Best Fat Loss Supplements Reviewed and Rated
Perhaps the hardest thing about shopping for a weight loss supplement is separating fact from fiction.
This starts with you deciding what you would like to see in a fat loss supplement. You may be okay with taking stimulants, or you may not. You may prefer capsules over powder. You may just want something that will help you lose weight, or you may also be interested inside benefits like increased energy, mental clarity, or even more restful sleep.
Once you know what you are after, you can drill down on the supplements that provide those priority benefits. Part of that process, you figure out what you need, also involves deciding what you do not need. Often, supplement makers pack more substances into their product than the average person will find helpful.
To help you narrow your focus, we have provided information on ten of today's best fat burning supplements.
In a Hurry? The test winner after 20 hrs of research
Uses fresh and natural ingredients
Removes extra weight without compromising muscle
Slight mood lift
Plant based ingredients speed up your metabolism
Top 10 Best Fat Loss Supplements
1. Old School Labs Vintage Burn Fat Loss Supplement
Uses fresh and natural ingredients
Removes extra weight without compromising muscle
Slight mood lift
Plant based ingredients speed up your metabolism
Product is expensive
Vintage Burn made our number one spot because It works quickly on your metabolism, using natural ingredients to let you keep the muscle you worked for while helping you slim down and lose weight.
Read moreOld School also says its product will give you a mood boost and give you increased focus. As most of us know, laser focus and an elevated mood will get you lifting or cardio training more effectively. And unlike cheaper, less well-tested supplements, Vintage Burn does not artificially lessen your appetite.
The increased energy from Vintage Burn will seep over into your time away from the gym, too, giving you overall better quality of life. Old School keeps the processing of their ingredients to a minimum, harvesting green tea leaves raspberry ketones, caffeine and an array of other ingredients at their peak freshness from suppliers.
The result is a high-end product, and of course, the quality and value are reflected in the price you pay. If you are looking for a consistently effective product with few or no side effects, and you already have a workout regimen, we believe this product is a great fit for you.
2. Hydroxycut Hardcore Elite
Affordable price
Natural caffeine sources
Nice energy boost
Tested by third party labs
Hydroxycut's claims of a study are questionable
One of the best-known supplement brands provides this product that gives an instant energy boost and safe, effective weight loss when used according to instructions.
Read moreHydroxycut warns that Hardcore Elite has a big dose of stimulants, so you will definitely want to stick with the dosage directions.
Energy and metabolic pickup come from caffeine anhydrous. The chemical can also help you with mental focus. Hydroxycut also cites a study that found more than twice as much weight using the product over a two day period, as opposed to restricting calories and exercising without the product. However, the only peer-reviewed paper we were able to find indicated that there were several similar studies and their methods were not rigorous.
Hydroxycut does submit all its products to third-party lab testing to ensure potency and purity. The directions we found, on the Hardcore Elite product page, indicate you should start up, starting with just two capsules, when you begin taking the product.
3. Burn TS Advanced Weight Loss
Some solid evidence for ingredient effectiveness
Few side effects
Meratrim is fruit based
Natural caffeine
Can cause increased heart rate
Burn TS is gluten-free, with no extra fillers or preservatives. It is also GMO-free, and parent company Diet Spotlight sends each bottle through third-party testing.
Read moreBenefits of Burn TS fat burning supplement include energy lift, and, of course, weight loss. Capsules are taken thirty minutes prior to meals. Users report noticeable results anywhere from a few days to less than a month after starting.
The company has been in business since 2011. Ingredients in Burn TS are Meratrim, green tea extract, chromium chromate, and 75 milligrams of natural caffeine, or the equivalent of an ordinary cup of coffee. Meratrim is a plant-based ingredient that carries few side effects and is backed by some studies.
And although it is usually used as a stimulant, caffeine does have thermogenic properties to help you with calorie burn. Chromium may help lower your blood sugar, helping suppress appetite so you take in fewer calories.
4. Redcon 1 Double Tap Fat Burner
Capsule or powder form
Few side effects
Gives a natural energy lift
Can replace coffee/energy drinks
Some ingredients seem to be filler
Double Tap promises to ease your appetite, give you an energy boost, and help with mental focus and clarity.
Read moreDouble Tap contains seven different chemical ingredients, with the main one being green tea extract. Green tea extract is a common ingredient, one we found in nearly every product we examined. Green tea has been linked to increased heart and brain health. It also has thermogenic qualities, which is how green tea helps with weight loss and calorie burn.
User reviews indicate increased weight loss and few side effects like nausea. It is important to time the pills according to directions, to coincide with meals. You can also get Double Tap in powder form.
