on your food and eat more slowly, you will be better equipped to receive that signal when you’re actually full, as opposed to when you’ve already eaten too much. 

medical doctor
Image by Usman Yousaf on Unsplash: Safe weight loss starts at your doctor’s office.

4. Be kind to yourself

Since losing weight slowly is the healthiest way to go about it, it’s possible to get discouraged when you don’t see immediate results. But it’s important to be patient with your body and kind to yourself, regardless of the results you see. As long as you maintain your efforts, the results you want will come.

5. Chill out

High levels of stress can actually cause a person to stop losing weight because the stress hormone, cortisol, gets released in high amounts, leading to cravings and the slowing of your metabolism. Stress can also invoke unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as binging on food or eating foods that will not aid in weight loss. 

6. Prioritize exercise

Movement is an important aspect for weight loss because it can lead to more calories burned throughout the day. Cardio is great for burning a lot of calories, and weightlifting or bodyweight exercises are great for building muscle, which will lead to a higher calorie burn while you’re at rest.

Weight loss isn’t easy (no matter what any weight loss company or product says!). The good news is that safe weight loss, while it takes time and hard work, is one of the best things you can do for your health, now and into the future.

Featured image by i yunmai on Unsplash

4 Peptides That Aid Fat Loss

Obesity has been linked to the onset of (and higher risk of developing) many different chronic illnesses and diseases. Many people talk about weight loss as if it is an easy process – but that is not always the case. There are so many factors that go into losing weight, and all of them need to be taken into consideration – age, activity level, diet and exercise, health status, genetics; the list goes on.

While there is no cure-all miracle pill for losing weight, there are things people can do if they are struggling to shed unwanted pounds. Aside from the obvious “eat less, move more” mentality, taking certain types of supplements that give the body a little push can be highly beneficial for those who have a difficult time losing weight.

One group of specific supplements that has shown promise in the area of weight management is peptides. But what are peptides, exactly? And how do they work for weight loss? Read on for all you need to know, including a list of specific peptides that aid fat loss.

What are peptides?

Peptides are naturally occurring substances made up of amino acids, which are considered to be the building blocks of protein. Within the body, peptides are similar to protein in the sense that they are made up of amino acids, though they have fewer than protein does.

Synthetic peptides (those made in a lab and used in supplements) are designed to mimic the peptides found in the body to help with certain processes and reactions. They have been used in many ways, such as to help with certain health conditions and aid in the overall health of skin and muscles. Peptides that help with skin health can act as collagen in the body, whereas creatine peptides can help with muscle growth.

weight loss
Image by Fuu J on Unsplash: Can peptides help you lose weight?

Do peptides really work for weight loss?

As mentioned above, peptides are used to help mimic certain actions within the body that should already be taking place, but aren’t. These actions can include cell signaling, neurotransmission, and hormone production and release.

Research has been addressing the use of peptides for weight loss for decades now, and many studies have found that they can be helpful in losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight. However, no two peptides are alike, and people may respond differently to each type.

Peptides for fat loss and muscle gain

While not all peptides are designed to help manage weight, there are some that have been shown to be helpful when combined with a healthy lifestyle. They include:

1. AOD9604

AOD9604 is a type of peptide fragment that comes from the C-terminus of HGH (the human growth hormone). It is designed to have the same fat-burning action that HGH has, without any side effects.

Studies have examined the use of AOD9604 in people with obesity over the course of a 12-week study. During that time, the individuals aiming to lose weight were highly successful when using the AOD9604 peptide. The participants were put into groups and the group that lost the most weight did so while using a 1mg dose of AOD9604 over the course of the 12 weeks. 

2. 5-Amino-1MQ

The 5-Amino-1MQ peptide is relatively newer on the scene, but research surrounding its use for weight loss has shown it to be a viable contender. The way this peptide works addresses obesity on a cellular level by operating on mitochondria. When someone uses this peptide, they will experience an increase in energy.

Studies have shown that 5-Amino-1MQ not only works for weight loss, but also helps decrease other unhealthy consequences of obesity such as high cholesterol levels, slowed metabolism, increase in fat cell formation, and diet-induced obesity. This peptide works best when it is used alongside NAD+.

3. CJC-1295

This peptide is a type of growth hormone-releasing hormone analog that is designed to encourage the increased production of HGH and IGF-1. When these are increased, fat reduction, muscle growth, and better sleep can be more easily attainable.

fork and measuring tape
Image by Diana Polekhina on Unsplash: What peptide is best for fat loss?

4. Semaglutide

Semaglutide is used for obesity, but it has also been effective at helping people with illnesses that are often associated with obesity such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

Semaglutide is a type of hormone that is tasked with insulin production and restriction of glucagon release. This results in an overall decrease of blood sugar levels. It is also one of the only FDA-approved drugs available when it comes to peptides for weight loss, and research has shown that it may be one of the most effective weight loss drugs available on the market.

