When you decide to focus on a weight loss plan, healthful eating is a step in the right direction, but there are also several natural supplements to help you control your appetite. Many people, however, remain skeptical of products’ weight loss claims because of all the diet hype. Unfortunately, there’s no quick-fix diet or product that’ll magically melt the fat off your belly and hips, but certain ingredients and supplements really can help temper food cravings.

It’s true: The following ingredients and products won’t magically melt the fat off your belly and hips, but they can temper food cravings, helping to support weight loss. They’re not stimulants, which means they’re safe when used according to directions. Many of them work by stabilizing blood sugar levels—it’s the ups and downs in blood sugar that trigger hunger. Some, such as fiber-containing supplements, also reduce hunger by increasing a sense of satiety and slowing the movement of food from the stomach to the intestine.

“By far, the hardest part of dieting is dealing with hunger. Eating more naturally fatty foods, such as avocados, nuts and butter, helps stabilize sugar levels and prevent hunger pangs,” says Michael Aziz, MD, of New York City and the author of the best-selling book, The Perfect 10 Diet (Cumberland, 2001). “Plus, add one of the supplements proven to shut down hunger.”

These four ingredients have been shown to suppress appetite in some people:

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV).

ACV gained traction as an appetite suppressant and weight loss aid in the 1970s. And it’s still relatively popular. Like other types of vinegar, it contains about 5 percent acetic acid—the active ingredient—and the science clearly shows that vinegar lowers and stabilizes blood sugar levels. With more stable blood sugar, you’re less likely to experience hunger jags, according to studies conducted at Arizona State University and Sweden’s Lund University. Japanese researchers have reported that ACV inhibits several carbohydrate-digesting enzymes, including amylase, sucrase, maltase and lactase. All of these factors can contribute to less hunger and subsequent weight loss. Plus, ACV may safely be combined with other supplements.

Garcinia cambogia.

Garcinia is rich in hydroxycitric acid (HCA), and both the fruit extract and HCA have been found to suppress appetite and blunt food intake, according to an April 2016 article in the journal Fitoterapia. Garcinia helps in weight loss through three mechanisms: It regulates appetite-related serotonin levels, increases fat burning and decreases the body’s own fat production.

Hoodia gordonii.

Natives of southern Africa have for centuries chewed on pieces of this succulent to suppress hunger and thirst while on long hunting trips. Only a handful of human tests have been conducted, but in these studies hoodia has been shown to reduce carbohydrate cravings among people on low-calorie diets. A new study found that a compound in hoodia boosts insulin activity and reduces appetite.

Soluble fiber.

Soluble fiber absorbs water and expands in the gut to form a gel, creating a sense of fullness. That alone can reduce the desire to eat more, but soluble fiber may also work in other ways. It slows the movement of food from the stomach into the intestine, and by doing so it helps stabilize blood sugar. Some of the top soluble fiber supplements include glucomannan, beta-glucan, alginate, inulin and psyllium. Fiber may be combined with other types of supplements.

Non-starchy vegetables, limited healthy fats, lean, quality protein and high-fiber grains make a strong basis for your healthy eating habits.  Along with an active lifestyle that includes regular exercise, weight loss diets can become lifestyle habits that help you maintain your ideal weight today and tomorrow. Let Betsy’s help you in your weight loss journey with products that may help support appetite control, as well as other important aspects of your healthy eating plan.

Betsy’s Note: This article is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease. Remember: It’s a good idea to talk to your healthcare practitioner before starting a new supplement regimen.

Article copyright 2017 by Delicious Living and Jack Challem. All rights reserved. Used with permission.