5. Evlution Lean Mode
Contains green coffee bean and green tea extract
Fruit based garcinia cambogia
Evlution is experienced with other supplements
Linoleic acid
May or may not contain stimulants
Evlution Nutrition is a somewhat well-known company that offers a whole line of supplements including several fat burners, linoleic acid, and a multivitamin.
Read moreIn addition to the green tea and coffee bean extracts, Lean Mode gives you CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), which may help reduce body fat but does not have a measurable impact on your metabolism.
Additionally, the carnitine in Lean Mode can increase your performance by augmenting your body's ability to fuel its cells during exercise. Garcinia Cambogia, an extract from the tamarind fruit, is included to curb your appetite with naturally occurring hydroxy citric acid. And the 250 milligrams of green tea is high in polyphenol antioxidants.
All in all, this is a reasonably priced product with a few verifiable benefits. And Evlution offers a whole array of other supplements you can choose to suit your needs. However, it is a little discouraging to see a product containing both green tea and green coffee extracts called "stimulant-free" when Evlution is not clear about whether the beans are decaffeinated or not.
6. Burn XT
Meets cGMP purity standards
Jacked Factory gives excellent customer service
450 milligrams of green tea extract
Helps you maintain muscle
Caffeine level too much for some users
Jacked Factory, the company behind Burn XT, is known for high-quality third-party tested supplements with natural ingredients and decent results.
Read moreBurnXT promises to give you more energy, lift your mood while helping in your fat burning process and preserving your muscle tone. The stimulant ingredients won't make you jittery as energy drinks can, and the supplement is keto diet-friendly, which is a nice tough since keto is so popular right now.
All of Jacked Factory's products come with a money-back guarantee. If you do not see results or feel the product is not performing as described, you can contact Jacked Factory and they will work to solve your problem.
The company's manufacturing plants are cGMP certified. Current Good Manufacturing Process rules, from the FDA, meaning the facilities meet standards for purity and consistency in the manufacturing process.
The active ingredients in Burn XT include carnitine, green tea extract, pure caffeine, cayenne pepper extract, and black pepper extract. The carnitine is by far the most prevalent ingredient, at 700 milligrams. The 270 milligrams of caffeine is equivalent to about three cups of coffee.
7. Nature Wise Thermo Blend
Natural ingredients
Little to no side effects
Company donates money to disadvantaged families
Lots of antioxidants
Not clear that all ingredients do anything
This eco-friendly supplement is filled with fruit extracts and other plant-based ingredients to help you boost your metabolism safely and quickly.
Read moreGreen tea is just the beginning of this product. Auxiliary fat burning supplements and mood lifters include cayenne, bitter orange, olive leaf, yerba mate and a few other green ingredients you don't find in many other supplements. In fact, NatureWise seems aimed specifically at natural health devotees, though anyone who works out regularly can get used to it.
NatureWise describes its pills-not capsules- like weight loss supplement, energy, and fat burning pills. The multiple benefits come in a package that is vegan, gluten-free, and without GMOs. We're not sure if it's the lack of additives or NatureWise's simple manufacturing process, but it all adds up to a big plate of benefits at an affordable price.
Perhaps the best thing about Thermo Blend, for socially conscious customers, is that each purchase helps disadvantaged women and children by supplying them vitamins, at no cost, for an entire year. NatureWise makes a donation every time they sell a bottle of supplements, including others besides Thermo Blend.
8. SHREDZ Fat Burner
Product is often on sale
Contains no filler ingredients
Optional diet/training plans available
Formulated by gender
The website does not offer much information
One of the costliest items on our list, Shredz Burner is available in both a men's and women's formulation.
Read moreIt is not immediately clear what the difference between the two formulations is. The ingredients lists do not differ much, and Shredz does not offer an explanation or side by side comparison on its website.
We are confident, from our research and from reading customer reviews, that you can get results from this product. However, the lack of much clear information about its makeup and level of effectiveness place it near the bottom of our list. Although a thirty or sixty-day supply is costly, Shredz often runs specials so you can try the product at a significant cost saving.
9. Applied Nutrition Green Tea Fat Burner
Cost-effective
Carries benefits of green tea
Fast dissolving gelcaps
Phytonutrient ingredients for energy
Some benefits/ingredient applications are unclear
Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the alpha ingredient in this fat burner, with 400 milligrams of the ester per daily dose.
Read moreBut what is EGCG? According to our research, it is an ester or chemical compound made from an acid and (usually) alcohol. In this case, the acid is gallic acid. The gallic acid is bound, not with alcohol, but with epigallocatechin. Gallic acid can treat skin conditions as well as Type 2 diabetes and several other conditions.
Epigallocatechin has antioxidant properties. It, together with the gallic acid, may help with burning calories. ECGC occurs naturally in many teas.
This product provides its ECGC in fast-dissolving gel capsules. One serving, according to Applied Nutrition, will give you more antioxidants than you could find in natural fruits.
