Slow Metabolism in Your 40s: Why It Happens and the 1 Easy Herbal Step to Try

Your jeans fit differently. You're starving by 3pm. The meals that used to keep you steady now leave you heavy, bloated or reaching for something sweet. If you're in your late 30s or 40s, it's easy to blame a slow metabolism and start searching for metabolism supplements. Here's the good news: your metabolism isn't broken. Your body is changing, and with the right support, it can find its balance again.

Essential Takeaways

• Ready to start? Take 1 easy step each morning with Craving Support, organic herbs studied to support a healthy metabolism.

• Research shows daily energy use holds steady from age 20 to 60. What shifts in perimenopause is body composition, blood sugar and cravings.

• In Chinese Medicine, a sluggish metabolism often points to weak Spleen Qi, your digestive engine.

Why Is My Metabolism So Slow All of a Sudden?

A large 2021 study in Science measured daily energy use from infancy to age 95. Once body size was accounted for, it stayed steady from 20 to 60 (1). So what feels like a sudden slowdown is usually something else.

That something is often the shift in menopause and metabolism. In the SWAN study, women's rate of fat gain doubled during the menopause transition while lean muscle declined, and these changes continued until about 2 years after the final period (2). Sleep matters too. Just two nights of short sleep raised hunger 24% and cravings for carb-heavy foods 33% to 45% (3). Learn more in Elix's guide to hormonal weight gain.

Signs your metabolism needs support:

• Hungry again soon after meals

• An afternoon energy slump

• Sugar cravings, especially at night

• Bloating or heaviness after eating

• Midsection changes even though you eat and move the same

If crashes and cravings feel constant, read about insulin resistance symptoms in women and talk with your doctor.

How Chinese Medicine Sees a Slow Metabolism

In Chinese Medicine, your Spleen (the digestive system as a whole) turns food into Qi, your foundational energy. When Spleen Qi runs low, digestion slows and "dampness" builds up. You feel heavy, foggy and bloated, and you crave sweets, the flavor the Spleen reaches for when it's tired. Stress and perimenopause can both drain Spleen Qi. Here's what your sugar cravings say about your hormones.

Do Metabolism Supplements Work?

Most supplements to boost metabolism rely on caffeine or green tea extract. In a meta-analysis, caffeine with or without green tea catechins raised daily energy use by about 4.7% (4). That's a modest lift, and if caffeine already leaves you wired, it's not much of a trade. Protein helps more quietly: it keeps you fuller and takes more energy to digest (5). And if you're shopping for a metabolism booster for women with iron, vitamin D or B vitamins, those help mainly when you're low, so ask your doctor for a blood test first.

What most metabolism support supplements miss is why your digestion and cravings changed in the first place. The 1 easy thing: a caffeine-free herbal formula, made with organic herbs, that supports digestion, blood sugar balance and cravings together, so your body can find its rhythm again. That's what Elix’s Craving Support was made for.

The Research-Backed Herbs in Craving Support

Craving Support is rooted in a classic Chinese Medicine formula from 1100 AD that strengthens Spleen Qi and clears dampness. Here's what research shows about its key herbs.

Cinnamon (Rou Gui)

Warms your digestive fire.

• Human studies: In a 4-week randomized crossover trial of adults with prediabetes, daily cinnamon improved glucose response on continuous glucose monitors compared with placebo, with no digestive side effects (6). In healthy adults, adding cinnamon to a meal slowed stomach emptying and lowered the post-meal blood sugar rise (7).

Ginger (Jiang)

Warms the middle and settles digestion.

• Human studies: A meta-analysis of clinical trials found ginger improved blood lipids and BMI (8).

Chinese Yam (Shan Yao)

Nourishes Spleen Qi and helps you feel full.

• Human studies: 22 healthy postmenopausal women who swapped two-thirds of their staple food for yam for 30 days saw cholesterol drop 5.9%, along with better sex hormone and antioxidant markers (9).

• Animal studies: Chinese yam polysaccharides lowered weight gain and insulin resistance in mice on a high-fat diet (10).

Poria (Fu Ling)

Drains dampness and calms the mind.

• Animal studies: Poria polysaccharides improved glucose tolerance and lipid metabolism in obese mice by changing gut bacteria (11).

Atractylodes (Bai Zhu)

Strengthens the Spleen and dries dampness.

• Animal studies: An Atractylodes polysaccharide improved glucose and fat metabolism through gut bacteria (12).

Other Craving Support Herbs 

• Codonopsis (Dang Shen) is a gentle Qi tonic for steady energy; research reviews describe its digestive and immune action (13). 

• Coix seed, Hyacinth bean, Lotus seed and Cardamom pods clear dampness and settle digestion. 

• Licorice and Jujube bring the blend into harmony. 

The Daily Beast's shopping site The Looker reviewed Craving Support under the headline "This Metabolism-Boosting Elixir Harnesses Chinese Medicine to Curb Cravings."

How to Take Craving Support

• Daily: Mix 3–6 full droppers (½-1 tsp) into a glass of room-temperature or warm lemon water first thing in the morning, before meals, or when cravings hit. 

• In the moment: Take the same amount in water or warm tea when a craving hits. Wait at least 15 minutes before eating.

• Pair it: The Metabolism Duo combines Craving Support with Herbal Digestif for bloating and sluggish digestion ($68).

Price: $38, or $34.20 with Subscribe & Save (about $1.22 per serving). HSA/FSA eligible.

Who it's for: People noticing more cravings, afternoon slumps, bloating or a metabolism that feels slower in their late 30s, 40s and beyond.

