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Are you feeling bloated and frustrated with weight gain, particularly around the belly? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Menopause can be a real pain (literally!), but it’s not all bad news.
It’s common for women to feel like they’ve lost their mojo when menopause comes knocking, but that’s not the case. There’s still plenty of excitement and joy to be had!
So, what can you do to alleviate those dreaded symptoms? Luckily, there are several options that women can turn to for relief from the hellish symptoms.
Bloating and weight gain can happen due to hormonal fluctuation. Decline in estrogen levels during menopause (and perimenopause) increases the weight gain around our belly1 and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) aims to tackle that by reintroducing estrogen into our body through pills or topical applications.
But here’s what doctors won’t tell you – HRT is expensive and it is not covered by many insurance plans. Studies also show2,3 HRT increases risk of heart disease, stroke, blood clots, and breast cancer.
Due to the risks associated with HRT, doctors may prescribe FDA-approved weight loss medication especially if you are experiencing extreme obesity and exposed to obesity-related diseases. You can find the full list of FDA-approved products here4.
But pharmaceuticals come with their own side-effects and risks and, as the saying goes, sometimes “the treatment is worse than the symptoms.” At the same time, many of these weight loss medications do not address the cause of belly fat accumulation for women in menopause.
Aside from HRT and FDA-approved weight loss supplements, several all-natural supplements are becoming more popular to get you looking and feeling your post 40 best. Taking the right supplement daily can support menopause-induced weight management and other menopause symptoms like hot flashes, sleep disruption, mood, and joint pain — naturally.
However, not all menopause supplements work the same. Different formulas approach symptoms differently. With so many choices, we wanted to know which approach or combination of natural ingredients works best.
| Nutritional Supplements | HRT | Pharmaceuticals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget Friendly | |||
| Side-Effect Free | |||
| Long-Term Use | |||
| Tackles Menobelly At The Root |
Our team independently reviewed 29 menopause belly supplement brands using data from independent consumer testing laboratories, Labdoor and ConsumerLab, combined with our internal ratings system to determine the top 5 menopause belly supplements for women over 40. These brands include some of the brands mentioned below and popular brands like vShred, Trimtone, InnoSupps, Exipure, NOW, Noom, Menoquil, Leanbean, and more.
We discovered there’s only ONE thing that makes or ‘breaks’ a menopause belly supplement – its blend of ingredients.
Here are some popular ingredients in menopause supplements & we’ll tell you which are the ‘must-haves’ and which you should avoid.
More than half of the roughly 69 trillion cells in your body are microbial5. Microbial cells regulate and support nearly every vital function including vaginal health, weight management, mood, blood pressure (hot flashes), and bone density.
Why should you care? Hormonal imbalance during menopause changes the way your body stores fat6 and women tend to accumulate more fats around their abdomen and liver. These fat cells are called visceral fats – also known as “hidden fats” that are stored deep inside the belly, wrapped around the organs, including the liver and intestines. According to WebMD7, visceral fats increase your risk of developing serious medical issues such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and high cholesterol.
The good news is that the gut regulates estrogen levels7 in your body and it can support hormonal balance during menopause. Probiotics improve gut health and it can play a major role to redirect fat deposition from your belly to other parts of your body so that you retain your desired body shape.
Soy has mild estrogenic effects. A systematic review of 19 clinical trials showed soy reduced the severity of hot flashes 11%-26%8. Another study found that while soy was beneficial to hot flashes, time to experience benefits ranged from several weeks to months7.
Notably, reviewers of the systematic clinical trial review are affiliated with the Soy Nutrition Institute and could have vested interest8. Perhaps due to the mild estrogenic nature, soy may help with hot flashes but doesn’t seem to have any effect on other menopausal symptoms like weight gain and reduced bone density.
Known as the “Miracle Tree,” and largely unknown in the west, the moringa tree is the most nutrient-dense food on the planet. Moringa leaf contains a host of antioxidants, polyphenols, vitamins and micronutrients. Besides powerful antioxidant effects and improving cellular function, moringa leaf boosts energy and metabolism by lowering blood glucose levels9. Moringa leaf is especially effective at combating menopausal weight gain and promoting stable moods.