One particular study looked at a group of people who wanted to lose weight and found that over the course of the 68-week study, over 50% of participants lost more than 15% of their overall body weight by simply using semaglutide.

While the above peptides have been shown to aid in weight loss, they should never be used in place of a healthy diet and exercise. Losing weight is a multi-faceted process that requires dedication and commitment to making healthier choices. Using products such as peptides for weight loss can help in your journey, but you should also consult a doctor prior to trying any new weight loss plan.

Featured image by I yunmai on Unsplash

What Is Metabolic Rate & What Is Its Role In Fat Loss/Retention?

The human body requires a specific amount of energy to get through each day. This energy comes from food in the form of calories. Even if you were to lie in bed all day doing nothing, your body would still need a set amount of calories to perform basic vital functions such as breathing and blood circulation. This set number of calories is what is referred to as metabolic rate.

There are two different types of metabolic rate: the basal metabolic rate (BMR) and the resting metabolic rate (RMR). Although these two terms are often used interchangeably, they are slightly different. The BMR is used to measure how many calories a person needs to perform the most basic of tasks. The RMR is used to measure how many calories the body burns while it is at rest.

To calculate a truly accurate BMR, a person must be in a lab setting and under very restrictive conditions whereas they can be measured in the morning before eating or exercising. There are, however, calculators you can use to measure your BMR if you plan to use it to help you reach your weight loss goals.

Why is metabolic rate important?

Knowing your BMR can be a great tool on the road to healthy weight management. This is because it allows you to see just how many calories your body is burning while at rest and how much energy your body needs daily to function. The BMR will be different for anyone, so sometimes, counting calories based on an average isn’t always enough to determine if you’re getting the right amount of energy per day.

For example, if your BMR is 1600 calories per day, that means that you will need to consume 1600 calories just to sustain yourself. This doesn’t account for activity levels. If you are more active, you will need to consume more to help balance the energy in versus energy out levels.

woman after fat loss
Image by Mojzagrebinfo on Pixabay: What is meant by your metabolic rate and why is it important for fat loss? 

A popular equation used to calculate BMR is the Harris-Benedict BMR. It calculates for men and women separately. The equations are:

  • BMR for men: 88.362 + (13.397 x your weight in kg) + (4.799 x your height in cm) – (5.677 x your age in years)
  • BMR for women: 447.593 + (9.247 x your weight in kg) + (3.098 x your height in cm) – (4.330 x your age in years)

These equations are able to tell you exactly what your BMR is, which will give you the information you need to determine how many calories you need to consume or burn for weight loss or gain. Be aware that this equation does not take into account your activity level; however, there are Harris-Benedict BMR calculators online that can incorporate that factor for a more accurate measurement.

Does resting metabolic rate decrease with weight loss?

When someone loses weight, they may require less energy to get them through the day. This is because with less body weight, the body doesn’t have to work as hard to perform basic functions and thus less energy is expended throughout the day.

On the opposite side of things, when a person gains weight, their RMR is likely to increase. It also depends on the kind of weight a person gains. For example, muscle gain is more likely to increase RMR to a greater extent than fat gain would. This is because the energy used by fat is lower than the energy used by muscle.

Factors that can affect the RMR include:

  • Age. As a person ages, they RMR decreases. This is because of typical age-related changes in weight and body composition caused by hormone changes, the body’s decreased ability to synthesize protein, and cell death.
  • Eating less. When a person partakes in caloric restriction, their body lowers the RMR in an effort to conserve the energy it has reserved.
  • Medications. Both antidepressants and stimulants can have an effect on RMR. Antidepressants tend to increase it because they are typically associated with weight gain, and stimulants tend to lower it because they are associated with weight loss.

Other than those factors, a person’s RMR is typically unchangeable because it is determined largely by their unique way of expending energy for basic life-sustaining functions. 

spicy red chillis
Image by Tamanna Rumee on Unsplash: Spicy food can help to speed up metabolism.

How do I speed up my metabolism for fat loss?

Although it can be difficult to manipulate your resting metabolic rate, there are things you can do to slightly speed up your metabolism and increase fat loss after you’ve calculated just how many calories your body needs.

One such thing is utilizing the thermic effect of food. Research has shown that the thermic effect helps to increase metabolism for a few hours after eating. The nutrient that offers the highest thermic effect is protein. By eating more protein, you can help to rev up your calorie burning after every meal.

You can also incorporate more exercise, since exercise is proven to help boost the calorie-burning powers of the metabolism. High-intensity workouts, specifically, are great for helping to boost the metabolism. Other ways you can help speed up your metabolism and thus speed up weight loss include drinking more cold water, drinking green or oolong tea, and eating spicy foods.

