If you are already at a healthy weight, congratulations. For most people weight loss is on their minds – and for good reason. Statistics tell us that despite the billions of dollars spent each year in the weight loss market, U.S. obesity rates continue to rise. Many popular products offer quick fixes but fail to provide promised results leaving us disappointed and with feelings of failure. What’s more, some of these products have undesirable side effects, wreak havoc on the body’s natural energy systems, and are often addictive drugs.

While nothing can take the place of physical activity and supportive eating, understanding a little bit about how our bodies function with the use of natural supplements can be helpful. First to know is that no supplement melts fat, whether it is natural or not. Fat burning requires fat mobilization and then the delivery of fatty acids into the muscle cell where they can be burned as fuel. You must understand that the supplement is just that; it supplements the efforts you are already putting towards a healthy lifestyle.

Most of us are already familiar with the dangers of being overweight. Obesity leads to vascular problems, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers and other serious conditions. We know that overeating and inactivity fuel weight gain. But there can also be hormonal imbalances, calorie deprivation (under eating) and malnutrition. With the popularity of convenience and overly processed foods, many people consume a host of non-nutrient /empty calories, leaving the body craving the nutrients it needs to function properly. This often leads to self -defeating food binges and the “diet rollercoaster”.