Caffeine is also present as a secondary ingredient, as well as several plant-based products that provide phytonutrients for extra energy and mild immune system support.
Although the science on EHCG is still out, we do believe this product will help you with your weight loss goals, the power you through your workouts, and give you a bit of a mood lift, just as you'd expect from most any supplement.
10. Mav Nutrition NightTime Fat Burner
Helps with sleep
Increased nocturnal calorie burn
No stimulants
Some immune system assistance
Sleep effects vary fro, user to user
This supplement helps your body with thermogenic efficiency, while also giving a mild sleep aid effect.
Read moreOther ingredients are designed to boost your immune system and speed recovery from workouts. Green coffee beans, which we hope are decaffeinated, work together with melatonin to ease you into a restful sleep. Theanine and tryptophan are added ingredients, chemicals that naturally promote quality sleep.
This fat burner also has white kidney bean extract, valerian root, lemon balm, passionflower and a few other herbal ingredients that are associated with rest and relaxation. While the product does not claim any mental clarity or focus benefits, other than those provided by the green tea, it is common knowledge that consistent deep sleep will give put you in a better mental state throughout your day.
As with all supplements, Night Time is most effective when you use it as part of an overall regimen that includes consistent cardio and strength as well as a properly balanced diet.
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Effectiveness
It is not always easy to tell which supplements will be effective.
For the most part, we examine what the manufacturer says about their product, then go through the ingredient list. We have to know which ingredients are most closely associated with which benefits. We also rely heavily on consumer reviews, and those we find on health and wellness websites.
A company's longevity and reputation are very important, too. If a product consistently fails to deliver on its promises, more than likely it will not stay in business year after year.
After considering these factors, we look at any claims the product makes about scientific studies. Often, these studies are next to impossible to find. And even when we can find one, it does not always say what the product claims it says. When we are able to verify a study and its results, we prioritize that product. We also prioritize those that submit themselves to third-party testing.
Potency
1000 milligrams of a chemical does not always mean it will be effective.
Indeed, too high a dose of caffeine can make you nauseous or jumpy, while interfering with sleep.
Factors that makeup potency of a final product includes the supply chain, tested the effectiveness of the ingredients, dosage size, dosage directions, and consistent positive reviews. We consider all of these in our reviews. We are confident that, while every product here may not be ideal for every user, they are legitimate and potent products that can help you meet your goals when you use them properly.
Product Purity
Product purity has everything to do with the sourcing and manufacturing processes.
Filler products may decrease a product's purity, which will also lessen their effectiveness. Fillers are those substances that add nothing to the benefits the product bestows on you.
This does not mean all fillers are bad. They are often used to make capsules have a usable size. For example, an entire daily supply of folic acid would not come near to filling an average gelcap. So, often, manufacturers will add fillers to top off the product.
Still, fillers are something you should pay attention to. Some may carry potential harmful effects. In addition to fillers, additives like magnesium stearate, carrageenan, titanium dioxide, and lanolin may be present. Those products that market themselves as pure, with verifiable ingredients and manufacturing processes, are the ones that will have the least amount of agents like these. It is up to you to decide if you are okay with having some of these fillers or binding agents in your body.
Side Effects
The most common side effects from weight loss supplements are nervousness and overstimulation.
This is because, regardless of what the ad copy says, most supplements contain some form of a supplement. Too much caffeine, whether it is from coffee drinks or from green tea extract, will make anyone experience mild overdose effects. Without the stimulant effects, the supplement would not be able to increase your metabolism and help you lose weight.
This does not mean you have to worry about your safety when you take supplements. Most manufacturers today meet safety standards because they would like to stay in business. Most people will not experience restlessness or any other possible side effects as long as they follow directions. If you are in doubt, you can always talk to your doctor. And of course, if you notice side effects that make you uncomfortable, you should stop taking the supplement right away.
Value
If certain features are important to you, the best value may not be the least expensive supplement.
The reasons for this are pretty simple. If you are concerned about natural eating and environmental impact, or if you have adopted a vegan or gluten-free diet, you will want to stay away from certain products. Those supplements that source their ingredients and follow small footprint manufacturing techniques may end up costing more.
If the supplement does what you need it to do and also lets you stay true to your values, giving you peace of mind, we say it is worth the added expense.
On the other end of the spectrum, look out for products with long ingredient lists and exceptional claims about what the product can do for you. This is often an excuse to artificially inflate the final price.
Expert Interviews & Opinions
It should come as no surprise that supplement suppliers often distort objective facts to help influence your buying decision. This is a universal practice across most industries and has been for a long time. Just because a company wants to present its product in the most favorable light, that does not mean you can never trust what supplements have to say about themselves.
