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Supplement Godfather

Don Gauvreau MSc, CSCS
Don Gauvreau, A.K.A. The Supplement Godfather, is one of the leading researchers and product formulators in the sports supplement industry.
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Top 5 Supplements For Dieting

Dieting for competition or just to look great with your shirt off can always be a challenge. Restricting total calorie intake, reducing carbs and fats, and increasing protein are usually common practices by those who are dieting to shed fat. These dietary adjustments can be tough to follow strictly, especially when hunger pangs and low energy levels kick in. Supplements can go a long way in helping overcome the challenges associated with dieting. So, here are my top five supplements you need while dieting!

(1) Multivitamin/Mineral
If you’re training hard to shed fat, your body’s micronutrient needs will be greater. If you’re dieting hard, your body will be taking in fewer micronutrients through food. This is exactly why a good multivitamin/mineral supplement is essential while dieting. You’ve got to make sure your micronutrient needs are met or else your energy and performance will suffer, which is obviously counterproductive to helping you get ripped.

If you’re training hard to shed fat, your body’s micronutrient needs will be greater. If you’re dieting hard, your body will be taking in fewer micronutrients through food. This is exactly why a good multivitamin/mineral supplement is essential while dieting. You’ve got to make sure your micronutrient needs are met or else your energy and performance will suffer, which is obviously counterproductive to helping you get ripped.

(2) Greens Supplement
Although most people increase their intake of veggies and greens while dieting, the body can still benefit from the added phytonutrients that a good greens supplement can provide. Greens supplements supply the body with healthy antioxidants and also help maintain acid-base balance in the body, the latter of which is essential for fat loss. If you don’t maintain acid-base balance and your body is constantly in an acidic state, your metabolic rate can become compromised over time.

(3) Fibre Supplement
Fibre is extremely beneficial when dieting to shed fat because it slows the digestion of carbs and prevents spikes in insulin, which can act as a fat-storing hormone. There are two types: soluble and insoluble fibre. Soluble fibre dissolves in water and is important because bile acid (which is essentially surplus cholesterol) binds quite easily to this type of fibre. This works to decrease cholesterol. Soluble fibre can also help regulate blood sugar levels and reduce fat absorption in the body. Insoluble fibre doesn’t dissolve in water and helps regulate bowel movements by creating bulk. This works to moderate the passage of food and nutrients through the digestive tract, allowing the body to absorb more key nutrients and keep your metabolism working efficiently so it can burn more fat.

(4) Essential Fatty Acid (EFA) Supplement
While dieting, many people find it hard to take in an appropriate amount of EFAs from whole food sources, making an EFA supplement very useful. EFAs work to decrease fat by way of various pathways. EFAs can increase insulin sensitivity, and this helps decrease the amount of glucose that ends up being stored as fat in the body. In addition to this, research shows that EFAs can help increase fat oxidation of stored body fat at rest and during exercise. EFAs are also very important to overall health, so make sure your needs are met while dieting. Some good supplemental sources of EFAs include fish and hemp oil.

(5) High-Stimulant Fat Burner
Although high-stim fat burners are not for everyone, I personally love the energizing and appetite-reducing effects that a good fat burner provides while dieting. A well-formulated fat burner can also provide a boost in energy expenditure and fat oxidation. But before you even consider using a fat burner, please make sure that your training and diet are in order. Of course, I’m biased and my favorite fat burner is RIPPED FREAK, which is made by our company, PHARMAFREAK. We actually just conducted a clinical trial on the complete RIPPED FREAK formula, and the results were presented at the 2014 American Society for Nutrition’s Advances and Controversies in Clinical Nutrition Conference this past December. The study is currently under peer review for publication in The Journal of Nutrition. The key findings showed that a single dose of RIPPED FREAK increases metabolic rate, energy levels, and epinephrine, which is one of the body’s key fat-burning hormones.