The 5 Best Stimulant-Free Fat Burners for Men and Women in 2023
By Martin Ebner
If you had asked me five years ago about fat-burning supplements I would have scoffed and told you not to bother. That however was 5 years ago. I’m now 39 and over the last couple of years I've noticed not only an increase in body fat around my waistline, but it’s also becoming increasingly difficult to shift it and get down to the low body fat percentages that once seemed so easy to achieve.
Fat burners are not magic pills. They should not replace a healthy and balanced diet. They will not work unless you do. It’s that simple. If you’re looking for a way to reverse a lifetime of poor health choices and lose weight in a matter of days or weeks without lifting a finger, forget it.
What fat burners can do is complement a calorie-controlled diet and well-structured workout program to help boost energy, curb appetite, facilitate fat to be used as an energy source and boost metabolism. All of which aim to improve your body composition (ratio fat to muscle).
Let’s dive in and take a look at the best Stimulant-free fat burners.
Best Fat Burners for Men
1. Burn Lab pro
Burn lab Pro is an all-natural stimulant-free fat burner manufactured by Opti-Nutra. It uses 5 cutting-edge ingredients, Forslean® Coleus Forskohlii, Capsimax® Cayenne Pepper extract, HMB ß-Hydroxy ß-Methylbutyrate, Nutrigenesis® GTF Chromium and Bioperine® Black pepper extract in a formula that studies show support 15+ functions that boost fat burning, increase performance and prevent excessive muscle breakdown, especially during fasted and non-fasted exercise.
As with all good products, Burn Lab Pro offers worldwide shipping and an unrivaled full 30-day money-back guarantee if you aren’t fully satisfied with their product.
I’ll throw it out there. This is what I take. My experience has been great. And while it is very hard to determine the exact efficacy when it comes to fat burning, I do feel exceptionally energetic and with very little hunger during my fasted morning cardio. As somebody that loves to fall face-first into a giant bowl of porridge first thing in the morning, this is a game-changer for me.
My Score 10/10
Next up is Transparent Labs. As the name suggests, TL is a supplement company that takes the quality and transparency of their ingredients and formulas very seriously.
Their Stim-free fat burner uses 6 science-backed ingredients. Acetyl L-Carnitine, an amino acid that promotes fat metabolism and sporting performance, Fucoxanthin, Forslean and cayenne pepper extract to promote thermogenesis and lipolysis (burning fat for fuel), 5-HTP as a serotonin booster and Rhodiola Rosea, a strong adaptogen. The result is a potent stimulant-free fat burner that is being backed and supported by a range of athletes and sporting professions.
Transparent labs offer worldwide shipping and an easy returns policy.
My score 9/10
3. Hunter Burn
Last on the list is Hunter Burn. While this technically isn’t a stimulant-free fat burner as it contains L-theanine, I was so impressed that I felt it merited inclusion. Hunter Burn uses 6 ingredients, Konjac Root and white kidney bean to Neutralise hunger, Cayenne Pepper and Matcha Green Tea to promote Thermo burn or thermogenesis (fat burning through heat production) and L-Theanine and Vitamin D to boost energy.
Similar to Burn Lab Pro, Hunter Burn’s formula promises to help you burn more fat whilst boosting energy and minimizing muscle atrophy (loss) when on a calorie-controlled diet.
Hunter Pro is so confident in the quality of its product, they encourage you to do a little digging into the purity and quality of the ingredients in this supplement.
Hunter Test is manufactured in gold-standard facilities in the USA and UK. They meet all FDA’s Current Good Manufacture Practice (cGMP) regulations, so you can enjoy peace of mind.
Hunter currently has some great special offers
My score 9/10
Best Fat Burners for Women
1. Hourglass
At the top of our list for all-natural Stimulant-free fat burners for Women is the impressive supplement, HourGlass. A Scientifically formulated fat-burner that uses natural ingredients like Glucomannan and Chromium for appetite suppression, 5-HTP as a serotonin booster, Vitamin B2 to prevent nutrient deficiency when following a calorie deficit diet, Vitamin B6 to help your body process carbohydrates more efficiently, Vitamin B12 for a healthier metabolism, Zinc for better overall health and wellbeing, Capsimax® a potent, and highly researched natural thermogenic ingredient and Bioperine®, a highly bioavailable form of piperine. The result is a well-rounded fat-burner shown to not only help you lose weight but also to control cravings and promote a better mood when dieting.
Hourglass offers worldwide shipping with easy returns if for whatever reason you change your mind.
My score 9/10
What Is the Difference Between Male and Female Fat Burners?
Asides from the very harsh contrast in branding, there isn’t a great deal of difference in the actual ingredients and formulas. What does differ, in some cases, is the dosage of certain ingredients. Women based on their size and weight tend to require slightly smaller doses than men. And while that’s not always the case, if ever in doubt about whether or not a supplement is suitable for you, get in touch with the customer support with any questions or doubts you have about their products.
Why Does Stimulant-free Matter?
According to the ADF (Alcohol and Drug Foundation) Stimulants are a class of drugs that speed up the messages between the brain and the body. They can make a person feel more awake, alert, confident or energetic. Sounds great!
Unfortunately, long-term use of strong stimulants like Caffeine, one of the main ingredients found in most fat burners, can cause dependency and over-stimulation with side effects such as anxiety, panic attacks, stomach cramps, etc.
