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As women gracefully step into their 40s, a new exciting chapter in their life unfolds. Yet, there’s a shared challenge that all women tend to face — the middle-age spread.
How does it happen? Well it boils down to our metabolism, slowing down to a crawl.
That’s why it’s no surprise to see thousands of metabolism boosters flooding the market, targeting women in their 40s to 60s…
Now, if you’re looking to jump on the bandwagon…
How will you know where to start?
In this article, we’ll examine all the metabolism booster options you’ll have to combat midlife weight gain, as well as our top product recommendations.
In simple terms, metabolism is the rate at which your body converts what you eat and drink into energy, measured in calories.
Your body then uses these calories to keep crucial processes functioning (e.g running breathing, thinking & movement).
The rate that the body burns calories to sustain itself at rest is also known as your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR).
In our 40s and 50s, the hormonal shifts of menopause can influence your metabolism.
Studies show that as estrogen levels decline, it affects the body’s BMR, making menopausal women more susceptible to weight gain.
Moreover, hormonal changes can also cause fat redistribution, which leads to weight piling up at their midsection, causing what is known as the middle age spread. [1]
Now that we’ve demystified metabolism, let’s explore the enticing question:
Can you improve it? The short answer is, yes.
However, it’s crucial to discern between fads and genuine approaches, and choose one that’s most suitable for you.
Now, let’s talk about supplements. Supplements complement lifestyle changes and exercise routines, acting as an additional layer of support for women over 40.
However, not all supplements are created equal.
Making the right choices can contribute to enhanced energy levels, improved metabolism, and overall well-being.
Here are some things to look out for when choosing a supplement:
Start by evaluating your daily habits. Are you drinking enough? Do you go to bed when you’re supposed to?
Small adjustments, like staying hydrated and getting quality sleep, can influence your metabolic rate positively.
Now, when it comes to burning calories, nothing beats exercise. Regular physical activity is a metabolism game-changer. However, the key to creating exercise routines that actually stick is to find activities you actually enjoy, whether it’s brisk walks, yoga, or dancing.
This allows you to stay consistent with it, which sets you up for success.
| Probiotics | Turmeric | Garcinia Cambogia | Green Tea Extract | Caffeine | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stimulant-Free | |||||
| Side-Effect Free | |||||
| Long-Term Use | |||||
| Boosts Metabolism |
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that help keep your gut healthy and your digestion in order.
However, one lesser known benefit it has is the ability to aid with weight management & metabolism-boosting.
According to one systematic review of 27 randomized clinical trials on probiotics, published on the National Institutes of Health, PubMed database, over 83% of those clinical trials reported significant weight loss. [3]
But be aware not all strains have metabolism-boosting effects.
Look out for strains that are clinically-proven to increase metabolism, prevent fat absorption and decrease abdominal fat by strengthening gut health, boosting microbial diversity and lowering inflammation.
Natural, safe and effective – belly fat & weight management probiotics are in a class of their own.
Examples: B. breve IDCC4401, B. lactis R101-8, and L. curvatus HY7601 with L. plantarum KY1032
One of the factors of weight gain for menopausal women, is the increased inflammation. [4]
Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, is an excellent anti-inflammatory herb that can help restore healthy inflammatory levels again.
Beyond its anti-inflammatory properties, curcumin, has also been linked to improved metabolism according to a study done on mice. [5]
That’s not all. According to a systematic review of 18 randomized clinical trials on the effects of curcumin, taking it significantly reduced body mass index (BMI), waist-circumference, leptin levels and increased adiponectin levels. [6]
In simple terms, it’s a powerhouse anti-inflammatory ingredient that not only helps improve metabolism, but also aids with your weight management as well.
Garcinia cambogia, a tropical fruit also known as the Malabar tamarind, is making waves as a popular ingredient in weight-loss supplements.
The active ingredient in the fruit’s rind, hydroxycitric acid (HCA) appears to block an enzyme called citrate lyase, which your body uses to make fat. [7]
HCA has also been found to be able to raise levels of the brain chemical serotonin, which may make you feel less hungry. [8]
However, Garcinia cambogia does come with its fair share of health risks.
The Food and Drug Administration considers it unsafe. In 2017, the FDA issued a warning for everyone to stop using a weight-loss product that contained garcinia cambogia because customers reported experiencing serious liver problems as a side effect.
In addition, garcinia cambogia may interact badly with:
So if you’re looking for a metabolism-boosting supplement, do weigh the benefits of taking garcinia cambogia against the risk.
Green tea extract is probably one of the most popular ingredients in metabolism-boosters on the market.
