Tracking your syns on the Slimming World plan has to be done properly if you want to see weight loss results, meaning that everything you consume, even some vitamins and supplements need to be counted as syns.
Cod liver oil capsules in particular have 0.5 syns per capsule and 2 syns for a tsp of the cod liver oil, this is because they contain oil inside, therefore have calories despite them being beneficial to your health.
In our short guide below, we will discuss why cod liver oil has syns below plus the other syns of alternative vitamins and supplements.
You might be surprised to learn that some supplements and vitamins need to have their syns tracked, it can be easy to disregard these as they are good for your health, but if you haven't been counting them as syns and your weight loss has stalled, it could well be the reason why.
Cod liver oil in particular has syns as it is oil, other vitamins and supplements also contain oil or sweeteners which are classed as calories and syns. This doesn't mean you can't be taking your vitamins when needed, but remember to track and adjust your syns according to each day out of the 15 syn allowance you have.
Cod liver oil is high in calories and fat, so will not help you lose weight directly, but it might be able to help you stay full for longer has been said to improve metabolism too. We would suggest only sticking to the recommended capsule a day for health benefits.
If you take a fair amount of vitamins and supplements, it's a good idea to be aware of the syn values for each product you are taking.
We have listed some of the popular vitamins and supplements on the market with their syn values below.
Just because some oily vitamins and supplement fizzy drinks have syns doesn’t mean you can’t have them on the slimming world plan, in fact, some advisors even suggest that you don’t count them as syns if you class them as important to your health.
We would recommend not counting vitamins as syns unless they are oily like cod liver supplements, even then, you have to weigh up how important they are for your health to see if they are worth half a syn. It is highly unlikely a vitamin would be a cause of weight gain unless you were having a larger number per day.
One way to reduce the syns in supplements or vitamins is by choosing sugar-free options and tablet forms rather than drinks.
If you do not count your supplements as syns and you are struggling to lose weight with the SW plan then it might be worth keeping track to see if it makes a difference.
Overall, cod liver oil capsules should be counted as half a syn each on the slimming world plan due to their high calorie and fat content, it is a personal decision whether you want to count the syns in your vitamins and supplements, but we would suggest having them in moderation and sticking to your syn allowance so as it cannot interfere with weight loss.
Syn values are calculated using a formula based on calories, saturated fat and sugar content per serving. They’re not the same as calories — a product can be low in calories but higher in syns if it’s high in sugar or fat. Always check the official Slimming World app for the most accurate and up-to-date syn values.
Yes. When manufacturers reformulate their products, the syn value can go up or down. This is why we recommend double-checking with the Slimming World app or your consultant, especially if a product’s packaging has changed recently.
Most Slimming World members work with 5 to 15 syns per day. Your consultant will advise on the right amount for you. The key is to use your syns on the things you enjoy most — whether that’s a chocolate bar, a glass of wine, or a packet of crisps.
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200+ foods with syn values & calories.
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