Which is the best fat burner for women?

The Best Fat Burners For Women: Effective and Safe Results Transparent Labs. PhenQ. Kaged Muscle. Transparent Labs. Kaged Muscle. Cira Nutrition. Cellucor. Key Nutrients. More items... •

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Do fat burners actually work? A certified sports nutrition coach weighs in while reviewing some of the top-rated fat burner supplements on the market.

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Fat burners are a lightning rod in the health and fitness world—they attract strong opinions, usually very positive or negative. Chances are, you’re interested in trying one out, but you probably know at least one person who would roll their eyes at the mention of women using weight loss pills. Besides, do they even work? And if so, are they healthy?

As a certified sports nutrition coach and clinical weight loss practitioner, my answer to those questions is this: When utilized properly, fat burners can help you achieve your fat loss goals much more efficiently than with just diet and exercise alone. But they aren’t magic pills, nor are they a band aid that will help remedy a poor diet, lack of exercise and lousy sleep schedule. And before even considering the use of a diet pill or fat burner supplement, optimize your lifestyle and talk with your doctor. Changing your diet and increasing your weekly calorie burn could give you the results you want without a fat burning supplement. If you still want to use a fat burner supplement, these are my 10 picks for the best fat burning supplements for women, including the most common ingredients found in fat burners, how to use these supplements both effectively and safely and which of these fat burners will provide you with the most value. This content is meant to be informative, but should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention or treatment of health problems. Always speak with your doctor before starting any new supplement or exercise regimen.

Our Picks for the Best Fat Burners for Women:

PhenQ

Key features

Natural formula

Designed to support metabolism and balance both mood and energy levels

May reduce cravings and fat accumulation

How does it work?

PhenQ contains five ingredients directly linked to weight loss through thermogenic effects, appetite suppression and improved satiety. One of the key ingredients in PhenQ is the trademarked ɑ-Lacy Reset, which is a combination of alpha-lipoic acid and the amino acid cysteine. There is scientific data demonstrating the benefits of this ingredient helping to reduce both body weight and body fat. The other standout active ingredients in this supplement is 100 milligrams of caffeine, which provides a boost of energy for more effective calorie burning.

Active ingredients and doses per serving

Key ingredients: Caffeine, L-Carnitine, ɑ-Lacy Reset, Nopal, Capsicum, Chromium Picolinate

Caffeine, L-Carnitine, ɑ-Lacy Reset, Nopal, Capsicum, Chromium Picolinate Cost per serving: $1.17

$1.17 Servings per container: 60

60 Subscription plan offered? No, but the brand does offer free shipping and a buy two, get one free option No, but the brand does offer free shipping and a buy two, get one free option Artificial sweeteners, colors, preservatives? None

None Flavors: N/A

Best for

Women looking for a safe, multi-faceted and fully transparent formula

Women who want a fat burner designed to boost fat-oxidation, accelerate metabolism and improve mood and energy levels

What customers have to say

PhenQ earns positive reviews on the website, which showcases before and after photos of users. The Google reviews are less positive, with the main complaint being issues with customer service and shipping times.

Transparent Labs

Key features

Targets stubborn fat while preventing lean muscle loss

Clinically effective doses

100 percent formula transparency with no artificial sweeteners, colors or preservatives

How does it work?

Transparent Labs LEAN is a well-rounded pre-workout formula that has evidence-backed dosages of the active ingredients. The note-worthy ingredients included in the formulation for weight loss are caffeine, chromium picolinate and acetyl L-carnitine. The caffeine gives an energy boosting effect that may help you burn more calories at the gym. Chromium is a mineral that plays a key role in fat metabolism, and it’s included as chromium picolinate, which is a readily absorbable source of chromium for the body. Lastly, L-carnitine has evidence-based studies supporting its potential use as a fat burner, although the 630 milligrams of L-carnitine per scoop is under the recommended two gram daily dosage.

