If you are one of those who have tried various diets like the grapefruit juice diet, cabbage soup diet, baby food diet, a cleanse, or detox, you may know that these fad diets don’t actually work and often have an opposite effect. 

If you have obesity, fad diets may not be as effective in the long run. Obesity is a serious medical condition that requires complex treatment and in some cases, obese people need gastric bypass surgery. 

The most effective way to get rid of extra pounds is to eat in a calorie deficit and be more active. As you do this, you also need to consider trying some supplements to ensure your body is covered well if you have any nutritional gaps. Even people who are on a healthy and  a balanced diet often lack some nutrients. Many essential nutrients that you may lack can have a metabolism-boosting effect, meaning they promote faster weight loss. 

Some potential vitamin or mineral deficiencies might be negatively affecting your weight loss efforts. We’ve collected vitamins and supplements that people often lack that might help you achieve your weight loss goals:

1. Vitamin D

Vitamin D deficiency has been connected with a wide range of health issues and conditions, including obesity. You may lack this super-essential vitamin and not even realize it. Scientists have found that overweight and obese people who take supplements containing vitamin D, lose more weight than those who don’t take this vitamin. 

The best way to find out whether you lack vitamin D, is to have your doctor check your blood levels. Vitamin D deficiency can contribute to a low mood and fatigue. Taking vitamin D supplements might improve these symptoms and support your weight loss. People aged 1 to 70 should take 600 international units (IUs) of vitamin D per day, and people older than 71 should aim for 800 IUs.

2. Carnitine 

Carnitine is an amino acid that helps fatty acids travel through the cells of the body and speed up metabolism processes while preventing fat storage. Carnitine might aid in weight loss.

It’s important to not overdo it. Excess carnitine levels in the body can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, and a “fishy” body odor. If you want to try carnitine supplements, consider taking up to 500 to 1,000 mg per day of l-carnitine. 

3. Theobromine 

Theobromine is an organic alkaloid that’s naturally contained in chocolate. This compound is used for its appetite-suppressing properties, and cocoa beans contain up to 1,200 mg of it. If you want to get theobromine through chocolate, choose a dark option with at least 85 percent of cacao. 

4. Matcha Tea

Matcha is a type of green tea that’s famous for its amazing health benefits. Instead of steeping a tea bag, you whisk a powder made from the ground leaves into hot water. 

Like a regular green tea, it also contains caffeine that can help you get more energy. That’s just one of the many benefits of matcha. You can buy matcha tea in coffee shops and at grocery stores, or you can add matcha powder to smoothies.

5. Iodine 

For people with hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland), weight management is challenging. Your body needs iodine to produce thyroid hormone. If you lack it, your body can’t create enough thyroid hormone and your thyroid can’t function well, meaning it can’t manage your metabolism and perform many other crucial body processes. 

If a person has an iodine deficiency, taking iodine will be necessary for general health and possibly for weight management. But be careful - too much iodine can provoke problems including thyroid gland inflammation and thyroid cancer. 

Talk to your healthcare provider and undergo blood tests to find out the levels of iodine in your body and determine an appropriate dose of this nutrient for you.