While you’re pretty much set with your RMR and BMR, you can use it to help you lose fat and get to a healthy overall weight.

Featured image by Bill Oxford on Unsplash

Are Appetite Suppressants Safe?

Having a healthy appetite is a good sign that your body is working as it should be. The appetite is your body’s way of telling you that it’s time to refuel. It helps to regulate food intake for peak performance, and is designed to keep your body full of the energy and micronutrients it needs. In healthy individuals, this built-in mechanism is the perfect signalling service. 

However, for those who are overweight, obese, or experience extreme hunger for any number of health issues (such as a lack of protein, inadequate sleep, or high levels of stress), the appetite can be their worst enemy. This is because feeling hungry when you know that your body has had enough food can lead to overeating, weight management issues, and the inability to lose weight. There are some supplements or medications marketed to help regulate your body’s natural appetite signals. But what are appetite suppressants, exactly? And are they actually safe to use?

What are appetite suppressants?

Appetite suppressants are drugs that belong to the anorectic drug class. They are designed to reduce appetite so that people consume less food throughout the day, and are typically used by those looking to shed pounds. They can work by eliminating hunger pangs altogether or by causing feelings of fullness after only a small amount of food has been consumed. When they are sold over the counter (OTC) they are often referred to as diet pills.

These types of medications essentially trick your brain by utilizing a couple of different tactics. One such tactic is to increase levels of serotonin, which leads to feelings of fullness. This is because serotonin is a natural appetite suppressant and can actually turn off feelings of hunger. Appetite suppressants can also target the adrenal gland and block the brain from communicating hunger signals to the rest of the body.

Vital RX - weight loss
Image by I yunmai on Unsplash: Appetite suppressants can be effective, but they don’t work for everyone.

Do appetite suppressants work?

Appetite suppressants have been shown to be effective; however, they may not always work for everyone. Research has shown that people who use appetite suppressants in combination with a healthy diet plan and exercise regimen were able to lose roughly three to nine percent of their starting weight in the 12 months following the beginning of their weight loss journey. But this number is an average, and does not take into account those who may not have had any success with the drug.

Is it safe to take appetite suppressants?

Back in the 1990s, doctors discovered the appetite suppressant “fen-phen”, which worked wonders for melting fat away. But in the years that followed, some of the patients who had taken the drugs were found to have heart valve damage that led to heart failure and pulmonary hypertension. These damages were fatal in some people. This revelation about the appetite suppressant caused the pills to become feared rather than revered.

Since then, new appetite suppressants have been created in their place. The drugs that are now in use have been deemed safe to use without the risk of serious side effects such as the ones that came with the use of fen-phen; however, they may not be safe for everyone. For example, those with glaucoma, heart disease, liver disease, or hypothyroidism should not use appetite suppressants at all. They are also deemed unsafe for pregnant and breastfeeding people.

What are the risks of appetite suppressants? 

Before taking appetite suppressants, everyone should know the risks that are involved. This is because the risks can sometimes outweigh the benefits, especially for those who are not looking to lose weight for health reasons. There are many complications that can arise; for example, some people have developed pulmonary hypertension even while using the latest in appetite suppressants.

Appetite suppressants have also been shown to cause gastric upset in many people. This could lead to unwanted side effects such as constipation, nausea, and vomiting. Another big risk factor that goes along with taking appetite suppressants is liver disease. Though the condition may be rare, it can be incredibly dangerous.

Other more common side effects of appetite suppressants include:

  • Cough
  • Dizziness
  • Dry mouth
  • Change in taste
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • High blood pressure
  • Increased heart rate
  • Insomnia or other sleep-related issues

Appetite suppressants can also interact with certain medications such as anti-anxiety drugs and antidepressants. Those who wish to begin taking appetite suppressants for weight loss should always speak to their doctor to discuss any medication interactions or potential side effects.

Vital RX - appetite
Image by Diana Polekhina on Unsplash: Appetite suppressants can help people lose weight, but are best combined with a healthy lifestyle plan.

Are there any effective alternatives to appetite suppressants?

If you want to explore other options for losing weight in the form of natural appetite suppressants, there are many options available to you. One simple way to suppress your appetite is by increasing your fiber intake. Fiber has the ability to decrease cravings, control blood sugar levels, and help you lose weight.  

You could also try using supplements that increase levels of serotonin in the brain, such as 5-HTP. By increasing serotonin levels, you will feel less hungry. An increase in serotonin levels has also been shown to decrease carbohydrate intake, which leads to weight loss. Other natural appetite suppressants that are simple, easy to consume, and don’t come with many side effects include green tea, garcinia cambogia, and coffee.

Appetite suppressants may lead to weight loss, but they can also pose some serious health risks if they are not approached correctly. Speak with your doctor prior to beginning any new regimen with appetite suppressants.