Instead, remember that a bit of self-educating goes a long way. For example, how much carnitine do you really need? Some medical sources say you don't need any, and that your body makes all the carnitine you could ever use. So you probably do not need a huge dose of it, which many supplements are happy to offer. Large numbers do not mean something is more effective.
Looking at customer reviews is good, too. Looking at medical journals or objective studies is even better. Often, a few short articles can be enough to help you avoid overspending for a product that really has nothing more to offer than its more economical counterpart.
A phytonutrient is any chemical produced by a plant.
Just because a plant makes something, though, does not mean it is beneficial or even safe. Going by the definition, in the broadest sense, nicotine is a phytonutrient because it occurs naturally in the tobacco plant.
None of the supplements on our list have anything in them as harmful as nicotine, of course. Our point, as we have mentioned before, is to be wary of words that can have a broad meaning. Just like with any ingredient, you should look up the effectiveness, uses, side effects and other qualities of any phytonutrient you may be interested in. Beware long lists of little known plants in ingredient lists; often, the exotic sounding name hides the fact that the chemical will not have much effect on your weight loss or quality of life.
Other Factors to Consider
Support
When we in the fitness world talk about support, it usually means a piece of equipment and its ability to hold and distribute your weight, whether you are wearing a shoe, reclining on a weight bench, or running on a treadmill.
Supplements don't have foot pads or handles, so how can we rate them according to support? Well, in this case, we are talking about other means of support.
The companies that offered money-back guarantees were transparent about their ingredients, made realistic claims, and submitted themselves to third-party lab testing are also the ones we gave the highest ratings to.
The other aspect of support, where supplements are concerned, is how well the product itself supports you in your goals. If it is a nighttime supplement, we are not going to recommend it unless we are confident that taking it will have a positive impact on your sleep hygiene.
Use
In this context, "use" is almost the polar opposite of "versatility."
Versatility refers to how many different uses you can find for a specific product. A simple set of dumbbells, for example, can strengthen your arms, shoulders, back, abdominal muscles, glutes, and every part of your legs.
But if we are suggesting weight loss supplements to you, we want to make sure they can do weight loss and do it well. Many of the ones on our list can also help you with energy, focus, even sleep. We think that is fine, but anything beyond two extra benefits can detract from the weight loss use. There are plenty of protein powders, workout formulas, creatine supplements, and weight gainers out there, so we did our best to keep those away from our deep dive into weight loss supplements.
Frequently Asked Questions
q: Is caffeine safe?
When used according to directions and in appropriate doses, yes. Caffeine can give you extra energy and even help you focus mentally, without the increased heart rate, tremors, nervousness, insomnia, and even nausea you can get from too much caffeine.
Note that the appropriate dose will not be the same for everyone. People with a smaller frame will need less caffeine than someone with a larger frame. The best course of action is always to follow the directions that come with the bottle or package because they are aimed at the average person's needs and tolerance.
q: Will any of these supplements make me stronger?
No, no supplement can do that, including all the protein powders that imply otherwise.
What the best supplements can do is give you more energy to get through your workouts, so you are performing consistently and getting the maximum benefits from them. In addition, their thermogenic properties will alter your metabolism to facilitate weight loss. The combination of consistent physical activity and faster metabolism, along with a healthy diet, is what will put you in a position to lose weight more effectively than before.
q: How do the supplements change my metabolism?
Your metabolism is the series of chemical processes, taking place inside your body, that is responsible for the conversion of food you eat into the energy you can use. Some people will have faster rates of metabolism than others. Many metabolic factors are fixed and cannot change. These include your gender, genes, and age.
The role of supplements is to make your body's metabolic machine leaner and meaner, so you lose weight more quickly without having to restrict your calories to the point of discomfort.
Since heat is energy, and energy can speed up processes, nearly all supplements work (or claim to work) by increasing the heat energy available for metabolism. This is where the word "thermogenic" comes from. Caffeine is one of the most common ways to speed up metabolism, but there are also minerals and phytonutrients that can do the same thing with little to none of the stimulant effects that come with caffeine.
q: Will supplements make my workouts easier?
No, but they can give you more energy and focus to help you get through them more efficiently, helping you perceive them as being easier. This, in turn, will encourage you to push yourself a bit harder and not miss workouts regularly,
q: What results can I expect to see?
If you choose to use any of the best fat burning supplements from our list every day according to directions, augmenting them with regular workouts and healthy eating habits, and you do not suffer from certain autoimmune conditions, you can expect to see a healthy, sustainable weight loss pattern of no more than two pounds a week.
Sources
- Metabolism Boosters: Weight Loss Fact or Fiction?, Consumer Health Site ,
- Metabolic rate, Secondary Education Website ,
- What Are Phytonutrients?, Science website ,