The best supplements to support women’s weight loss (backed by functional medicine)
If you’ve ever searched for “the best weight loss supplement,” you already know the internet is full of quick fixes, fat burners, and too-good-to-be-true promises. But here’s the truth: no supplement can replace sleep, balanced hormones, blood sugar stability, and sustainable nutrition. That said, when used wisely—and with the right testing and support—supplements can be powerful tools to support your metabolism, reduce inflammation, and help your body function at its best.
In this guide, we’re breaking down the most effective supplements to support women’s weight loss through the lens of functional medicine. Plus, we’ll explain why personalized care always beats guesswork—especially if you’re navigating perimenopause, thyroid issues, or insulin resistance.
Ready to stop wasting money on supplements that don’t serve you? Let’s dig into what your body actually needs.
In case we haven’t met yet—we’re Dr. Erin Hendriks and Dr. Maricela Castillo MacKenzie, founders of Elle MD, a functional medicine and weight loss clinic based in Royal Oak, Michigan.
We specialize in helping women—especially those navigating perimenopause and menopause—reclaim their energy, balance their hormones, and feel confident in their bodies again. With a root-cause approach and deeply personalized care, we look beyond symptoms to create sustainable solutions that truly support your body, your life, and your goals.
Do supplements really help with weight loss?
Here’s the truth: supplements don’t melt fat. They don’t erase hormonal chaos. They aren’t shortcuts. And they don’t substitute a healthy nutrition and regular exercise either—they supplement your weight loss journey. When used wisely and intentionally, they can support key systems in your body: metabolism, blood sugar regulation, stress response, and more.
But when used with intention and expertise, the right supplements can support your metabolism, reduce inflammation, balance blood sugar, manage cravings, and help you feel stronger in your body. They help fill nutritional gaps that often worsen during midlife transitions—especially if you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, or struggling with hormone shifts.
In functional medicine, we don’t throw a bunch of pills at the problem. We test, we listen, and we support what your body actually needs.
The best supplements to support the weight loss journey in women (based on functional medicine)
B-complex vitamins (especially B12 and B6)
These are crucial for energy, brain function, and converting food into fuel. If you’re constantly tired or craving sugar, you may be low. B vitamins support metabolism at the cellular level—and they’re essential when your nervous system is under chronic stress.
Magnesium
This is a game-changer for sleep, blood sugar regulation, and cortisol control. If you’re wired at night but exhausted by day, or if you’re gaining weight despite eating clean, low magnesium might be part of the story.
Omega-3 fatty acids
These healthy fats calm inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity, and support hormone production. They can also help with mood swings, joint pain, and brain fog. A must-have, especially in midlife.
Green tea extract (EGCG)
A gentle metabolism booster with antioxidant power. While it won’t cause dramatic weight loss, it can enhance fat oxidation and support a healthy metabolism when paired with other supportive habits.
Protein powder (clean, functional blends)
Women over 40 often don’t eat enough protein, which leads to muscle loss, slow metabolism, and increased hunger. A high-quality protein powder can help you feel full, preserve lean mass, and stabilize blood sugar.
Fiber (soluble)
Not only does fiber support gut health, it also slows digestion, balances blood sugar, and helps reduce cravings. Most women aren’t getting enough. Supplementing with soluble fiber can improve satiety and support fat loss.
Berberine
A plant compound with effects similar to metformin. It helps regulate blood sugar and insulin, particularly useful for women with PCOS or stubborn belly fat. It’s one of the most clinically studied natural compounds in weight management.
Probiotics
Your gut health affects everything from hormones to cravings. Probiotics support digestion, reduce inflammation, and may even influence the way your body stores fat.
Chromium
This trace mineral may help reduce sugar cravings and stabilize blood sugar levels. Particularly helpful if emotional eating or energy crashes are part of your struggle.
Want to know which brands we trust with our own patients? Explore our Trusted Products page.
What makes functional medicine’s approach to supplements different?
We don’t believe in throwing the entire vitamin aisle into your cart. We believe in using data, lab work, and symptom history to support what your unique body actually needs.
If your metabolism is sluggish because of adrenal burnout, we address that. If your cravings are driven by gut dysbiosis or cortisol, we target that. If your energy is crashing mid-afternoon, we ask why.
Functional medicine helps uncover the "why" so that supplements become support—not a substitute for real care.