Featured image by Bill Oxford on Unsplash

What Organ Systems Are Affected By Excess Body Fat?

Being overweight or obese can be dangerous for a variety of different reasons. When many people focus on losing weight, a big part of their motivation comes from cosmetic reasons – but many people aren’t privy to the real health risks of carrying around excess weight.

How does obesity affect the body?

On a cellular level, the process of gaining weight occurs when new fat cells are formed, and along with old fat cells, begin to grow. Every person has a set number of fat cells; when weight loss occurs, those fat cells begin to shrink, not disappear. This could be why some people are more likely to be overweight or obese than others.

Obesity puts a strain on every system of the body. To put it into perspective, think about your body as a vehicle. When the trunk is completely empty, the car will run smoother and faster, and waste less gas. As the trunk begins to fill up, its performance continues to decrease. In terms of the body, as weight continues to build upon the frame, the body’s systems begin to lose their ability to do what they’re supposed to do.

Vital RX - weight
Image by Siora Photography on Unsplash: How do you know if you have excess body fat if it’s not obvious?

How do you know if you have excess body fat?

Aside from visually seeing the weight on your body, knowing how much fat you have can be tricky. The Body Mass Index (BMI) has been used as an indicator since the 1800s, but recent research has found that it has no place in determining overall levels of health because of the factors it doesn’t take into consideration.

The best way to tell if you have excess fat but aren’t sure of it is to check your overall levels of health. If you get winded going upstairs or can’t do a single push-up, it could mean that your body isn’t carrying around as much muscle as you thought.

Risks associated with excess body fat

There are some serious health risks associated with being overweight. In comparison to those with healthy body weights, those who are obese have a higher risk for developing the following health conditions:

  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Heart disease
  • Liver disease
  • Kidney disease
  • High cholesterol
  • Stroke
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Breathing problems and sleep issues
  • Cancer
  • Mental illness
  • Chronic pain and inflammation
  • Early death


This list is not exhaustive, but it does paint a grim picture about how that excess body weight can be detrimental to one’s overall levels of a health.

Body systems affected by being overweight

When there is excess weight on the body, it doesn’t typically affect only one system, but rather the majority of them. The location of the highest levels of fat will be the deciding factor of what system is affected and how badly. Visceral fat is the type of fat that sits around the organs, and when it is found in high amounts, it can damage organ function.

Respiratory system

The respiratory system is the network of organs and tissues that help with breathing. When the body has too much fat, it can cause issues with this system by putting compression on the chest cavity, particularly the lungs and diaphragm. This leads to pulmonary damage. Excess fat can also decrease how well the respiratory functions by reducing muscle strength in the chest. The buildup of fat on the body can lead to asthma, airway hyperresponsiveness, and increased inflammation.

Digestive system

Obesity can lead to a variety of different digestive issues, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, erosive esophagitis, gallstones, pancreatitis, and digestive organ cancers.

Reproductive system

Studies have shown that women who are overweight or obese have a harder time becoming pregnant due to anovulation and menstrual dysfunction. They can also experience infertility at higher rates than those who have a healthy amount of fat on their body, as well as a heightened risk for miscarriage and pregnancy complications.

Endocrine system

Obesity affects the endocrine system by altering the way the hypothalamic-pituitary hormone axes functions. This leads to problems with hormone release, which can cause hypothyroidism, hypogonadism, growth hormone deficiency, and Cushing’s Disease.

Cardiovascular system

Since those with too much excess weight require more blood to circulate oxygen throughout the body, the cardiovascular system has to work extra hard. This leads to high blood pressure, which in turn significantly raises the risk of heart attack. It can also change the structure and function of the heart because of how hard it has to work to get the same tasks done, leading to heart failure.

Vital RX - excess weight
Image by Jarmoluk on Pixabay: Every bodily system is affected by excess weight on the body.

Mental health

Being obese can lead to a variety of different mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and eating disorders.

Liver

Being obese can also affect the liver because of buildup that can lead to inflammation and damage. When the liver can’t handle the input to output of fat, it begins to malfunction. This leads to fatty liver disease.  

Kidneys

When the body holds excess weight, the kidneys need to work harder to filter out waste. This can lead to an over-productive kidney function. As time goes on, this extra work causes strain on the kidneys and can lead to kidney disease.

Musculoskeletal system

Being obese can cause limited function in the way the muscles perform, hindering mobility, postural and dynamic balance, and strength over time. It also puts unnecessary pressure on the joints, which can deplete cartilage levels, leading to a variety of arthritic conditions.

Immune system

Since obesity can cause an inflammatory response in the body, it can lead to an impairment in the immune function. This leads the body to become more susceptible to infections and an increased rate of mortality when battling serious respiratory infections such as H1N1.  

