Countless supplements claim to offer improved energy levels, increased muscle size, better muscle recovery, and enhanced performance.
The onslaught of information and options can feel overwhelming.
We understand.
That’s why we’ve made this list of essential products to help you reach your health and fitness goals.
First, we researched the claims, impacts, and results.
Then, we evaluated the pros and cons to find the options that stand out from the competition.
What we came away with were the 16 best supplements for cutting in 2020.
Table of Contents
Top 4 Types of Supplements for Cutting
If you’d rather watch a video review, then you can do that above (timestamps available).
Things to Know Before Buying Supplements for Cutting
I think it’s safe to say that no single supplement will get you the results you want if your nutrition and macronutrients aren’t in check. That goes for your workout routine as well.
Here are some resources for you if you want to get started.
- IIFYM Guide (with a calculator)
- The Best Macros for Cutting (with a calculator)
- 3-Day Beginner’s Workout Routine
- The 40 40 20 Diet (and why it’s so effective)
Also, here’s a quick calculator to help you get started:
With that being said, let’s get started with the best supplements for cutting.
Whey Protein Supplements for Cutting
Whey protein is a popular supplement for muscle protein synthesis and muscle mass growth.
It contains a wide range of essential amino acids and is among the best-studied supplements in the world.
Many people also use the product to lose weight and/or put on lean muscle.
Whey protein comes from milk. Milk has two proteins: casein (80 percent) and whey (20 percent). The whey exists in the watery portion, though it can also be found in the liquid part of yogurt.
By itself, whey doesn’t taste great. That’s why many manufacturers add additional flavorings, such as chocolate, cookies and cream, or peanut butter, to make the cutting supplement more enjoyable to consume.
Why Whey Protein?
Proteins are building blocks for muscle growth. They make up our tendons, ligaments, and organs, as well as neurotransmitters and enzymes. Proteins themselves are composed of small molecules called amino acids.
There are nine amino acids. Some come from the body, while others come from food.
It’s ideal if you can find a food or beverage that supplies them all—whey protein is one of those sources.
Whey protein is particularly high in branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), which can provide an energy boost, build lean muscle mass, and reduce soreness.
Some common BCAAs, include leucine, isoleucine, cysteine, and valine. These amino acid compounds help boost growth hormone levels and are rich in antioxidants for improved immune system health.
Some types of whey are also rich in omega fatty acids, offering even more health benefits.
Perhaps more importantly, whey is one of the best supplements for cutting. The protein helps burn fat indirectly by reducing appetite. It also has minimal side effects allowing you to achieve your goals safely.
Whey serves as a fat loss aid because it keeps you satiated. That is, in part, because it reduces the hunger hormone ghrelin and increases peptide YY, which makes you feel full.
In a study from the University of Washington, overweight individuals who increased protein intake from 15 to 30 percent ate 441 fewer calories than the placebo group. This same result occurs in meal plans that are low in carbs aimed at achieving ketosis.
As a rule of thumb, you should consume 0.36 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight in your regular diet.
If you are trying to lose weight and use cutting supplements, that dosage should be closer to a single gram. Note that data from studies suggests that, at a certain point, too much protein has no benefits.
Another note: When purchasing a protein supplement, make sure the scoop-to-protein-gram ratio is high meaning if the serving size scoop is 31g and there are only 20 grams of protein per serving, then there are a bunch of filler ingredients.
A good rule of thumb is having 5-7g of protein less than the actual serving size. The closer it is, the better the quality in most cases.
Best Whey Protein Supplements for Cutting
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Pre-Workout Supplements for Cutting
Pre-workout supplements have become an increasingly popular way to prime the body before a workout or training routine.
The multi-ingredient formulas can help build muscle, increase metabolism, improve endurance, and supply much-needed energy.
They also encourage more exercise to burn more calories, and ultimately shed pounds.
There is no single type of pre-workout supplement.
The contents will vary based on your interests and needs—some of the most popular ingredients, including nitric oxide precursors, and caffeine.
Regardless of the exact formula, the primary components are typically the same: carbohydrates and proteins.
The carbs act like sugar and provide you with energy during strenuous exercises or activities, such as resistance training or lifting. Some also help absorb the proteins, which turn into muscle mass and repair muscle tissue.
Why Pre-Workout?
A good pre-workout blend can make all the difference when it comes to successful workouts, muscle-building, and weight management.
The right combination can enable you to burn more calories without working up an appetite—an effect that can allow both men and women to see better gains and lose weight.
One of the best fat burners is caffeine anhydrous, which, yes, is like the caffeine in your coffee, but without the water content.
Researchers have proven that this dehydrated stimulant improves alertness and energy. Caffeine helps make workout sessions at the gym feel easier.
It is also a natural appetite suppressant. In the short term, it will increase fat metabolism like fat burning pills. Of course, capitalizing on the fat-burning potential of caffeine requires rigorous workouts and exercise.
Nitric oxide is another complement to cutting supplements. The body produces it naturally, but consuming some during weight training or cardio can further relax the blood vessels and improve blood flow.