Active ingredients and doses per serving

Key ingredients: L-Carnitine, Caffeine, Chromium Picolinate

L-Carnitine, Caffeine, Chromium Picolinate Cost per serving: $1.66 ($1.42 for subscribers)

$1.66 ($1.42 for subscribers) Servings per container: 30

30 Subscription plan offered? Save 15 percent and get free shipping with a subscription Save 15 percent and get free shipping with a subscription Artificial sweeteners, colors, preservatives? None None Flavors: Fruit Punch, Blue Raspberry, Green Apple, Orange, Cherry Limeade, Sour Grape, Strawberry Lemonade, Tropical Punch, Watermelon, Sour Peach

Best for

Women looking for a well-rounded pre-workout supplement with clinically effective doses

Women who want to avoid artificial sweeteners, flavors and colors

What customers have to say

With 4.5 out of five stars and over 1,600 reviews, it’s safe to say that customers love this product. The stand out comments reference the large variety of delicious flavors, the increased energy in their workouts and no “crash” after the ingredients wear off.

PhenQ

Key features

ɑ-Lacys Reset promotes natural thermogenesis to help burn fat

Extra energy from caffeine helps to burn more calories

May reduce cravings and fat accumulation

How does it work?

Belly fat, specifically the deep abdominal fat called visceral fat, is associated with serious health conditions like heart disease, breast cancer and dementia. Burning excess overall fat can reduce levels of belly fat—both the visible fat beneath the top layer of skin (subcutaneous fat) and visceral fat. In addition to a balanced diet, good sleep and regular exercise, PhenQ may give users an extra fat burning boost, thanks to active ingredients, including ɑ-Lacy Reset, Capsicum and L-Carnitine. Also, the 100 milligrams of caffeine is helpful for an energy boost while working out or simply running errands.

Active ingredients and doses per serving

Key ingredients: Caffeine, L-Carnitine, ɑ-Lacy Reset, Nopal, Capsicum, Chromium Picolinate

Caffeine, L-Carnitine, ɑ-Lacy Reset, Nopal, Capsicum, Chromium Picolinate Cost per serving: $1.17

$1.17 Servings per container: 60

60 Subscription plan offered? No, but they do offer free shipping and a buy two, get one free option No, but they do offer free shipping and a buy two, get one free option Artificial sweeteners, colors, preservatives? None

None Flavors: N/A

Best for

Women who want a safe, natural formula

Women who want moderate caffeine boost

What customers have to say

The reviews on the PhenQ website are all glowing and show drastic weight loss transformations; however, the Google reviews differ. Coming in at 2.6 out of five stars, customers describe having a serious hassle about the company honoring the 60 day money back guarantee.

Kaged Muscle

Key features

High dose of L-carnitine (1,000 milligrams)

Stimulant-free

Green tea extract speeds up metabolism

How does it work?

The 1,000 milligrams of L-carnitine per serving makes Kaged Muscle Clean Burn the best dosed supplement on this list. L-carnitine is best known for helping the body break down fat cells and convert it into energy. In addition, the combination of capsicum extract and green tea extract are included to boost thermogenesis in the body and increase your metabolism. At $0.33 per serving, Clean Burn is also one of the more affordable fat burners on this list.

Active ingredients and doses per serving

Key ingredients: L-carnitine, green tea extract, chromium

L-carnitine, green tea extract, chromium Cost per serving: $0.33 ($0.30 for subscribers)

$0.33 ($0.30 for subscribers) Servings per container: 90

90 Subscription plan offered? Save 10 percent and get free shipping with a subscription Save 10 percent and get free shipping with a subscription Artificial sweeteners, colors, preservatives? None

None Flavors: N/A

Best for

Women looking for a well-dosed, stimulant-free fat burner supplement that boosts metabolism

Athletes who need supplements that are third-party certified free of banned substances

Budget-conscious shoppers

What customers have to say

Customers love the fact that this supplement is caffeine-free, which eliminates the jitters experienced using other fat burners on the market. They also really noticed the appetite suppressing effect this supplement has. More than one user described Kaged’s product as a real game changer, crediting the supplement with helping them break through their weight loss plateaus.