Since being overweight or obese can negatively affect all bodily systems, it can be attributed to the onset of many different diseases. Losing weight can be tough, but it’s often a huge step in the right direction towards living healthily.

Featured image by mojzagrebinfo on Pixabay

How To Fast-Track Your Fitness And Drop That Holiday Weight

The holidays are typically the time of year where everyone loosens their restrictions around diet and exercise. After all, with all the get-togethers and fun seasonal treats, it’s hard not to overindulge.

Research finds that the average person gains anywhere from 1–2 pounds during the holidays, which is much less than most people suspect. The main reason for the discrepancy in how much weight people actually gain and how much they think they gain is how they feel. Temporary bloating following heavy meals and lots of snacks can be the culprit behind feeling 10 pounds heavier.

Since weight gain can vary from person to person, only you will know how much weight you’ve put on over the holidays. The good news is that two to three weeks of overindulgence doesn’t tend to lead to too much weight gain. It can, however, lead to difficulty getting back into the swing of your diet and fitness routine. So, how can you get back on track after all the holiday fun is over?

Here’s how to fast-track your fitness – and how to drop holiday weight along with it.

Vital RX - dancing
Image by Danielle Cerullo on Unsplash: Dancing can be a fun activity to burn calories and lose that holiday weight.

How can I lose holiday weight fast with exercise?

The holiday weight you gained may be a little or a lot, depending on how relaxed you chose to be about your diet. The good news is that no matter how much weight you gained, there are some simple tips and tricks that can help you drop holiday heaviness. Since losing weight generally comes down to a combination of a calorie deficit and adequate exercise, focusing on what you eat and how much you move can lead to a quick reduction in that weight gain.

To get started with exercise in the new year, it can be helpful to add a new activity that you enjoy into your routine. The addition of something you’ve never done before will stimulate the mind, hold your interest, and provide you with a fun way to exercise. Research has shown that people who partake in physical activities that they enjoy and that provide more benefit than just healthy weight were more likely to stick to a routine, as well as to report higher levels of physical activity overall.

Exercises such as running or jogging, dancing, hiking, bicycling, and water sports can all lead to a high calorie burn. It’s all about finding something you love and sticking with it.  

How can I lose holiday weight fast with diet?

When it comes to diet, it may be hard to make the switch between all those sugary and salty treats you consumed over the holidays for plates of vegetables and low-carb foods. But it’s not impossible. There will be a period of adjustment, because sugar addiction is a real thing and it can be tough to deal with. The good news is that it passes relatively quickly, especially if you are someone who stays away from sugars for the better part of the year.

Cutting down on your sugar or refined carbohydrate intake, you’re likely to experience less hunger, which will lead to fewer calories eaten throughout the day. Adding in protein sources, vegetables, and healthy fats such as olive oil will also keep you satiated for longer, leaving you without the snack cravings that often come with the territory of overindulging in refined carbs and sugars.

If you want to lose the weight fact, restrictions will need to be set in place. Once you’ve dropped those extra couple of pounds, you can begin to slowly reintroduce some extra foods in moderation. After all, moderation is vital in limiting the chances for binge-eating unhealthy foods.

Some supplements can also be of great assistance when trying to lose weight after the holidays. Vital RX’s Fat Loss Subscription Box contains a combination of peptide supplements, vitamins, and nutrients to help kickstart a healthy weight loss journey.

How can I get workout results fast?

It’s crucial to take small steps in the right direction when it comes to changing diet and upping your workout routine. Research has shown that doing too much too quickly can lead to injury, burnout, or a stress response within the body. To get results quickly, you’ll have to improve your nutrition first.

Then, you’ll want to focus on the right type of exercise. An hour-long walk is good for you; however, an high-intensity 20-minute workout may help speed up results. This is because these types of exercises lead to the body’s improved ability to metabolize foods, leading to higher calorie burn in less time.  

Vital RX - holiday weight gain
Image by Samuel Ramos on Unsplash: Many people believe they gain more weight over the holidays than they actually do – the typical amount is one to two pounds.

How long does it take to get fitness levels up?

Fitness level improvements will vary depending on your starting point. If you work out all year round and just skipped the holidays, you will suffer from loss of muscle mass starting about two weeks after your last workout. Easing back into things will make it easier to keep up with form and prevent injury.

The first week back at your regularly scheduled routine will be harder than you remember, but your fitness levels are likely to be completely restored within one to two weeks. For those who are just starting a new routine, it may take a lot longer. Beginners can expect around eight weeks of hard to work to get to a moderate level of fitness.  

Taking a few weeks off every year to enjoy life and let loose can be good for the mind, which in turn is good for the body. It’s important to remember that those few weeks of holiday indulgence aren’t causing too much damage, and getting back into your healthy lifestyle is easier than you think. Motivation is crucial following the off time, and dropping holiday weight can be done by following the above tips closely.