Athletes often use it to increase the rate of oxygen to their muscles.
It is worth noting that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate pre-workout supplements.
As a result, no process checks the source of ingredients, their quality, or their amounts.
While most products are safe, some people may experience increased blood pressure, diarrhea, and jitters.
Note: When purchasing pre-workouts, do not opt for the cheapest option. Yes, they may be cheap and they may have the “right” ingredients, however, they don’t have ENOUGH of the right ingredients.
This means they are just making money off it and not providing you with the full benefits of a great pre-workout. Just something to keep in mind.
Best Pre-Workout Supplements for Cutting
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Creatine Supplements for Cutting
Creatine monohydrate is one of the best fat loss supplements, whether consumed in foods, beverages, pre-workout blends, or in isolation.
Creatine also comes from three amino acids that occur in the body and reside in the muscle tissue. The body can tap into it for quick energy or use it for protein synthesis and larger muscles over time.
The three natural sources are glycine, arginine, and methionine. The production starts in the kidneys before each amino acid finalizes the molecules in the liver. The body then places it into the skeletal muscles until necessary.
The substance is especially useful when lifting heavy weights or performing other intensive training routines such as HIIT.
This instant energy lets you lift more and get better results at the gym. It is also an ideal supplement for putting on muscle and strength. For others, it helps with maintaining muscle and strength on a cut.
Why Creatine?
If you buy any supplement from this article, buy creatine.
The body only produces a small amount of creatine each day. You can bolster your dose through the consumption of creatine-rich foods, such as red meat and fish.
However, the best way to get the full benefit is through a synthetic supplement.
There is more than one advantage to creatine, too.
In addition to improved muscularity, it places a key role in signaling between cells. Thanks to the quicker messages, cells can repair muscle and form new tissues more efficiently.
Creatine is a premier choice when it comes to increased cell hydration, lower myostatin levels, and higher levels of anabolic hormones.
Intake will also minimize the loss of existing muscle. These functions work in conjunction with to build strength and lean mass.
Additionally, creatine has more research behind it than most on the market.
Any doctor who knows his stuff will testify that it is safe and comes with minimal potential problems.
It is why all lifters alike use it to improve their physique, and to fuel their weights workout.
Best Creatine Supplements for Cutting
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Fat Burner Supplements for Cutting
Fat burners pills are the most competitive market on this list. There is no shortage of websites, social media posts, adverts, or vendors slinging fitness advice promoting the fat loss perks of their weight loss supplement. Many of them use one of three mechanisms.
1) Increasing fat burning, so that the body will burn fat
2) Reduce the absorption of select nutrients
3) Reduce the appetite to restrict overall calories
Some of the ingredient choices that are best for fat burning include garcinia cambogia, L-carnitine, Yohimbe, Synephrine, Naringenin, Hesperidin, EGCG, Forskolin, green tea extract, and a whole lot more.
Companies will often incorporate these components into burn fat pills to improve their effectiveness.
Of course, losing body fat with cutting supplements is only possible if you put in the hard work at the gym and are in a calorie deficit.
The importance of regular activity, balanced nutrition via a proper diet, and patience are impossible to overstate. These three parts together dramatically improve the likelihood of success.
Significant doses will have a minimal impact if there aren’t other pieces in place.
Roughly 80 percent of cutting is proper nutrition and vitamins. If losing fat is your primary goal, focus a majority of your effort on your diet.
Why a Fat Burner?
If you want to lose body fat, fat burners are the most logical option.
They go deep into hard-to-reach body fat storage, and trigger catabolism to help everyone from bodybuilders to couch potatoes, get slim.
Consider supplementation with Synephrin, Naringin, and Hesperidin. These 3 ingredients together have been shown to speed up your metabolism. Other ingredients to consider would be 5-HTP and EGCG or Green Tea Extract.
These, in combination with the 3 ingredients mentioned above are all found in my favorite fat burner, Legion Phoenix (full review here).
The key is finding a product and amount that works based on prescribed needs. For instance, forskolin, an extract from the mint family, is excellent for those who want all-natural stimulants.
Some synthetic versions and medications can eliminate unwanted stomach fat thanks to appetite reduction.
There are pros and cons with every supplement, and fat loss pills are no different.
The Food and Drug Administration does not require any kind of label references or authentication, so it is on the consumer to do their research prior to the sale.
While the bulk of products are mostly safe in moderation, some users may experience increased stress on the heart, fatigue, or strokes.
Likewise, keep in mind that these supplements are not a substitute for physical activity, proper serving sizes, and a balanced diet–all the above are necessary to maximize your efforts.
Note: Just as with pre-workout supplements, the same goes for fat burners: do not opt for the cheapest option.
Typically, the cheapest option has the least amount of ingredients or not enough of the ingredients (insufficient dosages to see the effects).
Best Fat Burner Supplements for Cutting
Table could not be displayed.Last update on 2024-10-11 at 07:20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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