There are studies out there that claim it may help with increasing metabolism, both at rest and during exercise. However, one study states that the results are unclear and inconclusive. [9]
Do note that green tea extract does contain caffeine. While it doesn’t contain as much caffeine as coffee, individuals vary in their sensitivity to this stimulant.
Speaking of caffeine, there’s a reason why most metabolism-boosters out there contain this popular ingredient.
Caffeine has been studied to stimulate and increase metabolism. [10]
However, their metabolism-boosting effects do come with a drawback.
Caffeine is considered a stimulant, and should be taken with caution as it affects your body in more ways than just elevating your metabolism.
Women over 40 often have their hands full dealing with menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, anxiety, mood swings and fatigue.
Now, unbeknownst to them, things can get a bit crazier when menopause and caffeine collide.
Stimulants, like caffeine, have a direct impact on the central nervous system.
In the context of hormonal changes, women may find that their nervous system reacts more sensitively, potentially intensifying responses like jitteriness or heightened alertness.
Here are more ways stimulants like caffeine can affect women over 40:
The body’s tolerance to caffeine tends to decrease with age. Women over 40 might find that the same amount of caffeine that was once well-tolerated now leads to increased sensitivity, making them more prone to jitteriness or a racing heartbeat.
Moreover, caffeine can potentially trigger or worsen symptoms associated with menopause, such as hot flashes and mood swings.
The stimulant’s impact on the nervous system might contribute to an intensification of these already challenging experiences.
Women over 40 often face changes in sleep patterns due to hormonal fluctuations.
Stimulants can impact and disrupt sleep, so say hello to more sleepless and restless nights.
The body’s circadian rhythm, which regulates sleep-wake cycles, may become more delicate with age. Stimulants can mess up this delicate balance, leading to insomnia, a major problem for many during menopause.
Shifting hormonal balances during perimenopause and menopause can cause fluctuations in our body’s energy levels.
Sure, taking stimulants can cause a temporary boost to your energy levels.
However, the subsequent crash might feel even worse for menopausal women, especially when they already have their hands full dealing with menopausal fatigue that doesn’t go away, even with a night’s worth of sleep.
Many women over 40 experience a slowdown in their metabolism due to menopause. This happens because of the hormonal shifts, mainly estrogen decline.
Provitalize is the only metabolism boosting supplement formula on this list that addresses multiple aspects of estrogen decline, namely:
Provitalize contains two metabolism-boosting probiotic strains – B. Breve IDCC4401 and B. Lactis R101-8.
Furthermore, B. Breve IDCC4401 was found to lower total cholesterol and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels and B. Lactis R101-8 was also found to improve two inflammatory markers. [13]
Provitalize also contains a third probiotic with weight management property – L. Gasseri SBT2055. In two clinical trials, participants saw a reduction in abdominal visceral fats (belly fats) by up to 4.6% [14] and 8.5% [15] respectively.
But more importantly, L. Gasseri SBT2055 works naturally by blocking fat absorption and promoting fat excretion through the feces. [16] It creates a fat deficit, enabling your body to convert more stored fats for energy.
Finally, Provitalize also contains superherbs with anti-inflammatory properties – 350mg of curcumin (turmeric) 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 regulate estrogen levels in our body and support hormonal balance naturally.
Provitalize has also been formulated with absorption (or bioavailability) in mind. It contains BioPerine® (black pepper extract) which has been studied to improve curucmin’s absorbability by 2000%. [17], and sunflower lecithin which helps to increase the effectiveness of the entire formula by making all the ingredients fat soluble.
Our Review of Slim Gut
Want faster visible metabolism boosting and weight results from Provitalize? Then the Slim Gut Bundle is perfect for you.
The probiotics in Provitalize feed on 5 prebiotic ‘super fibers’ in Previtalize, which allows them to multiply faster and survive longer in the gut.
As a result, their weight management abilities are super boosted, giving reportedly 2x faster & more effective weight loss results such as a boost in metabolism as well as reduction of belly fat & cravings, compared to taking just Provitalize alone.
That’s not all.
When the probiotics feed on the prebiotic fibers, they produce something called SCFA (Short Chain Fatty Acid). SCFAs have been studied to regulate fat metabolism by increasing fat burning and decreasing fat storage. [18,19,20]
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 metabolism booster bundle in the market right now.
Our review of Night Shred
Each serving of Night Shred (2 capsules) contains 200 mg of magnesium (magnesium oxide), 510 mg of their Night Time Recovery Complex (GABA, chamomile flower powder, passionflower herb powder, and valerian root powder), 200 mg of ashwagandha root extract, 81 mg of their PM Fat Burning Complex (grains of paradise seed extract, CLA, and L-Carnitine Tartrate), 35 mg of their Mood Enhancement Complex (5-HTP, L-Tryptophan) and 3 mg of Melatonin.