Featured image by Victor Freitas on Unsplash

Everything You Need To Know About Peptide AOD-9604

Being overweight or obese can lead to a myriad of health conditions. It can also heighten the risk of developing other diseases as you age. A healthy body weight is ideal for overall health, but it can be hard to achieve for a multitude of reasons. Genetics, medications, and lifestyle habits all play a role in levels of obesity among the American population.

When it comes to losing weight, fad diets tend to be the go-to for many people, but they often come with other health concerns. Losing weight is a difficult task for anyone, but armored with the right knowledge, it doesn’t have to be. Eating right and exercising is the best way to shed pounds, but adding certain supplementation to your regimen can aid in quicker and healthier weight loss. Below we’ll take a look at one such supplement that can help with fat loss. Here’s everything you need to know about peptide AOD-9604.

What is peptide AOD-9604?

Peptide AOD-9604 is a peptide fragment of the human growth hormone; specifically, of the C-terminus. The C-terminus falls at the end of an amino acid chain and aids in protein translation from RNA. AOD-9604 has the ability to aid in weight loss by harboring the fat loss activity of the human growth hormone.

The human growth hormone plays a vital role in many bodily processes, but for adults, its most crucial role is in metabolism. When it comes to weight loss, the human growth hormone aids in the breaking down of fats in the form of triglycerides, which can then be used by the body as energy.

The human growth hormone was once considered as a potential treatment for obesity; however, adverse side effects such as insulin resistance, diabetes, cancer, edema, and hypertension were present, and it was rendered an unsuitable form of treatment in the long term.

Vital RX - working out
Image by Kate Trysh on Unsplash: AOD-9604 can be used to help build muscle and repair cartilage without causing the same adverse side effects experienced while using the human growth hormone.

How does AOD-9604 work?

The lipid metabolism is in charge of how the body uses and stores fat within its cells. It involves synthetization of both types of lipids (structural and functional), and determines how much fat becomes stored and how much is expended by way of cell signaling from the brain. When the brain tells fat cells to release their energy stores, also known as fatty acid molecules, the rest of the body takes them from the bloodstream to use as energy when there is none left by other means.

The AOD-9604 peptide can be used to encourage weight loss by stimulating the same fat-into-energy process initiated by the human growth hormone, having a direct effect on lipid metabolism. Some AOD-9604 studies on animals have found that the peptide can encourage an overall reduction of fat without affecting appetite by stimulating lipolysis and discouraging the process of lipogenesis.

Human clinical trial studies on the peptide have found that the other adverse side effects that occurred using the human growth hormone molecule as a form of weight loss treatment were not present when using AOD-9604.

What is AOD in bodybuilding?

The human growth hormone has long been hailed as a muscle builder because of its anabolic effects. It speeds up the healing process and repairs muscle tissue after long bouts of strenuous exercise. It has been known to be a direct component in the increase of overall muscle mass and reduction of fat.

The peptide AOD-9604 can be used to help regulate the body’s metabolism, which can then lend a hand in overall reduction of fat. When it comes to fitness and bodybuilding, AOD-9604 can have similar effects that the human growth hormone does on building muscle mass and the regeneration of cartilage.

Is AOD-9604 safe to use?

Since AOD-9604 is a fragmented form of the human growth hormone, it has been deemed to be a safe and effective alternative supplement for both weight loss and increasing lean muscle mass. Studies have shown that it causes no adverse side effects on the carbohydrate metabolism or appetite. It also doesn’t lead to changes in levels of IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1), whereas the human growth hormone has been shown to have an effect on these levels.

The promising results from such studies have painted a hopeful picture when it comes to using the peptide for fat loss. It has been shown to target stubborn areas that even diet and exercise can sometimes leave behind because of its lipolysis effects.

Vital RX - nutrition
Image by Jan Sedivy on Unsplash: How does AOD-9604 work for weight loss? When used in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle, AOD-9604 can lead to significant weight loss in stubborn areas.

Where to buy AOD-9604

Peptide therapy is becoming very popular as more research comes to light on what it can do to help encourage the proper functioning of all bodily processes. In the United States, AOD-9604 has received approval from the FDA and is now legally sold as a food supplement in many places.

AOD-9604 is sold in vials and can be purchased from places ranging from health-based medical centers to online stores with approval from the FDA. The best way to purchase AOD-9604 is through a trusted and reputable site that has done its research and sources quality ingredients for its supplements.

Vital RX’s AOD-9604 peptide comes included in the Fat Loss Subscription Box. All ingredients in Vital RX’s formulated combinational supplement packages are carefully curated by a team of highly knowledgeable medical professionals.

