When you are trying to figure out how to lose weight you're in a potential minefield of confusion and misleading information. It's no wonder that so many people give up on their ambition to build a leaner physique. One of the biggest areas of confusion is knowing which supplements to take.

In a bid to stand out from their competitors in the race for your money, manufacturers will often say big and bold statements to grab your attention with their latest product. This leads to many people buying things that they simply do not need, or products which have zero to very little scientific proof behind them.

Despite the huge confusion and wide range of substances which claim to be the best of their generation, however, the underlying facts remain quite simple.

First of all, you shouldn't be adding in any supplements unless you already have your diet plan and exercise routine worked out. They aren't miracle pills. Individuals who do this tend to be the ones who are most likely to buy into false claims of instant results by the latest must have product, and often spend years wasting money to no avail.

Take a look below and you will see a guide to six of the most researched and proven items on the health and fitness market today, all of which have benefits for somebody looking to lose unwanted body fat:

* Whey protein

* Creatine, even in it's old monohydrate form, is another great product

* For recovery after tough workouts, Glutamine is a good choice

* Caffeine

* Finally, carbohydrates

The area most people get lost is learning why each product is deemed to be effective. This tends to be because the answers go overboard with scientific jargon. That won't happen today.

Whey protein is primarily a way to help you get more quality protein into your daily diet without constantly eating lean meat and preparing meals. If you are trying to achieve weight loss goals, look for a protein product which provides you with a low carbohydrate content per serving alongside 20-25 grams of quality protein.

The second item here may surprise some readers, because creatine monohydrate is seen primarily as a product which is used by strength athletes and bodybuilders looking to increase explosive power. Where are the fat loss benefits in that? Well, science shows that the more lean muscle tissue you hold, the more effectively you burn off fat on autopilot. So creatine is a great addition to your nutrition plan.

If you find that your body is taking a while to recover from hard workouts you would do well to add Glutamine to your nutrition plan. This amino acid's main function is improving post-workout muscular recovery times as well as boosting the body's natural immune system. Basically, you'll be able to hit the gym at full potential and fend off minor illnesses, such as colds, more effectively.

Caffeine is the primary substance you will see associated with burning fat because it is included in almost every fat burning pill on the market today. By increasing your resting heart rate you allow your body to burn more calories with the regular daily activities you partake in. This is why you'll often hear caffeine bandied around celebrity gossip magazines as some kind of wonder product.

While carbohydrates are not strictly a product, they are highly important if your goal is to shed unwanted pounds. That's because there is a tendency for people to believe nonsense strategies put forward by popular culture, such as cutting carbohydrates out of the diet temporarily. This leads to long-term weight gain. While it's fine to cut them down, it's not fine to cut them out. Complex, slow-release sources of carbs such as oats and brown rice are perfect nutrition for your hard working muscles.

You now know which supplements to take if you have fat loss goals. While there are indeed endless products on the market, you have just discovered the six with the most scientific fact to back up their usefulness. Combine this with a solid eating plan and exercise routine and you will soon see that figuring out how to lose weight isn't as tough as some people like to make it appear.