Transparent Labs

Key features:

Ideal stack to maintain muscle mass while burning fat

Includes grass-fed whey protein, creatine, an appetite suppressing fat burner and a top tier pre-workout formula with ingredients like carnitine that should help with fat loss

How does it work?

Transparent Labs Fat Burner is formulated to boost your metabolism and suppress your appetite. Combined with regular exercise and good sleep, the stack promotes the maintenance of muscle mass while losing body fat. Here are some of the key active ingredients in this supplement: Note that this stack contains a pre-workout and fat burner that both contain caffeine. Avoid other sources of caffeine if you're using both products on the same day.

Active ingredients and doses per serving

Key ingredients:

Fat Burner: 500 milligrams Forslean, 400 milligrams of green tea extract, 300 milligrams of 5-HTP, 300 milligrams of L-tyrosine, 240 milligrams of L-theanine, 240 milligrams of caffeine anhydrous, 100 milligrams of cayenne pepper extract, 50 milligrams of Synephrine HCl 500 milligrams Forslean, 400 milligrams of green tea extract, 300 milligrams of 5-HTP, 300 milligrams of L-tyrosine, 240 milligrams of L-theanine, 240 milligrams of caffeine anhydrous, 100 milligrams of cayenne pepper extract, 50 milligrams of Synephrine HCl LEAN Pre-Workout: Six grams of citrulline malate, two grams of beta alanine, 2.5 grams of BCAAs, 1.5 grams of betaine, 180 milligrams of caffeine, 50 milligrams of theobromine, 630 milligrams of acetyl L-carnitine, 500 milligrams of choline bitartrate, 360 milligrams of L-theanine Six grams of citrulline malate, two grams of beta alanine, 2.5 grams of BCAAs, 1.5 grams of betaine, 180 milligrams of caffeine, 50 milligrams of theobromine, 630 milligrams of acetyl L-carnitine, 500 milligrams of choline bitartrate, 360 milligrams of L-theanine Creatine HMB: Five grams of creatine monohydrate, 1.5 grams of beta-hydroxy methylbutyrate, five milligrams of BioPerine Five grams of creatine monohydrate, 1.5 grams of beta-hydroxy methylbutyrate, five milligrams of BioPerine

100% Grass Fed Whey Protein Isolate : 28 grams whey protein isolate

: 28 grams whey protein isolate Cost: $209.96 ($190 for subscribers)

$209.96 ($190 for subscribers) Servings per stack: 30

30 Subscription plan offered? Yes

Yes Artificial sweeteners, colors, preservatives? No

No Flavors:

Fat Burner: N/A

N/A

100% Grass Fed Whey Protein Isolate: French Vanilla, Milk Chocolate, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Cinnamon French Toast, Strawberry, Mocha, Vanilla Peanut Butter, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie French Vanilla, Milk Chocolate, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Cinnamon French Toast, Strawberry, Mocha, Vanilla Peanut Butter, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie LEAN Pre-Workout: Sour Peach, Blue Raspberry, Green Apple, Orange, Cherry Limeade, Sour Grape, Strawberry Lemonade, Tropical Punch, Watermelon Sour Peach, Blue Raspberry, Green Apple, Orange, Cherry Limeade, Sour Grape, Strawberry Lemonade, Tropical Punch, Watermelon Creatine HMB: Unflavored, Blue Raspberry, Sour Grape, Tropical Punch, Fruit Punch, Watermelon, Black Cherry, Orange, Hawaiian Splash, Strawberry Lemonade, Peach Mango

Best for

Women who want well rounded fat burning supplement stack instead of a standalone product

Those who are committed to a supplement routine

Women who want products with no artificial sweeteners, preservatives or coloring

What customers have to say

The Fat Burning Essentials Stack from Transparent Labs has excellent reviews when you combine the ratings for the individual products. The Fat Burner and LEAN Pre-Workout have 4.6/5 stars on the company website, and the Creatine HMB and whey protein isolate powder have have 4.7/5 stars. Overall, customers love that these products don't have filler ingredients or artificial colors and sweeteners. They also note that they get satisfactory results and like the flavors available.