People who use stimulants regularly can develop a tolerance to them which can result in the need for them to regularly increase the dose of stimulants to get the same effect. This can be unsafe both physically and psychologically when you feel that they’re absolutely essential to your wellbeing and results.
What Are the Main Stimulants to Avoid?
The main stimulant found in fat burners is Caffeine.
It’s unfortunate because Caffeine from coffee and tea has been shown time and time again to be a highly effective natural fat-burning ingredient. Some studies suggest that natural caffeine can actually boost your metabolism by as much as 11%. That’s a lot!
The problem with many stimulant-heavy fat burners is that by including mega doses of caffeine and other stimulants, you run the risk of developing a tolerance and gaining a dependency to the ingredients. Not only that but, some of the side effects associated with large doses of caffeine and other stimulants can be unpleasant and, at times, even dangerous.
Stimulants are designed to make you feel good and as humans we crave that but just because you don’t feel a buzz from your fat burner, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t working.
The good news for all you tea and coffee lovers out there is that when you opt for stim-free supplements, you can continue to enjoy your regular daily cups of coffee and tea without having to worry about overconsuming caffeine.
How Do Fat Burners Work?
Most good fat burners work by combining the 4 essential pillars of weight loss.
1. Thermogenesis
Thermogenic fat burners work by stimulating thermogenesis, a metabolic process in which the body burns calories to produce heat. Thermogenic fat burners stimulate hormonal reactions and encourage the body to use fat as its primary source of energy rather than carbohydrates.
2. Appetite Suppression
When following a calorie-deficit diet for weight loss, it’s very common to feel hungry. Appetite suppression can help reduce these feelings or hunger or dissatisfaction.
3. Ability to Utilize Fat As Fuel
Carbohydrates are our body’s primary source of energy. It’s only when these stores are fully depleted do our bodies begin to break down fat for fuel. Fat burners can help facilitate this process for quicker and more efficient all-around fat burning.
4. Increased Energy and Performance
Energy and performance are extremely important factors when it comes to your ability to burn fat and lose weight. When following a calorie-controlled diet for weight loss, energy levels can dwindle making it harder to maintain activity levels. Fat burners aim to counteract this by including ingredients that help power your workouts.
When Is the Best Time to Take Fat burners?
If you opt for a stimulant-free fat burner you can take it at any time of day without any side effects or disruption to your sleep pattern(s). For best results always follow the supplement guidelines and instructions.
Personally, I take mine 15-20 minutes before fasted cardio or in between strength training and cardio. I also take mine with a BCAA + Glutamine supplement to provide even better muscle protection when training in a fasted state.
Related article: The best times to take fat burners
What Are Some of the Best All-natural Ingredients for Fat Burning?
Black pepper extract: piperine, a component found in black pepper can help fight fat by blocking the formation of new fat cells.
Cayenne Pepper extract: Capsaicin, the thermogenic chemical that gives peppers their spice, works by increasing oxygen consumption and body temperature which speeds up the metabolism to increase calories burned.
Yohimbine: a herbal supplement with a long history of use in West African traditional medicine. It has been used to help improve sexual performance and many recent studies suggest it could also help promote weight loss.
Green and matcha tea extract: While green and matcha tea extract do both contain small amounts of caffeine, they also contain a super antioxidant called catechin which promotes thermogenesis.
Soluble fibers like Glucomannan: an important ingredient and a crucial component for weight loss. Soluble fibre acts as a powerful appetite suppressant that helps you to consume fewer calories.
Other Great Ways to Improve Fat Burning
Aside from creating a calorie deficit to promote weight loss from diet and exercise, there are a few things you can do to really improve your fat-burning results.
Fasted Training
Training in a fasted state can be a great way to improve your body’s ability to utilize more fat for fuel. When we exercise on an empty stomach and when our muscles and liver are depleted of glycogen (energy) our bodies have little option but to tap into our fat stores to fulfill its energy requirements.
Read our Article: Fasted vs Fed: weight training
Moderate-intensity Cardio
Moderate-intensity cardio is another great way to tap into your fat reserves for energy. Unlike high-intensity training that utilizes carbohydrates and glycogen stores for fuel during intense bouts of exercise, exercising in the fat-burning zone (65-75% of your Max heart rate: 220 minus your age) utilizes and breaks down fat more effectively.
Follow a Low-carbohydrate Meal Plan
Much like working out in a fasted state helps accelerate fat loss, following a low carbohydrate meal plan forces your body to enter a state of ketosis (fat burning) as it has fewer carbohydrates and glycogen stores to draw from.
Read our article: The Keto diet – Your essential guide
Eat Protein
Protein is not only the building block for muscle growth and maintenance, it’s one of the most satiating macronutrients that your body won’t store if you overeat.
References
Schoenfeld, Brad MS, CSCS: Strength and Conditioning Journal: February 2011
Bob Murray & Christine Rosenbloom: Fundamentals of glycogen metabolism for coaches and athletes. Nutrition Reviews VR Vol. 76 (4) Pages: 243–259
Disclaimer: The content on our blog is created to inform, but should never be taken as professional medical advice. The content of our articles is not intended for use as prevention, diagnosis and/or treatment of any health complications. Before making any lifestyle changes that include diet, using supplements or exercise regime, always consult your doctor or nearest health care specialist.
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