Who it's not for: If you take medication, especially for blood sugar, or are pregnant check with your doctor first.

What People Are Saying

In a 2025 internal perception study, 88% noticed fewer episodes of stress-eating* and 71% felt satisfied with less food or ate less overall* (see the Craving Support study results).

"I'm finding a lack of cravings and I feel much fuller off a smaller amount of food. If I saw sweets or even thought about food I couldn't control the urge for it. Now I don't have that issue at all! My need for snacking has completely stopped." – Moriah P.

"Snacking hasn't been on my mind as much when it usually hits around 3pm!" – Katherine B. 

"The craving support really works. Four droppers keeps the cravings away for hours." – Terri S.

3 More Ways to Support Your Metabolism

1. Lift something heavy 2–3 times a week. In a meta-analysis, resistance training raised resting metabolic rate by about 96 calories a day, while aerobic exercise alone didn't (14).

2. Eat protein at breakfast. It keeps you full longer and helps you hold on to lean muscle.

3. Choose warm, cooked meals. In Chinese Medicine, cold and raw foods make your digestive fire work harder. Get more ideas in Elix's 10 Chinese Medicine tips to naturally boost your metabolism and the perimenopause supplement guide.

FAQs

What are the best metabolism supplements for women?

The best metabolism supplements for women support digestion, blood sugar balance and cravings, not just a short caffeine lift. Look for research-backed herbs like cinnamon, ginger and Chinese yam. Craving Support blends these with 9 other organic and wild-crafted herbs from a classic Chinese Medicine formula, in an alcohol-free liquid you take each day.

How soon will I notice a difference?

In Elix's internal study, craving intensity dropped 42% on average within 30 minutes of a dose.* For steady, everyday metabolic balance, take it every morning. Some reviewers noticed bigger changes after about two weeks. Like most herbal formulas, Craving Support works best with steady daily use.

How can I tell if my metabolism is slow?

Common signs include feeling hungry soon after meals, afternoon energy crashes, sugar cravings, bloating, and midsection changes even when you eat and exercise the same. In Chinese Medicine, these point to weak Spleen Qi and dampness. Your doctor can check thyroid function and blood sugar to rule out other causes.

What supplements help stop sugar cravings?

Supplements to stop sugar cravings work best when they steady blood sugar and digestion together. Cinnamon has been studied for post-meal blood sugar, and Chinese Medicine uses Spleen-strengthening herbs for sweet cravings. Craving Support combines both. In its internal study, 87% said it helped curb their urge to snack.*

Can I take Craving Support with other Elix formulas?

Yes. Craving Support pairs well with other Elix formulas, mixed together or taken separately. For bloating and sluggish digestion, try the Metabolism Duo with Herbal Digestif.

Feel at Home in Your Body Again

Your metabolism didn't stop working. It needs a little care for the season you're in. Start your mornings with Craving Support and give your digestive fire what it needs.

This article was medically  reviewed by Dr. Megan MacLaggan L.Ac,  DAcCHM

Dr. Megan MacLaggan is a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, licensed acupuncturist, and certified clinical Eastern and Western herbalist specializing in women’s health. In addition to clinical practice and coaching, she writes, teaches, develops curriculum, and consults at the intersection of East Asian Medicine and biomedicine.

Sources

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3. Spiegel K, Tasali E, Penev P, et al. Sleep curtailment in healthy young men is associated with decreased leptin levels, elevated ghrelin levels, and increased hunger and appetite. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(11):846-850.
4. Hursel R, Viechtbauer W, Dulloo AG, et al. The effects of catechin rich teas and caffeine on energy expenditure and fat oxidation: a meta-analysis. Obes Rev. 2011;12(7):e573-581.
5. Paddon-Jones D, Westman E, Mattes RD, et al. Protein, weight management, and satiety. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008;87(5):1558S-1561S.
6. Zelicha H, Yang J, Henning SM, et al. Effect of cinnamon spice on continuously monitored glycemic response in adults with prediabetes: a 4-week randomized controlled crossover trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2024;119(3):649-657.
7. Hlebowicz J, Darwiche G, Björgell O, et al. Effect of cinnamon on postprandial blood glucose, gastric emptying, and satiety in healthy subjects. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007;85(6):1552-1556.
8. Asghari-Jafarabadi M, Khalili L, et al. The effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale) on improving blood lipids and body weight; a systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of clinical trials. Curr Pharm Des. 2022;28(35):2920-2943.
9. Wu WH, Liu LY, Chung CJ, et al. Estrogenic effect of yam ingestion in healthy postmenopausal women. J Am Coll Nutr. 2005;24(4):235-243.
10. Li SN, Zhang DL, Wang ZH, et al. Anti-obesity effects exerted by Dioscorea opposita Thunb. polysaccharides in diet-induced obese mice. Food Sci Nutr. 2023;11(10):6459-6469.
11. Liu W, Yu L, Chen Q, et al. Poria cocos polysaccharides alleviate obesity-related adipose tissue insulin resistance via gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids activation of FGF21/PI3K/AKT signaling. Food Res Int. 2025;215:116671.
12. He Z, Guo J, Zhang H, et al. Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz polysaccharide improves glycolipid metabolism disorders through activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor by gut flora-produced tryptophan metabolites. Int J Biol Macromol. 2023;253(Pt 4):126987.
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14. MacKenzie-Shalders K, Kelly JT, So D, et al. The effect of exercise interventions on resting metabolic rate: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sports Sci. 2020;38(14):1635-1649.

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.

*Based on self-reported results from 24 participants in a 2025 internal study of Elix's Craving Support. Individual results may vary.