GLA is the abbreviation stand for Gamma-linolenic acid.  It is an essential fatty acid (EFA) in the omega-6 family that is presented primarily in plant-based oils such as safflower and sunflower oils.  In fact, GLA is derived from linoleic acid, also known as omega-6 fatty acid, which is found in cooking oils and processed foods and converted to GLA in the body.  The primary dietary sources of GLA are evening primrose oil (EPO), black currant seed oil and borage oil. Most of these oils also contain some linoleic acid.

GLA is essential to human health besides assist in any program for weight loss.  It is the precursor for a lot of important prostaglandins, which are hormone-like substances that may affect blood thickness, cholesterol levels, joint health, dilation and constriction of blood vessels, inflammation, and etc.  Although omega-6 fatty acids are readily available in the diet and consumed in large quantities in our diet, a lot of people are still found deficient in GLA.  According to some scientists, this is because many oils that contain omega-6 are hydrogenated, which can inhibit the conversion of omega-6 to GLA.

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All of the appetite suppressants work by causing the release of two chemicals, named nor-epinephrine and epinephrine.  The release of these chemicals causes the feeling of less hunger or not hungry at all.  Obviously, if you are not fighting hunger, it is easier to eat less in any program for weight loss.

The consumer version of the PDR (Physicians’ Desk Reference) says that people should take appetite suppressants only for a short period of time, and under the supervision of doctors.  When you build up tolerance for these appetite suppressants, you should stop using them.

The most common side effect of the appetite suppressants is jitters, which people sometimes feel weird and have a sense that their heart is beating faster.

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Vitamin B and B Complex are another supplements that can aid in healthy weight loss besides chromium and alpha lipoic acid mentioned in my previous articles.  Of course, for healthy weight loss purpose, you need to back to the basic things – understand correct weight loss concept, perform right exercise and adjust your food and nutrition aspect.

Vitamin B5

Vitamin B5 or Pantothenic acid is actually a good helper for the adrenal glands.  Vitamin B5 is used in the stress hormones production.  If you are under stress or your adrenals are in danger of being exhausted, you most certainly need this supplement.  Vitamin B5 is good for healthy weight loss as people tend to stress under any program for weight loss.  When you feel stress, your body will start conserving fat and slow down the whole weight loss progress.  In fact, studies indicate that Vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid can help resisting or withstanding stress in general.  So, you may consider taking it in conjunction with your program for weight loss plan.
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You are excited losing weight in your program for weight loss, until a stage that you notice your weight remain unchanged, no matter what you do.  You are now facing weight loss plateaus, a stage that you will inevitably reach in your healthy weight loss efforts.

We need to admit everyone is different based on the theory of biochemical individuality.  As such, there are more than few reasons causing weight loss plateaus.  You need to learn, expect and deal with them.  Of course, understand correct weight loss concept will enhance your confidence passing through this period of time.

Below are the top reasons causing weight loss plateaus:

1)  You are at a stage of losing fat but building muscle
When you perform right weight loss exercise in conjunction with diet adjustment in any healthy weight loss program, you will create calorie deficit and thus lose some body fat besides build lean muscle tissues.  This change for the better will not show up on your weighing machine, although it will definitely show up in the body composition analysis.  Even though you do not have a body fat analyzer to measure your body fat and muscle tissue percentage, your body shape are looking better now  and you will amaze that you have better figure for waist or hip measurement.  Be patient and you will eventually have the desired results for the efforts made.

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