Weight loss can be difficult, but with the right products and the right support, it doesn’t have to be. Click here for more information on what’s in the Vital RX Fat Loss Subscription Box and the other subscription boxes available.

Featured image by I Yunmai on Unsplash

What’s Included In Our Fat Loss Subscription Box (And Why)

Fad dieting has been a huge part of world culture since the late 1800s when English undertaker William Banting started the very first trend in weight loss—the low-carb diet. His diet became so popular that the entire world started referring to losing weight as “banting”. The first weight loss pill was also created in the late 1800s and was derived using a thyroid extract to help increase metabolic rate. The side effects were more than unpleasant, and could even lead to death, but that didn’t stop people from using the supplement for decades following its creation.

Although things haven’t changed much in the realm of pop culture and dieting, the sheer amount of scientific evidence discovered since then has given people different ways to lose weight in a healthy manner so that they can avoid the complications that may arise from being obese, or from taking products that can lead to adverse reactions. The research that has gone into weight loss supplementation is vast, and has led to an increase in ways to aid diet efforts for those who want to be and feel healthier.

Vital RX - fat loss subscription box
Image by Jarmoluk on Pixabay: Visceral fat is the type of fat that sits around the vital organs within the abdomen. It is a bigger threat to health than subcutaneous fat.

Peptides for weight loss

The use of peptides for weight loss began when researchers discovered that peptides can target fat cells the same way they do other cells within the body. Since losing weight requires a string of different lifestyle changes and the influence of a host of different systems in the body, peptides have grown popular in the fight against obesity.

Vital RX has created one of the best subscription boxes for weight loss by enlisting experienced doctors and high-quality ingredients, including the following:

AOD-9604

The peptide AOD-9604 is said to have positive effects on weight loss efforts. The peptide is the synthetic form of human growth hormone (HGH). HGH is a small protein that works within the body to speed up the lipolysis process. When this happens, the body is more likely to shed unwanted pounds by reducing fat stores.

AOD-9604 also has the ability to decrease appetite and encourage the release of stored fat from cells throughout the body. It is one of the best peptides for belly fat reduction because of its ability to decrease levels of visceral fat. Some evidence suggests that AOD-9604 is one of, if not the best peptide for fat loss.

Ibutamoren Mesylate (MK-677)

Categorized as an active nonpeptide, MK-677 acts as a growth hormone secretagogue. This means that the peptide itself is responsible for the secretion of growth hormone into the bloodstream. It does this by stimulating the release of HGH from the glands through both the pituitary and hypothalamic hormone receptors.

Studies have found that the oral use of MK-677 can increase the levels of HGH, thus leading to an overall reduction in weight. MK-677 has also been proven to help improve overall physical health when it comes to bone density and an increase in fat-free mass. It can also help to improve sleep and cognitive function, as well as physical energy and stamina, making the process of losing weight easier.

MIC Combo Blend

The MIC Combo Blend in Vital RX’s Fat Loss Subscription Box is a form of lipotropic injection. Lipotropics are used to help break down fat by way of the metabolism. These compounds target the liver’s ability to break down fat, and some research claims that they can aid in the speed and efficiency of the metabolism. Lipotropics generally contain more than one fat-burning ingredient. The most common ingredients in lipotropic injections include:

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 aids in energy levels and helps to keep red blood cells at optimal health to avoid conditions such as anemia.

Methionine

Methionine is an amino acid with a key job in keeping the metabolism functioning at its best.

Inositol

Inositol is a natural sugar. It can help the body to metabolize fats and improve the function of the body’s insulin.

Choline

Playing an important role in metabolism and other cell functions such as membrane structure, choline is an essential nutrient that is added to lipotropic injections to increase the body’s ability to burn fat.

Multicomplete 360

To round off one of the best subscription boxes for weight loss, Vital RX has added a multivitamin with all the essential vitamins and nutrients needed when diet alone is not enough to get recommended daily values. It is both gluten-free and vegetarian, so it can be taken by anyone. Although some nutrients are more important than others when it comes to weight loss, all are required for the body to work as it should, and when the body has everything it needs to function properly, a healthy weight is not as hard to obtain.

Vital RX - supplements
Image by Ajale on Pixabay: Vital RX’s proven weight loss peptide supplement box is backed by science and can help you in your journey towards a healthy body weight.

Weight loss can be easy for some and difficult for others. There is never a one-size-fits all fad diet that can help someone healthily lose their unwanted pounds and keep it off. Lifestyle changes, such as an improved diet full of whole foods and a good amount of exercise, are the most important factors when it comes to being at an overall healthy weight.

For those with chronic conditions that lead to weight gain, losing weight and keeping it off can be difficult. That is why supplementation is always a good addition to any weight loss journey. Each ingredient in the Vital RX Fat Loss Subscription Box will be dose-dependent, so you can be sure you’re getting everything you need in the right amount to help you on your road to optimal health.

