People like you and me have for years searched the drugstore shelves for that magic pill that will help us lose weight, reduce our appetite and provide a much needed energy boost. Products such as Carb blockers and Hoodia receive massive advertising exposure with the promise of a quick fix for our weight problems.



Our own body's metabolism plays a very significant part in the number of calories we burn, our appetite and the amount of weight we are able to lose. Those over the counter solutions are tried by many people, however many do carry unpleasant side effects such as an increased heart rate, sleeplessness and increased iritability. Over time, your body will become used to the drugs and their effect will reduce. In increasing number of people are now looking to vitamins as a safer and more effective solution to their weight problem.

Weight loss and weight control can be significantly aided by taking the right vitamin supplements because when we are healthy, our body works much more efficiently. There is no one perfect vitamin to take to control weight but there are a few that are well worth taking into consideration because of their effect on the appetite, fat and sugar metabolism and calorie burning.

Without doubt, two of the most important vitamins you should take for weight control are vitamin B and vitamin C. In addition to being beneficial for all over health, they both play a major role in assisting weight control.

Vitamin B2, which is the riboflavin vitamin, is essential for normal thyroid function and metabolism. You will find riboflavin in almond, hard cheese, eggs, milk products leafy green vegetables, and organ meats such as liver and kidney.

Niacin, which is the B3 vitamin, is also important for thyroid function. It is also important for controlling the glucose toleration. Every time blood sugar rises we need vitamin B3. Foods that are sources for this vitamin are tuna, turkey, chicken, meat, eggs, some fish, dried fruit and brown rice. Oats and wheat flakes are also good sources of niacin.

Vitamin B5 aids in our use of fat. It also is important for our energy level and helps in the function of our adrenal gland. Food sources for B5 include wheat germ, wheat bran, and wheat flakes. Also eggs, molasses, beans, green vegetables, oats, and barley are good sources for the B5 vitamin.

B6 vitamins are important for the body's metabolism and thyroid function, these vitamins include Inositol and Choline. Choline is particularly important in the metabolism of fat. Choline is found in peanuts, beef organs, wheat germ and egg yolks. Inositol can be found in nuts, eggs, whole grains and citrus fruits whilst good sources of vitamin B6 are dried fruits, fish, eggs, beef and poultry.

Vitamin C provides many health benefits including converting glucose to energy. You can find this important vitamin in lemons, oranges, strawberries, blackcurrants, and vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cabbage.

So, in summary, if you eat a diet rich in the 5 vitamins I have covered, B2, B3, B5, B6 and vitamin C, you will be going a long way to providing your body with the right foods to help keep your weight under control.

Eating a healthy balanced diet is always going to be the best way of getting these important weight controlling vitamins into your body. Our busy lifesyles these days means that this is not always possible and this is where a good quality vitamin supplement can help, although under no circumstances should you just rely on supplements to provide you with your nutritional needs.