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Key features

Contains the appetite suppressant 5-HTP and stress-relieving ingredient L-theanine

Formula also incorporates important vitamins and minerals

Stimulant-free fat burner

How does it work?

PhenQ PM was developed to extend your fat burning efforts through the night. It's a stimulant-free supplement (so you don't need to worry about caffeine keeping you up), and the formula includes several vitamins, minerals and active ingredients that have been shown to improve sleep and fat metabolism. The main ingredients include the appetite suppressant 5-HTP, L-theanine for stress relief and the amino acid L-lysine HCL, which converts fatty acids into energy. PhenQ PM also includes the minerals Chromium and Molybdenum and Vitamins C, B1, B5, B6 and Biotin (B7). Take four capsules 30 minutes to one hour before bed each night.

Active ingredients and doses per serving

Key ingredients: L-Arginine, L-Lysine HCL, L-Theanine, 5-HTP, Chromium, Biotin, Molybdenum, Choline, Vitamins C, B1, B5 and B6 L-Arginine, L-Lysine HCL, L-Theanine, 5-HTP, Chromium, Biotin, Molybdenum, Choline, Vitamins C, B1, B5 and B6 Cost per serving: $2.67

$2.67 Servings per container: 30

30 Subscription plan offered? No, but you can order one-month, three-month or five-month packages No, but you can order one-month, three-month or five-month packages Artificial sweeteners, colors, preservatives? None

None Flavors: N/A

Best for

Women looking for a fat burner that's formulated to also improve sleep

Women who want a stimulant-free fat burner

What customers have to say

We were unable to find any customer reviews for PhenQ PM. A PhenQ customer service representative said that, because they recently launched PhenQ PM, they are still collecting customer reviews about the product.

Kaged Muscle

Key features

Thermogenic formula designed to burn fat and boost energy

248 milligrams of caffeine per serving

Free of banned substances

How does it work?

Similar to the standard Kaged Clean Burn fat burner, Kaged Clean Burn Amped has green tea leaf extract, but otherwise the two products are very different. Amped contains 248 milligrams of caffeine per serving to boost your metabolism and increase energy and focus. It also contains green coffee extract and green tea extract, which help increase thermogenesis and boost metabolism. The addition of the herb Grains of Paradise (from the ginger family) helps to activate thermogenesis. (For reference, thermogenesis is the body’s ability to utilize energy, such as fat stores, in order to produce heat—thus burning more fat.) It also includes a "Water Balance Matrix" of asparagus, juniper, parsley and uva ursi to reduce bloating.

Active ingredients and doses per serving

Key ingredients: Caffeine, Svetol (green coffee bean extract), Green Select Phytosome (green tea leaf extract), Grains of Paradise seed extract, asparagus, juniper, parsley and uva ursi Caffeine, Svetol (green coffee bean extract), Green Select Phytosome (green tea leaf extract), Grains of Paradise seed extract, asparagus, juniper, parsley and uva ursi Cost per serving: $0.58 ($0.52 for subscribers)

$0.58 ($0.52 for subscribers) Servings per container: 60

60 Subscription plan offered? Yes

Yes Artificial sweeteners, colors, preservatives? None

None Flavors: N/A

Best for

Women who want increased energy for workouts

Women who want fat burner with a thermogenic formula

What customers have to say

Kaged Clean Burn Amped has an average of 4.8/5 stars on the company's website. Customers are happy about the energy boosting and appetite suppressing effects of the supplement. The main complaint is that contains too much caffeine for some users. If you're sensitive to caffeine, consider taking only one capsule or cutting out other sources of caffeine on the days you take Amped. Otherwise, it has generally favorable reviews on other websites like Amazon (4.4/5 stars).

Cira Nutrition

Key features

Stimulant-free fat-burner that contains decaffeinated green tea leaf extract

Contains dandelion root extract, which is recognized as a natural diuretic that may help with bloating

Active ingredients may help convert fat into energy

How does it work?