What is the fastest way for a female to lose weight?
The real answer? Safely, sustainably, and with support.
Fast doesn’t always mean healthy. And weight lost in a hurry often comes back (with interest). The fastest sustainable path involves:
- Balancing hormones
- Reducing inflammation
- Supporting metabolism with protein, sleep, movement, and stress care
- Supplementing when needed, not randomly
Your weight loss journey should feel like coming home to your body—not battling it.
What burns fat the fastest for women?
No supplement replaces the basics: sleep, stress management, muscle-building movement, and metabolic healing.
But some supplements—like green tea extract, omega-3s, berberine, and fiber—can support fat loss by improving insulin response, lowering inflammation, and regulating appetite.
The magic isn’t in the pill. It’s in giving your body what it actually needs to feel safe and supported again.
Which vitamins are best to support the weight loss journey? (And why they matter more now than ever)
By the time you reach your 40s, something shifts.
Maybe it’s subtle at first—your energy feels a little off, your sleep isn’t as restorative, and the weight you used to lose in a week now lingers for months. Suddenly, your body feels foreign. You’re eating better, moving more, and yet... nothing is working like it used to.
Here’s the truth most diets don’t tell you: your nutritional needs change as your hormones shift.
You’re not broken. You’re just in a new season—and your body is asking for different support.
That’s where key vitamins and nutrients come in. Not as weight loss magic, but as partners in helping your metabolism, hormones, and nervous system work with you—not against you.
Let’s talk about what matters most:
Vitamin D3 + K2
As estrogen begins to decline, your body becomes more prone to fat storage, bone loss, and mood fluctuations. Vitamin D3 (especially paired with K2) supports fat metabolism, immune health, and calcium regulation—all crucial in perimenopause and menopause. Without it, you may feel sluggish, foggy, or more prone to stubborn belly fat.
Magnesium
Think of this as your hormonal calm-down mineral. It helps regulate insulin, reduce cortisol (your stress hormone), and improve sleep—three things that directly impact your weight. Women low in magnesium often feel wired-but-tired, crave chocolate, and struggle with stress eating. Sound familiar?
B-vitamins (especially B6, B12, Folate)
These are your energy vitamins. They help convert food into fuel, support thyroid function, and even impact mood. As stress increases or your digestion slows with age, you might not absorb them as well—leading to fatigue, cravings, and emotional eating patterns that feel hard to break.
Omega-3s (EPA & DHA)
These anti-inflammatory fats support hormone production, reduce insulin resistance, and can even help regulate hunger hormones like leptin and ghrelin. They’re also powerful for brain health and mood stability—especially important when you feel like you’re riding a rollercoaster you didn’t sign up for.
Here’s the thing: you can be doing “everything right” and still not see results—if your body is missing what it needs to function at its best.
Supplements aren’t magic. But they can be meaningful.
You’ve done the diets. You’ve cried in dressing rooms. You’ve whispered to yourself, Why can’t I figure this out?
It’s not because you lack discipline. It’s because no one ever helped you understand what your body is actually asking for.
At Elle MD, we create weight loss plans that are deeply personalized, hormone-informed, and rooted in science. Supplements are part of the picture—not the whole story.
We’ll help you sort through the noise. Find what really works. And support your body like it deserves to be supported.
Book your consultation today or explore our Weight Loss Program.
Let’s make your healing honest, not extreme. And your results? Sustainable.
You don’t need another quick fix. You need a path forward—with us walking beside you.
*AI Disclosure:
This content may contain sections generated with AI with the purpose of providing you with condensed helpful and relevant content, however all personal opinions are 100% human made as well as the blog post structure, outline and key takeaways.
* Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links on www.elle-md.com may contain affiliate links meaning that we will get a commission for recommending products at no extra cost to you.
*Blog Disclaimer: Please note that reading our blog does not replace any health or medical advice consultation. Read our blog disclaimer here.
Meet the Drs.
Dr. Hendriks and Dr. Castillo MacKenzie are board-certified physicians, female, specialized, with over 10 years of experience.
Elle MD started after practicing in a traditional primary care setting together for over a decade. We grew frustrated with the current healthcare model, which places no emphasis on addressing the root cause of chronic disease. A lot of times, conventional care doesn’t even promote overall wellness!
We founded Elle MD in Royal Oak, MI, with a vision of providing this care in a compassionate and personalized way.
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