Featured image by Happy Vegan Fit on Pixabay

Does Peptide Therapy Work For Fat Loss?

Peptide therapy has been surging in popularity in recent years. The first initial form of peptide therapy was insulin use for people with diabetes. Common use of and research into peptide therapy was very minimal for decades because of peptides’ short half-life, as well as their lack of bioavailability. But improvement of these two factors has been in the works, and now peptide therapy is gaining momentum for its many benefits.

Along with insulin, collagen is another peptide that is used for a variety of health benefits, including anti-aging and joint health. The number of peptides becoming available for wellness uses is growing exponentially, and some research suggests that the right peptide can even be used to help overweight individuals reach a healthy body mass index. So does peptide therapy work for fat loss, and if so, how?

The obesity endemic

Modern lifestyles have led to a significant increase in overall obesity rates across the United States. Research has suggested that over 40% of the adult population was either overweight or obese, with over 18% of American children falling into the obese category. With over 300,000 deaths being contributed to obesity-related disease per year in the country, many people are exploring new options to shed unwanted pounds and regain control of their health.

The creature comforts of quick meals and sedentary living have gotten in the way of losing weight for many, while for others, health conditions that lead to unwanted weight gain make it much more difficult to recover. Certain medications also contribute to weight gain, so it becomes a vicious cycle of treatment for one condition while battling another.

Peptide therapy for fat loss is a relatively new way to reach a healthy body weight in combination with healthier choices, and there’s good reason for it.

Vital RX - healthy diet
Image by Brooke Lark on Unsplash: A healthy diet isn’t the only thing to consider when attempting to lose a large amount of weight.

Peptide therapy for fat loss

Research has shown that some peptides can aid in weight loss efforts. This is likely due to the fact that they can encourage the proper functioning of the lipolysis process.

The body stores fat as an attempt to have a back-up energy reserve for when glucose levels dip between mealtimes. During lipolysis, the body breaks down fat using enzymes and water. When the lipolysis process occurs and the fat becomes broken down, it gets released from adipose tissue into the bloodstream, where it can then be used as a fuel source.

Which peptides help with fat loss?

Research has found that specific peptides need to be used to aid in the fat loss process.  Natriuretic peptides (NPs) are made by the heart and are used to induce a process called natriuresis. This particular bodily process eliminates excess levels of sodium through the renal system. When sodium levels become too high, high blood pressure and heart disease can result.

There are four specific groups of natriuretic peptides. They include:

  • Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)
  • B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)
  • C-type natriuretic paptide (CNP)
  • Dendroaspis natreiuretic peptide (DNP)

These four groups or types make up all NPs and can be the main factor in weight and fat loss through peptide therapy. There are other types of peptides that can help in weight loss, though, as the obesity-battling effects of peptides are not exclusive to natriuretic peptides.

AOD-9604 peptide for fat loss

The AOD-9604 peptide is a synthetically made peptide designed to encourage the secretion of and mimic the effects of the human growth hormone. It was initially marketed as an anti-obesity drug and now can be seen in a variety of different weight loss supplements.

This peptide has the ability to reduce lipogenesis, which is the body’s way of storing fat through synthesizing glucose and other substrates into fatty acids. When this occurs, the body’s cells begin to accumulate fat, and over time the process can lead to weight gain and obesity by way of insulin resistance.

The AOD-9604 peptide can also decrease appetite and encourage the release of fat from cells. 

Ibutamoren mesylate peptide for fat loss

Another synthetic form of peptide that can promote the amount of human growth form in the body is the ibutamoren mesylate peptide, also known as MK-677. Because the human growth hormone can aid in increasing lean muscle mass while reducing fat mass, this peptide encourages that process when used as a part of peptide therapy.

MK-677 has also been shown to help increase energy levels, which in turn can lead to more exercise for individuals who are overweight or obese and generally lacking enough stamina to get through regular exercise routines.

One particular study on the effects of MK-677 found that overall, fat-free mass increased in participants. This is a good indicator that it could help aid in overall weight loss, because often during diets, both fat and muscle are lost.

Vital RX - weight training
Image by Sergio Pedemonte on Unsplash: Ibutamoren mesylate peptide can help increase stamina for more effective workouts and higher energy levels.

Vital RX Fat Loss subscription box

Vital RX has developed a Fat Loss subscription box with carefully curated ingredients to help you on your journey to healthy body weight. The box contains MK-677 as well as AOD-9604. Also included are lipotropic injections designed to further aid in the overall loss of fat, as well as a multivitamin to ensure the proper nutrition throughout a period of caloric restriction or diet changes.

Click here for more information on Vital RX subscription boxes and how they can help you achieve your goals.

Featured image by Bill Oxford on Unsplash