Cira Shine Stim-Free Shape Support uses a combination of cayenne pepper extract (BioPerine), L-carnitine, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and forskolin to help free and mobilize fatty acids stored in the body and convert them into energy. EGCG is a polyphenol component of the green tea extract that has both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It’s also the compound that’s given credit for green tea’s potential as a herbal weight loss aid. BioPerine, while not proven to be effective as a weight loss ingredient for humans (though there is promising research with rats), is a mainstay found in most fat burner and pre-workout supplements. This is because BioPerine allows you to get more out of the other nutrients you consume. Cira’s fat burner also contains forskolin. Studies show that forskolin may be effective at reducing body fat in overweight and obese men, but not in overweight women, though it may help prevent weight gain. Note that this supplement doesn’t contain caffeine, so it’s great for women looking for a stimulant-free product that can be taken in the morning and evening.

Active ingredients and doses per serving

Key ingredients: L-carnitine, EGCG, Cayenne pepper (Capsimax), Black pepper extract (BioPerine)

L-carnitine, EGCG, Cayenne pepper (Capsimax), Black pepper extract (BioPerine) Cost per serving: $1.00

$1.00 Servings per container: 30

30 Subscription plan offered? No

No Artificial sweeteners, colors, preservatives? None

None Flavors: N/A

Best for

Women looking for a stimulant-free fat burner

Those looking for a fat burner that reduces bloating

Vegans and vegetarians

What customers have to say

Customers seem to really enjoy Cira’s Shine Stim-Free Shape Support. Many note that, despite being caffeine-free, the capsules give them some extra energy. They also enjoy the reduced bloating effect that can be attributed to the dandelion root extract included in the supplement.

Cellucor

Key features

160 milligrams of caffeine per serving

Can double as a pre-workout supplement

Formulated to reduce water weight

How does it work?

Cellucor’s Super HD formula combines a significant caffeine dosage (160 milligrams per serving) with green tea phytosome and a proprietary thermogenic and sensory blend. I usually don’t approve of proprietary blends, but in this case, the dosages appear to be appropriate, and you can see the exact dosages of the caffeine and green tea extract on the supplements label. The caffeine dosage is definitely enough to suppress your appetite and increase your focus, and the green tea extract, combined with the proprietary blend, may help with the conversion of fat into energy for the body. Note: with such a large amount of caffeine per pill, you should not exceed three capsules per day.

Active ingredients and doses per serving

Key ingredients: Caffeine, Green Tea Extract, SuperHD Thermogenic and Sensory Blend

Caffeine, Green Tea Extract, SuperHD Thermogenic and Sensory Blend Cost per serving: $0.50 ($0.40 for subscribers)

$0.50 ($0.40 for subscribers) Servings per container: 60

60 Subscription plan offered? Save 20 percent and get free shipping with a subscription Save 20 percent and get free shipping with a subscription Artificial sweeteners, colors, preservatives? None

None Flavors: N/A

Best for

Women looking for a caffeinated fat burner supplement

Women who want a fat burner that doubles as a pre-workout supplement

What customers have to say

Customers like the fact that this supplement has enough caffeine to be used in place of their morning coffee or even as a pre-workout before the gym. Many reviewers speak highly about the appetite suppressing effects, as well the energy boost this product provides, even after an intense workout at the gym.

Key Nutrients

Key features

Quickly fuels the brain and body

Can relieve flu-like symptoms as you transition to a low-carb diet

Contains micronutrient electrolytes that help with hydration

How does it work?

Key Nutrients explains that exogenous ketones are nearly identical to the ketones your body makes on the keto diet. These ketones fuel your body with alternate energy when on a ketogenic diet and carbohydrates are scarce. Your main energy ketone—beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB)—is the active ingredient in Key Keto. While not being inherently fat burning, this product will help you maintain a ketogenic diet, which can help support your long-term weight loss goals. This product is more expensive than many of the others on this list, so it’s not the best for women on a tight budget, especially those who want ingredients that directly support fat burning.

