L-carnitine
L-carnitine is a naturally occurring amino acid essential to the body's ability to produce energy. It plays a vital role in fat and protein metabolism, which is why it's beneficial for people trying to lose weight or build muscle.
What is L-carnitine?
L-carnitine is a compound that occurs naturally in our bodies. It helps to transport fatty acids, an important energy source for our muscles, across the cell membrane so they can be burned off as fuel.
L-carnitine is also sold in dietary supplement form. Research shows that L-carnitine may help with weight loss and improve athletic performance by increasing fat burning and muscle recovery time between workouts.
Acetyl-L-carnitine
Acetyl-L-carnitine is a form of L-carnitine, a chemical found in the brain, heart, kidneys, and liver. It helps to increase energy production by providing fuel to your body's cells. It also may reduce fatigue and improve cognitive function (the ability to think).
Acetyl-L-carnitine is an antioxidant that protects against free radicals -- unstable molecules that can cause damage to cells and DNA. Free radicals are produced when you exercise or have inflammation in your body after injury or illness; they may also be linked with aging processes. Acetyl-L-carnitine may help prevent these processes from occurring too quickly.
In addition to its antioxidant properties, acetyl-L-carnitine is considered a significant "choline donor." This means it can aid in producing acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter responsible for memory formation, muscle control, and mood regulation (among other things).
L-carnitine tartrate
If you want to get the most out of your L-carnitine, it's best to take an L-carnitine tartrate. L-carnitine tartrate is a form of L-carnitine that is more bioavailable than the other two forms (L-carnitine acetyl-L-carnitine and hydroxyl propionyl lysyl and lysyl hydroxyl propionate). This is because the salt in a tartrate molecule allows it to dissolve better than aspartic acid ester or amide forms.
3 Benefits of L-Carnitine
L-carnitine is a naturally occurring substance produced by the body that plays a vital role in energy production. Carnitine also helps shuttle away fat and build muscle, which makes it ideal for those looking to lose weight or improve their performance.
Now you might be wondering: what does l-carnitine do? And why should I take it? These are both excellent questions! Let's go over three benefits of this amino acid that can help you get started on your journey towards better health and wellness.
1. Weight loss
With L-carnitine, you can lose weight more quickly and easily.
Here's how:
It helps your body convert fat into energy.
It helps you burn fat more efficiently.
It helps you lose weight and keep it off!
2. Improved performance
L-carnitine has been shown to improve the following:
Increased energy. Studies show that L-carnitine supplementation can be used for increasing power and improving athletic performance.
Increased endurance. Carnitine also improves your endurance by helping you burn more fat faster during exercise, which means you'll be able to exercise longer before getting tired and exhausted.
It increases muscle strength and growth. Carnitine helps build muscle mass and stability through its role in promoting protein synthesis (the process by which cells make new proteins). In addition, research suggests that taking carnitine supplements may allow for increased recovery time between workouts due to decreased muscle soreness after intense activity—which can lead to more significant gains in overall muscle size and strength over time.*
3. Helping with liver health
L-carnitine is an amino acid that helps to break down fat.
When the body doesn't have enough L-carnitine in the liver, it can't break down LDL cholesterol. This means it's unable to be transported out of your bloodstream and into tissues where it's needed. As a result, blood cholesterol levels will increase and promote heart disease if left untreated.
L-carnitine also has antioxidant properties and can prevent inflammation in the liver caused by alcohol abuse or injury from toxins such as acetaminophen (Tylenol). If you suffer from fatty liver disease or cirrhosis, taking L-carnitine may help reduce symptoms like fatigue and an enlarged spleen.
Who can benefit from L-Carnitine?
Since L-carnitine is a natural supplement, many people can benefit from it. It may help users lose weight and improve their performance and sleep quality. People with liver problems or poor energy levels can also see improvement with the help of this supplement.
L-carnitine helps improve your metabolism, which helps burn more calories and encourages fat burning. It also lowers cholesterol levels, so you'll be healthier overall when taking this supplement regularly, as well as helping your body in other ways such as increasing energy levels which helps burn more calories throughout the day even if you're sitting still at work or watching TV while eating pizza in your underwear while thinking about what would happen if instead all those pizzas were replaced by vegetables instead (they wouldn't taste nearly as good).
How much L-carnitine should I take?
The recommended dose of L-carnitine is 500-1000mg daily, but keep in mind that this is only a guideline. There's no reason you can't take more than that if you feel it's working for you, but be sure to speak with your doctor before doing so.
Suppose you're taking the supplement in a pill or tablet form. In that case, it's best to take them on an empty stomach (if possible) with water—but since most people don't have much time for breakfast anymore, many opt for taking their L-carnitine supplements with food instead.
What are the side effects of L-carnitine?
L-carnitine is generally considered safe when used in recommended doses. However, it can cause side effects such as:
nausea or vomiting
upset stomach
diarrhea
abdominal cramps
Is L-carnitine safe to take while pregnant?
The answer is yes. No studies indicate that L-carnitine should not be taken by pregnant women or breastfeeding mothers, so there's no reason to think that it would be any less safe than any other nutritional supplement.
Research also shows that L-carnitine can be taken safely throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding, which makes sense, given its role in aiding the growth and development of cells. If you're not taking too much (more on this below), taking L-carnitine shouldn't be a problem during these sensitive times in your reproductive cycle.
Losing weight is often a goal when trying to conceive. While some people may see this as a negative thing—thinking, "I don't want my baby to be born overweight!"—many experts believe that being overweight at the time of conception increases the risk of complications during pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, which can affect both mother and baby alike. However, suppose you're overweight due to health reasons such as thyroid problems or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). In that case, your doctor might recommend taking special care when losing weight during this period because it could cause more harm than good for your overall health.
Taking an L-carnitine supplement is a great way to support your weight loss goals and help you feel more energetic.
L-carnitine is a naturally occurring amino acid that can help with weight loss and muscle recovery. It's found in red meat and fish, but you can also take it as a supplement. L-carnitine helps the body burn fat by making it easier for the body to turn food into energy.
Conclusion
If taken correctly, L-carnitine can be a great addition to your diet and exercise routine. It's best to start with a lower dose and work up if necessary. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, don't take L-carnitine without first consulting your doctor because it may affect the baby.