There is no magic formula for weight loss. At the end of the day, the laws of thermodynamics are king. You must burn more calories than you consume. That means your training and nutrition will be most important for burning fat while maintaining muscle.
With that said, supplements can help you on the way. In fact, during a cut phase is when supplements can play a big role. In this article, we’re going to give you the cheat sheet for the best supplements for cutting to aid in your weight loss journey. Here's our updated guide for 2025, based on the latest research.
Quick Summary: Best Supplements for Cutting
Here's the quick summary of the best supplements to include in your stack if you're on a cut phase.
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Caffeine – increases energy and performance during workouts.
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Protein Powder – preserves muscle while in a caloric deficit.
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Creatine HCl – improves strength and recovery on a cut.
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L-Carnitine L-Tartrate – helps shuttle fat into mitochondria for fuel.
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Capsicum Extract – supports thermogenesis and fat burning.
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Chromium – regulates blood sugar and supports healthy metabolism.
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Grains of Paradise – activates brown fat to increase energy expenditure.
These last four you can get in one supplement by finding a high-quality weight loss support supplement like Clean Burn.
1) Caffeine: Boost Energy and Performance While Cutting
You may hear claims that caffeine can lead to fat loss. However, if it were really this simple, everybody drinking their daily cup of coffee would be shredded.
While caffeine may have a slight thermogenic effect, its key benefit during a cut phase is that it helps you power through your workouts while in a caloric deficit.
If you’ve trained in a calorie deficit before, then you know the feeling yourself. Simply, your body doesn’t have the fuel it’s used to. This is where caffeine comes in.
Training is one of the most important components of weight loss, alongside your diet. By helping you keep your energy up during training, caffeine can help you hit all your reps, sets, and weights.
Whether for your cardio sessions or weight training, caffeine can be one of your main tools in your supplement stack while cutting.
In Kaged Clean Burn, a delicious drink to support weight loss, we include two forms of caffeine. One is PurCaf® Organic caffeine, a premium, organic certified, 90% pure caffeine extract derived from water-extracted green coffee beans for naturally sourced energy. The other is AmaTea® Guayusa Leaf Extract, which contains caffeine that gives you a smooth boost in alertness and energy. Extracted from an herb in the upper Amazon basin, the herb highlights the naturally occurring antioxidants and caffeine from Guayusa for a cognitive uplift, without excessive jitters.*
Its two forms of caffeine is one of the reasons why we call Clean Burn, “cardio’s best friend.”
For a deeper dive at the research on caffeine, check out this article on caffeine and weight loss.
2) Protein Powder: Preserve Muscle During Weight Loss
Protein powder will not directly lead to fat loss either. You won’t find it in the latest “fat burner.” However it’s another example of the importance of looking at the bigger picture of your needs during a cut phase.
When you’re in a caloric deficit, your body needs to draw on your stored energy. This can come in the form of your stored fat and your hard-earned muscle.
Eating ample protein is always important, however it’s especially important during this time. That’s because protein helps reduce muscle breakdown, indirectly helping you maintain your muscle.
Protein powder, in particular isolate protein powder, gives you convenient protein with very little unwanted fat and sugar. This allows you to get a boost of protein, without consuming too many calories overall.
Of course, protein powder should NEVER fully replace whole foods. However, as a protein boost during a cut phase, it’s a great option.
Whey vs other forms?
While whey protein powder is the standard, plant-based protein and casein protein can fulfill similar roles. Check out our selection of always banned-substance tested and 100% isolate proteins.
3) Creatine HCl: Improve Strength and Recovery With Less Water Retention
Creatine for cutting? Again, while it won’t directly lead to weight loss, creatine is one of the most well-researched supplements in existence. It has been shown to help build muscle, increase strength, and improve performance.* With regards to helping you cut, the latter is most important. Taking creatine will help you recover faster in between sets, which is especially important when your energy stores are low.
Why creatine HCl over monohydrate?
Both forms are effective. We’ve outlined the differences in-depth in this article on creatine hcl vs monohydrate.
