Body Composition Supplements: Reviews by Dr. Bell

Body composition is the ratio of fat to lean tissue, and it tracks more closely with overall metabolic health than the number on the scale does. Two people at the same weight can have very different body compositions — and very different long-term health trajectories. The drivers are the same ones that drive metabolic health: insulin sensitivity, blood sugar regulation, sleep, stress, and basic protein and movement habits.

Supplement support here is not about replacing the work. It is about making the work pay off faster. The categories that matter most: blood sugar and insulin support (chromium, berberine, alpha-lipoic acid), fat metabolism support (carnitine, CoQ10), appetite and satiety support (protein, fiber, GLP-1 modulators), and inflammation reduction (omega-3, curcumin). Each addresses a different bottleneck.

This page collects every Designs for Health body composition supplement I have reviewed. The reviews are honest about what these products can and cannot do — none are a shortcut, but the right one for the right person can break a plateau or speed progress. If you are on diabetes medication, several supplements in this category lower blood sugar enough to matter, so always check with your prescriber before starting.

Featured Reviews

Reviews in this category are being added as Dr. Bell publishes them. Check back soon, or browse the full review library on the homepage.

• Amino Acid Supreme — A complete free-form essential amino acid powder anchored by 2.5 g of leucine and rounded out with tryptophan, AKG, and active B6 — fast-absorbing building blocks to preserve muscle with age.
• Amino Acid Synergy — A complete profile of free-form essential amino acids and BCAAs with alpha-ketoglutarate and activated B6 — for preserving and building lean muscle, especially when protein intake runs low.
• Amino Complex — A clean, balanced free-form EAA powder with the BCAAs well represented plus AKG and active B6 for uptake — lean, no-frills support for recovery and lean muscle around training.
• Berberine Synergy — Berberine HCl plus alpha lipoic acid — for prediabetes, insulin resistance, PCOS, stubborn belly fat, and metabolic syndrome.
• Bone Broth Protein — 21 g of highly digestible, dairy-free HydroBEEF protein per serving with collagen-type amino acids (formerly PurePaleo) — clean protein to protect muscle for anyone who reacts to whey.
• Carnitine Synergy — L-carnitine tartrate plus acetyl-L-carnitine with vitamin B5 — for fat metabolism, workout energy and recovery, mental focus, and body-composition support alongside training.
• CraveArrest — Brain-chemistry support for cravings — L-tyrosine and 5-HTP with active B vitamins to support dopamine and serotonin signaling.
• Creatine Monohydrate — Pure micronized creatine monohydrate (5 g) — the most researched form — for strength, lean muscle, recovery, age-related muscle preservation, and brain energy.
• EGCg — Decaffeinated green tea extract (225 mg, ~45% EGCg) — a standardized polyphenol for antioxidant and modest metabolic support. Take with food.
• EndoTrim — Stimulant-free metabolic support targeting insulin, leptin, and cortisol — for appetite control and body composition.
• Grass-Fed Beef Protein — 21 g of complete, highly absorbable protein per serving from grass-fed HydroBEEF — dairy-free, gentle on digestion, with collagen-type building blocks; a great whey alternative for lean muscle.
• Hydrolyzed ISO-Whey Protein — A fast-absorbing whey blend (concentrate + isolate + hydrolyzed isolate) delivering 24 g of complete protein per serving — ideal for the post-workout window and hitting a higher protein target (contains dairy + soy).
• Lipoic Acid Supreme — Alpha-lipoic acid with biotin — a universal antioxidant for healthy blood sugar, nerve comfort, and metabolic support.
• Metabolic Synergy — Insulin-support multivitamin built around chromium, magnesium, zinc, alpha-lipoic acid, biotin, and vitamin D — for metabolic syndrome, stubborn visceral fat, and body-recomposition programs.
• PaleoCleanse Plus — Pea-protein meal-replacement shake with phase I and phase II liver detox cofactors (NAC, glycine, taurine, sulforaphane, milk thistle) — for 7-21 day metabolic reset programs, fatty liver, and weight plateau.
• Performance Peptides — Built on PeptiStrong, a patented set of fava-bean bioactive peptides that support the body's own muscle-building signals where aging muscle falls short — a targeted add-on to protein and resistance training, not a collagen or protein powder.
• Phytotein — About 20 g of protein from a smooth-tasting blend of organic pea, sacha inchi, pumpkin, sunflower, and rice — a complete, genuinely palatable vegan protein for daily use (no dairy or soy).
• Plant Protein Cleanse — A clean, vegan pea-protein shake base (formerly VegeCleanse) with soluble fiber — anchors a gentle, protein-forward cleanse or serves as a daily plant protein, free of dairy, soy, and artificial sweeteners.
• Plant Protein Meal — A vegan meal shake with 16 g of pea protein plus a real satiety-fiber blend — clean and filling, free of dairy, soy, gluten, and sugar alcohols, for body-composition support on busy days.
• PreTrain NRG — A cleaner pre-workout with tyrosine and acetyl-L-carnitine for focus, creatine and Peak ATP for power, and a sensible amount of caffeine — supports a training session from several angles (contains caffeine).
• Pro Greens + Reds — More than twenty greens, vegetables, and fruits with digestive enzymes and prebiotic fiber, no added sugar — and unusually, formulated low in oxalates and NSF Certified for Sport, a convenient way to broaden a plant-light diet.
• PurePea — 20 g of highly digestible pea protein isolate per scoop with a short, clean ingredient list and no dairy or soy — an easy-on-the-stomach plant protein for lean muscle and satiety, ideal if whey doesn't agree with you.
• Thermo-EFx — A stimulant-light thermogenic of naringin, bitter orange, and decaf green tea EGCg — a mild metabolic nudge for caffeine-sensitive people. Contains synephrine; real cardiovascular cautions.
• WheyCool — 22 grams of clean grass-fed whey protein per scoop with no artificial sweeteners or fillers — an easy way to protect muscle and support recovery, especially for older adults eating too little protein.