Two large clinical studies confirm moringa leaf’s weight loss benefits. One 8 week study found subjects taking a combination of moringa, turmeric, and curry lost 6.4 pounds compared with the placebo group10. Another study reported weight loss of 9.9 pounds compared with the placebo group11. Moringa leaf has also shown promise in reducing hot flashes and improving sleep12
Perilla leaf is a herb commonly used in Korean cuisine. An animal study13 found that consumption of perilla leaves can improve obesity and dyslipidemia (imbalance of lipids) due to a high-fat diet.
However, unlike the other ingredients mentioned above, there is a lack of human studies conducted to examine the effects of perilla leaf. For this reason, we think that there is potential in perilla leaves but it requires further research to better assess its effectiveness.
Given the hundreds of belly fat supplements on the market today, ranging from popular and credible brands to up-and-coming brands and outsized claims, it is difficult to tell the good brands from the bad. So we analyzed 29 most popular menopause belly fat brands on the market and shortlisted the 5 best brands based on a strict criteria. Let’s take a quick look at the five criteria first.
As supplements can be sold without approval by FDA, reliable supplement manufacturers get third-party certifications to distinguish their products as trustworthy. These certifications verify the ingredients and quantities claimed on the product label, and that the product meets stringent manufacturing and performance standards. Established certifications to look out for include GMP, USP, NSF, Certified Organic, Non-GMO certified, etc.
Supplements that can’t be absorbed by the body are essentially ineffective. Unfortunately, most people aren’t aware of this, allowing manufacturers to get away with cheaply-made supplements with low bioavailability. Your selection process should consider supplements with ingredients that enhance absorption. Also, look for high-quality capsules that break down at the right time for nutrients to be fully absorbed.
Clinical trials help substantiate the efficacy of ingredients through proper tests. Look for a supplement with clinically-tested ingredients for real benefits, and avoid those based on anecdotal evidence. Even better if there are multiple studies backing the product. We based our top 5 menopause belly fat supplements on clinically studied ingredients supported by a solid body of evidence.
Sadly, according to the New York Times,14 one in four products sold on Amazon is fake. This is especially true of nutritional supplements. When buying from Amazon, ensure you do so from the brand’s Amazon store. Otherwise, purchase directly from the brand’s official website. Consuming fraudulent products may cause nasty side effects — so be extra cautious.
All supplements made in the USA are under FDA regulation. The same applies for Canada and Australia. Ensure products you buy come from FDA/TGA-registered facilities using GMP certified manufacturing processes. Many supplements, especially those purchased on eBay and Amazon are manufactured abroad, with little to no regulation. One study looked at 44 herbal supplements sold in North America and found 60% do not contain the ingredients or quantities claimed on the labels15.
A risk-free guarantee lets you try supplements without fear of losing your money. If you try the product and don’t experience results, simply contact the manufacturer for a refund. A 60- or 90-day guarantee is the minimum a manufacturer should have as a show of confidence in their products. Also, avoid companies that make you jump through hoops. One common strategy that companies use is “bottle return” – they require you pay for return shipping and return the empty bottles before they process your refund.
Menopause belly fats is primarily caused by a decline in estrogen levels.
Provitalize is the only belly fat supplement formula that addresses the multiple aspects of estrogen decline, namely:
Provitalize contains L. Gasseri SBT2055, a probiotic strain backed by two studies showing a reduction in abdominal visceral fats by up to 4.6%16 and 8.5%17 respectively. More importantly, L. Gasseri SBT2055 works by blocking fat absorption and promoting fat excretion through the feces18.
Next, Provitalize contains two other clinically studied probiotic strains (B. Breve IDCC4401 and B. Lactis R101-8) that stimulate cholesterol metabolism19 and saturated fat metabolism20. B. Breve IDCC4401 was also found to lower total cholesterol and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels.
Finally, B. Lactis R101-8 was also found to improve two inflammatory markers20 and Provitalize also contains herbs with anti-inflammatory properties – 350mg of curcumin and moringa leaves.
To top it off, the same herbs are also phytoestrogens – curcumin and moringa leaves – which help to promote hormonal balance and supplement the estrogen decline.
The probiotics in Provitalize help to improve gut health and address gut dysbiosis, enabling the gut to perform its function of regulating the estrogen levels in our body and supporting hormonal balance.
Provitalize has also been formulated with absorption (or bioavailability) in mind. It contains BioPerine® (black pepper extract) and sunflower lecithin which are shown to enhance absorption of vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial properties of herbal formulas. Finally, these ingredients are encapsulated in DRcaps® capsules, a patented and costly type of delayed-release capsule that protects the ingredients from stomach acid and ensures their smooth passage into our gut where they are most effective.