The difference as it pertains to cutting, is you can mix creatine HCl in less water. While creatine supplementation comes with a necessity to focus on hydration, many athletes appreciate being able enjoy a serving of Creatine HCl in fewer ounces of water than would be required to make monohydrate easily mixable.
This also makes creatine HCl the better choice if you’re looking to avoid the puffy, water-retained look. If you’re a physique competitor, this could make the difference on competition day.
Addressing the Controversy of “Fat Burners”
The whole category of “fat burners” has been shrouded in controversy. There are lots of fat burners that load you up with stimulants and use unproven ingredients.
However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t lots of ingredients with compelling research in the realms of metabolism, thermogenesis, and helping your body use fat as fuel.*
When we created Clean Burn, we set out to create a delicious drink that supports healthy weight loss without losing sight of your health. We only included ingredients with sufficient research to warrant their place. Notice we also prefer patented forms thanks to their purity and research.
The next four ingredients you can find in Kaged Clean Burn with Apple Cider Vinegar.
4) L-Carnitine L-Tartrate: Support Fat Metabolism
You’ve likely heard the saying “the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.” Think of the mitochondria like the energy production plant. Without mitochondria, we have no way of turning broken down food and oxygen into usable energy.
L-carnitine l-tartrate helps shuttle fat into the mitochondria, where it can be used as fuel. This has made it a staple for supporting both weight loss and performance.
We use the patented form, Carnipure®, because it’s backed by numerous studies. For more on this, check out this article on the benefits of Carnipure®.
This also makes creatine HCl the better choice if you’re looking to avoid the puffy, water-retained look. If you’re a physique competitor, this could make the difference on competition day.
5) Capsicum Extract: Thermogenic Support
Capsicum extract contains a group of molecules called capsaicinoids which are responsible for the hot taste in chili peppers, which may increase thermogenesis.* You can think of thermogenesis as the process for how we produce heat. By increasing thermogenesis, you’re speeding up the body’s heat production and use of fuel.
We use Capsimax®, a patented form.
6) Chromium: Promote Weight Loss
Chromium has been shown to promote weight loss and help control blood sugar by enhancing the action of insulin, a hormone crucial to the metabolism and storage of carbohydrates. We use a unique patented niacin-bound form, ChromeMate®, that supports the bioavailability and efficacy of chromium.* It’s a staple for effective weight loss products, and ChromeMate® is a pure, patented form.
7) Grains of Paradise: Activate Brown Fat
Grains of Paradise extract has been researched for its ability to activate brown adipose tissue, commonly known as brown fat. Unlike white fat, brown fat burns energy and produces heat, making it a key player in maintaining body temperature and energy balance. It's densely packed with mitochondria, contributing to its brown color and its enhanced capability to burn calories. By activating brown fat tissue, CaloriBurn helps generate thermogenic heat and increase energy expenditure.*
Again, we use a patented form, CaloriBurn GP®.
Build Your Weight Loss Stack
You can cover all of these ingredients with just three supplements.
Before training, you can take Clean Burn Powder, which can help boost metabolism, increase thermogenesis, and increase energy.* During your workout, you can sip on our delicious fruit punch or lemon lime Creatine HCl. Then, post workout, you can go for your favorite Kaged protein powder.
This will cover all your bases during a cutting phase, as well as cover your peri-workout nutrition needs.
BUILD YOUR STACK
FAQs About Supplements for Weight Loss
Q1: What are the best supplements for cutting fat?
The most effective cutting supplements is about more than what directly supports weight loss. Caffeine for energy, protein for muscle preservation, and creatine HCl for strength provide a foundation. L-carnitine, capsicum extract, chromium, and grains of paradise work to directly support healthy weight loss.*
Q2: Can supplements help me lose weight without dieting?
No supplement can replace proper nutrition and training. Supplements support fat loss by boosting energy, preserving muscle, or supporting metabolism, but you need to be in a caloric deficit to lose weight.
Q3: Are these cutting supplements suitable for men and women?
Yes, the process of weight loss follows the same principles for both men and women. These supplements will be effective for men and women. Specific doses may vary, but the benefits remain similar.
Q5: Are “fat burners” safe and effective?
We only recommend fat burners with research-backed ingredients. Avoid products with excessive stimulants or untested blends.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