Active ingredients and doses per serving

Key ingredients: BHB, electrolytes (calcium, magnesium, sodium)

BHB, electrolytes (calcium, magnesium, sodium) Cost per serving: $1.99

$1.99 Servings per container: 15

15 Subscription plan offered? None

None Artificial sweeteners, colors, preservatives? None

None Flavors: Lemon Lime Sherbet, Strawberry Lemonade, Cherry Lime

Best for

Women looking for a product to help ease keto-adaptation in the body

Women who want energy without consuming stimulants

What customers have to say

Most customers agree that this product helps jump start ketosis in the body, as well as maintain ketosis for a longer period of time. They also state that exogenous ketones are generally not tasty and are not meant to taste like a sugary fruit smoothie; however, Key Nutrients has spent a significant amount of time ensuring the best tasting product possible, and many customers agree with Key Nutrients, saying that the product tastes great, and the flavor options available are top notch. Others find it to be bitter or have a less than pleasant aftertaste. Since there’s no consensus on taste, you’ll need to decide for yourself!

Best Way to Use a Fat Burner

The best way to use a fat burner supplement is in conjunction with a nutritious diet, daily physical activity and a high-quality sleep schedule—the minimum being seven hours of sleep per night. The way most fat burner supplements work is the mobilization of stored fat in the body to be used as energy. However, if you’re not in a caloric deficit through diet and/or exercise, then fat burners won’t have much of an effect because your body will use excess calories—rather than fat stores—for energy. An effective way to ensure that you’re in a caloric deficit is through the use of a nutrition tracking app or weight loss app. These apps can be a fantastic tool to help manage your weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Ingredients to Look For In a Women’s Fat Burner

Glucomannan

Konjac Glucomannan (KGM) is a dietary fiber isolated from the root vegetable known as the voodoo lily or elephant yam. This ingredient is often included in fat burner supplements for its purported weight loss benefits, including anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory properties. It works by reducing blood glucose levels, triglycerides and cholesterol; however, despite a handful of studies seeing these reduced levels, they haven’t been able to correlate them with a reduction in body weight. We do know that a high fiber diet is beneficial to overall health, reducing the risk of heart disease, obesity and diabetes. This is because a diet high in fiber not only keeps your digestive system healthy and bowel movements regular, but it also promotes satiety (the feeling of being full), as well as being a prebiotic that promotes a healthy gut microbiota. The recommended daily intake of fiber for women is 21 to 25 grams a day. Since glucomannan is a dietary fiber, it has the potential to help individuals hit these daily intake goals. One thing to note when taking a product with glucomannan is that you might experience some gastrointestinal discomfort that occurs when shifting from a low fiber to high fiber diet. However, this side effect usually subsides within a few days.

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Green Tea Extract

Green tea has traditionally been used in Asia as a medicinal beverage for thousands of years. It contains a number of different beneficial compounds including caffeine, catechins (such as EGCG) and antioxidant flavonoids and polyphenols. Green tea extract (GTE) is a concentrated version of these beneficial compounds. Touted for the potential health benefits—including weight loss, cancer prevention and lowering cholesterol levels—GTE has become one of the most common ingredients found in fat burner supplements. A meta-analysis from the International Journal of Obesity concluded that green tea extract, specifically the combination of the catechins and caffeine mixture, has a positive effect on weight loss and weight management. If possible, find fat burners that include the EGCG content on the label because this particular catchein appears to be a main contributor to these weight loss effects. However, note that a single dose of 340 milligrams of EGCG per day is advised to prevent hepatotoxicity (damage to the liver). Remember, when taking supplements, ensure they are ingested as intended via the nutrition label to prevent any harmful side effects.