According to their official website, over 1,200,000 women have shed the stubborn weight with just two capsules a day. The tens of thousands of glowing reviews on TrustPilot, Amazon, and Okendo are undeniable proof that Provitalize is worthy of our top spot.
Want 50% faster visible weight results from Provitalize? Then the Slim Gut Bundle is for you. This holistic bundle combines the weight-management powers of Provitalize with ‘super fiber’ prebiotics in Previtalize.
The probiotics in Provitalize feed on these ‘super fibers’ to multiply faster in the gut. This means women can see faster visible results such as reduction of belly fat & cravings.
These healthy fibers include fructooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides, and inulin. Previtalize also aids digestion and stabilizes mood naturally.
We listed the Slim Gut Bundle 2nd only because it costs more than Provitalize alone. Other than that, we believe it’s the best-value-for-money bundle in the market right now.
Night Shred contains several blends of ingredients. The most significant blend is called Nighttime Recovery Complex and it contains 510mg of GABA, Chamomile Flower Powder, Passionflower Herb Powder, and Valerian Root Powder.
It also contains 200mg of Magnesium Oxide and 200mg of Ashwagandha Root Extract. Finally, the “fat-burning” component is 81mg of Grains of Paradise Seed Extract, CLA, and L-Carnitine Tartrate.
Promising studies show that GABA15 and Chamomile16 have potential weight loss effects, but no evidence could be found for Passionflower Herb Powder or Valerian Root Powder in aiding weight loss. On the other hand, Grains of Paradise17, CLA18, and l-Carnitine19 all seem to have some scientific evidence that show weight loss. From the research, it seems that Night Shred aims to stimulate our general metabolism levels to lower fats, and it doesn’t target any specific part of the body or type of fats.
Night Shred has a 4-star rating on Amazon as of this writing. It is also manufactured in a certified GMP facility in the US. We think that Night Shred has the potential to be one of the more effective fat reduction supplements in the market and deserve the #3 spot on our list.
Equelle uses a unique ingredient called S-equol, a plant-based ingredient derived from soy that is clinically proven to relieve a range of menopause symptoms, according to their website. It mimics estrogen and it is Generally Recognized as Safe and proven safe with no association with breast or other cancers, changes in sex or thyroid hormones, and negative effects on endometrial health.
In summary, we consider Equelle as a phytoestrogen supplement that may be capable of supplementing the estrogen levels in menopausal women, thus addressing the root cause of menopausal weight gain.
However, we listed Equelle as fourth (and not higher) because soy-based ingredients may only have mild estrogenic effects26.
Exipure is an affiliate-sold belly fat supplement containing 8 nutrients and plants aimed at increasing the proportion of brown adipose tissue (brown fat) in our body.
It contains a proprietary formula so the exact makeup of its ingredients are not fully known. These 8 ingredients include perilla, kudzu, holy basil, white korean ginseng, amur cork bark, propolis, quercetin, and oleuropein.
We ranked Exipure as the fifth product as we were not able to ascertain the efficacy of its ingredients without information of the dosage and some of the ingredients have only been studied on animals, not humans.
Shedding belly fat is one of the hardest things to do and while there are FDA-proven pharmaceutical solutions, these solutions may carry negative side-effects or could be aggressive. On the other hand, HRT is a popular menopause treatment option but carries well-documented risks and side effects.
After reviewing the science behind nutritional supplements, we think it is the safest and most sustainable approach for the average woman.
Also, women can gain belly fats more easily after 40 due to multiple reasons. While lower estrogen levels could be the root cause, the intermediate concerns are inflammation, leaky gut, and lower metabolism. We recommend looking for supplements that can address all three.
Individual results vary, but according to our research, people supporting diet and exercise efforts may shed an additional 5-10% of weight with the supplements listed in this article.
In combination with a good diet and regular exercise, the right supplement can enhance your efforts to eliminate stubborn belly fat. One study published in the peer-reviewed British Journal of Nutrition, found that participants consuming Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055 reduced abdominal fat (visceral fat) by up 8.5% over 12 weeks17.
Generally speaking, all of the menopause belly supplements listed in this article are considered safe. If you have any health concerns consult your primary care doctor before buying.
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