As we age, our metabolism slows down, that is why people mostly get heavier with age, Newsmax Health reports. 7-keto, a weight-loss supplement, counteracts the process, making it easier to lose weight and keep it off, according to studies.

“When you add 7-keto to a sensible diet and exercise program, it may help you lose up to three times the amount of weight than you would if you didn’t take it,” says Doug Kalman, director of nutrition and applied clinical research at Miami Research Associates. Dr. Kalman works with many Olympic athletes and has been involved in more than 200 clinical trials in nutrition, including a study of 7-keto.

A substance made naturally by our bodies, 7-keto (sometimes called 7-keto DHEA). 

For most people (not athletes and other exceptionally active people), resting metabolic rate, or RMR represents between 60 and 70 percent of all calories burned every day. The remaining calories are used for any and all activities, from getting out of bed and taking a shower to doing daily chores or exercising.

To measure just how much 7-keto affects metabolism, researchers compared it to a placebo pill among 40 people following the same weight-loss program. Those who took 100 mg of 7-keto twice daily burned an average of 96 calories more per day than those taking a placebo pill.

 During the course of a year, burning an extra 96 calories daily would produce a 10-pound weight loss, even if there were no changes in diet and physical activity.

 Another study of 23 overweight people also compared 100 mg of 7-keto twice daily with a placebo pill in a weight-loss program. People in the study ate 1,800 calories daily (not a highly restrictive diet) and did three one-hour bouts of exercise, three times per week.

On average, those taking 7-keto lost 6.3 pounds over eight weeks, compared to only 2.1 pounds among those taking the placebo.

 Blood tests found no adverse effects. This may be because the substance is naturally produced by the body. Supplements of 7-keto are widely available at health food stores, pharmacies, and over the Internet. A one-month supply costs about $20 to $30.

For weight loss, take 100 mg of 7-keto twice daily, in the morning and evening. Use it with a reduced-calorie diet and an exercise program.