Cayenne Pepper Extract

The main active ingredient in cayenne pepper extract is the compound capsaicin. Derived from chili peppers, this extract has been shown to help reduce body weight through its anti-obesity effects. Research shows that capsaicin can be helpful at suppressing caloric intake through appetite and satiety regulation. This means that it can assist people in eating less throughout the day and feeling full longer. It has also been shown to reduce body fat through a biological mechanism called thermogenesis. Thermogenesis is defined as the dissipation of energy through the production of heat. What this means is that capsaicin leads to the consumption of calories in the form of body fat (brown adipose tissue) in order to increase body temperature. Studies suggest that a minimum dose of two milligrams of capsaicin is needed to elicit these potential benefits. In most cases, no adverse effects of capsaicin supplementation were observed. However, as with any supplement, if you have a pre-existing health condition or don’t take the supplement as intended, then there is a possibility of potentially harmful side effects. Please consult with your primary care physician before starting a fat-burner supplement routine.

Black Pepper Extract

Black pepper extract is also known as piperine or BioPerine. In the context of weight loss, one study notes that the anti-obesity effects of piperine are not inherent and are instead related to the enhancement of the intestinal barrier function and the inhibition of intestinal fatty acid absorption. Put more simply, the body is able to absorb only a fraction of the nutrients we ingest through food and supplements on a daily basis, but BioPerine increases this absorption and allows the body to get more out of the nutrients we consume.

Chromium Picolinate

Chromium is an essential mineral nutrient that’s involved in biochemical processes, such as the regulation of carbohydrate and fat metabolism. The current recommended dietary intake of chromium for women is 25 micrograms per day. Yet, the standard American diet usually contains suboptimal levels of this nutrient. This is where a dietary supplement with chromium picolinate might be beneficial. However, when reviewing studies using this ingredient in the context of weight loss, they report that supplementation with chromium picolinate had no demonstrated beneficial effects on weight loss.

Garcinia Cambogia

Garcinia cambogia is a tropical fruit that grows in both Southeast Asia and Africa. One of the main active ingredients found in the rind of this fruit is hydroxycitric acid. This ingredient has been found to be an inhibitor of an enzyme involved in both fatty acid synthesis and glycogen storage in the body. This means that garcinia cambogia may be effective at preventing the storage of excess calories as body fat. It has also been found to suppress appetite and help regulate cholesterol levels. As with all herbal weight loss supplements, it’s best practice to consult with your primary care physician before starting a fat burner supplement routine. There are reported cases of garcinia cambogia induced hepatotoxicity (liver toxicity) in patients taking dietary fat burner supplements containing this compound.

Green Coffee Bean Extract

Coffee beans are green in color when they’re removed from the fruit of the Coffea Arabica tree. The roasting process converts the beans from green to the dark brown color you’re probably familiar with. The active compounds in green coffee beans are known as chlorogenic acids, and they’re much more present in green beans than roasted brown beans. One study that looked at whether green coffee bean extract reduced body mass in humans found that significant reductions were observed in body weight, body mass index and body fat percentage when taken over a 22 week timeframe. The results from this study suggest that green coffee bean extract may be an effective fat burner that helps prevent obesity in overweight adults.

Caffeine Anhydrous

Caffeine is one of the most commonly used substances in the world. Typically found in beverages such as coffee, tea and pre-workout energy drinks, caffeine has also made its way into the top fat burner supplements due to its role as an appetite suppressant and thermogenic. A recent 2018 meta-analysis of caffeine supplementation indicates that caffeine intake may promote weight loss and body fat reduction. Another positive correlation with weight loss is caffeine's ability to reduce feelings of fatigue, not only helping people to get to the gym, but also increasing workout length and boosting performance. Remember, when choosing to use a fat burner supplement containing caffeine, it’s important to monitor your total caffeine consumption throughout the day to prevent any unwelcome side effects like anxiety and insomnia. The recommended daily allowance for caffeine ingestion for adults is 400 milligrams a day.