Promising studies show that GABA [21] and Chamomile [22] 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 Paradise [23] seems to have some scientific evidence that shows weight loss. From the research, it seems that Night Shred aims to stimulate our general metabolism levels to lower 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 metabolism boosting supplements in the market and deserve the #3 spot on our list.
Our Review of Hydroxycut
Each serving of of Hydroxycut (2 capsules) contains a multi-vitamin complex (vitamin D, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12), their “Energy Matrix”, which is 204 mg of coffee extract, along with a 604 mg proprietary blend of natural extracts (robusta coffee extract, apple cider vinegar, plum, baobab, cardamom).
Hydroxycut’s formula aims to boost metabolism, enhance focus and increase energy with their caffeine blend.
The ingredients are natural, and look generally safe to consume. However, there is quite an amount of caffeine contained in their formula (200mg of caffeine from their “Energy Matrix”), so that’s something you have to watch out for if you’re sensitive to caffeine. One serving (2 capsules) can contain up to 2.5 cups of coffee, as stated on their label.
Common side effects of caffeine-sensitivity include restlessness, nervousness, tremors, headaches, anxiety, palpitations, increased heart rate or difficulty sleeping. [24,25]
However, if you’re seeking a straightforward metabolism booster, Hydroxycut is a solid choice. In short-term studies, research shows that caffeine can help temporarily promote increased calorie burning. [26]
Our Review of OLLY
Each serving of OLLY Combat Cravings (1 capsule) contains 1000 mcg of Chromium (from Chromax® chromium picolinate), 50 mg of green tea extract, 50 mg of goji berry juice powder and 50 mg of ginger extract.
OLLY Combat Cravings formula is marketed to curb cravings, boosting energy levels and to maintain a steady flow of energy.
The ingredient blend looks natural, and generally looks safe to consume. They’ve added Chromium, a trace mineral that helps with satiety and cravings. [27] However, their ingredients do contain 50 mg of green tea extract, which may contain some caffeine.
Other than that, the other ingredients contained in their blend are great. Ginger extract is studied to help with the metabolism of food [28], and goji berry are great sources of antioxidants, which provides a list of benefits for well-being.[29]
However, seeing that the formula only contains 4 ingredients, we would have preferred it if they added more of it to the formula instead of just 50 mg of their natural ingredients.
Do note that OLLY contains titanium dioxide, a food coloring that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has deemed unsafe as a food additive due to uncertainties about possible inflammation and neurotoxicity.[30] such as black cohosh extract, chasteberry, ashwagandha and vitamins D3 and B6.
This product has been clinically studied to ensure that it can provide fast and effective relief for things like hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, sleeplessness and mood swings.
A great deal of research has gone into this formulation, which addresses many aspects of menopause instead of just targeting one specific symptom.
When women enter their 40s and beyond, they’re faced with hormonal shifts that affect metabolism.
As estrogen levels decline, their calorie-burn follows suit, making weight management a challenging and frustrating task.
Including a metabolism-boosting supplement in your daily routine is a great way to give your waistline a fighting chance.
However, it isn’t as simple as picking one off the shelves and calling it a day.
Lots of metabolism-boosters out there rely on stimulants like caffeine to increase calorie-burn. These solutions may inadvertently cause side-effects that interfere with your well-being.
After reviewing the science behind these top 5 supplements, we think the safest and most sustainable supplement should:
✅ Be Caffeine & stimulant-free
✅ Contains All-Natural Ingredients
✅ Backed By A Money-Back Guarantee
This way, you’ll avoid experiencing the side effects of caffeine, whilst enjoying the metabolism-boosting benefits of natural ingredients.
Protecting yourself with a money-back guarantee is a must as well.
Which supplements are suited best for women over 40?
As women over 40 may be prone to menopausal symptoms, we recommend choosing a supplement that is caffeine-free.
Caffeine and its stimulating properties have been studied to affect vasomotor, sleep and energy functions.
This may impact and possibly worsen menopausal symptoms like:
Do stimulant-free metabolism boosters actually work?
Absolutely. They target metabolism without the potential drawbacks of stimulants.
It may not work as quickly compared to those with stimulants included, but the trade-off is undoubtedly worth it.
It’s important to keep in mind that quick fixes aren’t necessarily the best path to take if you’re looking for long-lasting weight loss results.
Healthy, sustainable weight loss requires a more holistic and comprehensive approach that’s more in-sync with the constitution of a woman in her 40s and beyond.
This makes stimulant-free metabolism boosters an appealing choice for those seeking a balanced and enduring solution.
By supporting the body’s natural processes without the highs and lows associated with stimulants, these supplements contribute to a more stable and sustainable weight management journey.
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