Too many people don’t give enough thought to nutrition when they begin dieting and that’s a shame because a lack of certain vitamins and minerals can be disastrous to your diet. Vitamins and minerals are necessary for many functions in the body and even a small deficiency can make your fat loss efforts grind to a halt. For example, some of you probably know that the B complex of vitamins is necessary for your bodies energy, but did you also know that they are responsible for thyroid function, healthy metabolism and B3 helps to moderate your blood sugar levels?

Minerals play a similar role in the body with even small deficiencies leading to trouble burning fat and metabolizing calories. Many minerals are necessary for fat burning and proper blood sugar and insulin levels. Unfortunately many Americans are already deficient in the less well known minerals such as zinc, chromium and manganese before they even begin dieting. It is estimated that 68% of Americans don’t meet the US RDA for magnesium which is partially responsible for regulating metabolism!

So what can we do? Quite simple really, start taking a good vitamin and mineral supplement. This can benefit even those eating full diets and for those who are considering or are already on any kind of reduced calorie, reduced fat or reduced carbohydrate diet they are essential. If you have trouble meeting minimum requirements when eating 2000 calories a day how would you expect to get even close at 1200 calories a day? You could be sabotaging your own efforts and your long term health. Don’t take that chance, you work too hard at your weight loss to have it stall out when something as simple as a daily vitamin or mineral tablet could keep the pounds melting off.