L-Carnitine

L-carnitine is another ingredient commonly found in fat burner supplements. It has been linked to weight loss by transporting fat to our cells to be utilized as energy. Although the clinical evidence on weight loss has led to inconsistent results, a 2020 meta-analysis did look at thirty-seven different randomized controlled clinical trials and concluded that L-carnitine provided a modest reduction in body weight, despite having no clear effect on overall waist circumference or body fat percentage. Combining L-carnitine with a diet high in protein would likely lead to better reduction in body fat through the preservation of lean muscle mass. This is because when you are in a caloric deficit to lose weight, your body is burning more energy than you are consuming. In order for the body to get the energy it needs, it must utilize the body’s saved energy stores, which are body fat and muscle. A diet high in protein will provide the body with the amino acids it needs, which subsequently prevents the breakdown of lean muscle in favor of the utilization of excess fat stores for energy.

Safety Considerations

There are potential adverse health effects associated with some fat burning ingredients. This is primarily because the chemical compounds found in supplements are often much higher in concentration than what is commonly found in nature. Be sure to follow the supplement use directions, and do not overuse fat burner supplements with the hopes of expediting your weight loss progress. Also, consult a healthcare professional before starting a fat burner supplement. Because the ingredients vary significantly from product to product, I would suggest showing your physician the exact fat burner supplement you plan on taking so they can review it.

What to Consider Before Buying a Fat Burner

Ingredients

Look for fat burner supplements that include some of the ingredients listed above. Additionally, avoid supplements with proprietary blends of ingredients. It’s best to know exactly how much of each ingredient is in your fat burner.

Dosage

Always follow the supplement use directions. Misuse of supplements like fat burners can lead to negative health effects.

Medical conditions

Consult your primary care doctor before starting any fat burner supplement routine. There are potential side effects you may encounter when starting any new supplement.

Price

Fat burner supplements are not a necessity for weight loss. Although they may help, you should definitely not break the bank to purchase these products. The fat burners on this list range from $0.30 to $2.16 per serving.

Fat Burner FAQs

Is it harder for women than men to lose weight?

Although the process of weight loss is similar for both men and women, there are a number of different components to consider, and unfortunately, women have more variables to deal with than men. Due to their anatomy, women naturally have a higher body fat percentage than their male counterparts. They also deal with monthly hormonal changes, need a certain amount of weight for healthy pregnancy and eventually must face the symptoms of menopause. For these reasons, along with higher levels of estrogen, a hormone that contributes to increased fat storage, it is more difficult for women to lose weight than men. The literature also supports this claim. A meta-analysis of 49 studies comparing effective weight loss strategies for both men and women found that men, on average, lost more weight than women. However, they do note that women in the studies also lost a significant amount of weight.

What is the best way for women to lose weight?

The best way for women to lose weight is to optimize the major lifestyle factors involved in maintaining a healthy body weight. These include getting enough sleep, consuming a balanced diet and keeping up your physical activity levels. Another factor to consider is maintaining a healthy hormonal balance. Get blood-work done at least once a year during your physical to ensure that your hormones are at appropriate levels. Once all these components are dialed in, you’ll likely have more success achieving your goals for taking a fat burner supplement. Remember, that you only need to be in a slight calorie deficit (250-500 calories) in order to start seeing some real sustainable weight loss. If you’re interested in learning more about how many calories you should be eating each day, I suggest consulting a registered dietician, certified nutrition coach or checking out a weight loss program.

Can fat burners for women be bought over the counter?

Yes, all of the fat burner supplements we review in this article can be purchased over the counter or online. There are some prescription weight loss drugs that are available, but you must consult your primary care physician for more information about these drugs since they’re usually only prescribed in severe cases of obesity, diabetes and/or high blood pressure.

Final Thoughts

Everyone’s weight loss journey is different, and health is holistic—not solely dependent on body fat percentage alone. In fact, having a certain amount of body fat is both beneficial and important for optimal health. However, if you are overweight, a competition bodybuilder or would simply like to lower your total body fat, fat burners may help when used alongside a healthy diet and regular exercise. Remember to always consult your primary care physician before starting a fat burner supplement.

Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.

si.com - The Best Fat Burners For Women: Effective and Safe Results

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Last updated Apr 13, 2019