L-carnitine or acetyl-L-carnitine is an amino acid whose name gets highlighted every now and then in the world of fitness and weight loss supplements. Added extensively into protein powders, slimming tea, sports drinks, and health supplements, it is often hailed as a fat-burning supplement. But is there any truth behind the halo around L-carnitine which is marketed to benefit weight loss by boosting metabolism, enhancing exercise performance, and most importantly, facilitate the movement of fatty acids into the mitochondrial area of each cell where these fat molecules are burnt and used up as energy. Mitochondria is the powerhouse area of each cell where fat burning process takes place. In short, L-carnitine transports fat to cells so that they can be consumed up as energy. L-carnitine can be synthesized inside the body from proteins such as lysine and methionine.
The Link Between L-Carnitine and Weight Loss:
It is thought to fast forward the movement of fatty acids available from food and stored fats to the fat-burning region of each cell to be utilized as energy. It is thought to boost weight loss efforts when you follow proper diet and exercise. Speeding up metabolism, it also enhances performance during exercise.
Benefits of L-Carnitine:
- Thought to boost metabolism.
- Facilitates burning of fatty acids in the mitochondrial region of cells.
- Increases calorie expenditure.
- Increases cellular energy.
- Helps boost exercise.
- Helps exercise recovery.
- Increases oxygen supply to muscles.
- Increases stamina.
L-Carnitine – Does it Really Work for Weight Loss?
Heavily marketed as a nutritional supplement, L-carnitine does not have much testing or research to back its claims with regards to weight loss. However, it is believed that coupled with exercise and dieting, L-carnitine has been found to aid weight loss by a certain extent. However, it does not cause or result in significant weight loss on its own. In the absence of dieting and exercise, no result can be seen at all.
Natural Sources of L-Carnitine:
L-carnitine is a non-essential amino acid which can be produced in our bodies, which means we do not compulsorily need them through dietary sources. Our bodies tend to produce l-carnitine when we eat foods rich in lysine and methionine which are considered the building blocks of L-carnitine. Foods that are rich lysine are dairy products such as milk, yogurt, cheese and also meat, fish, and chicken. Foods high in methionine are nuts such as walnuts, almonds, cheese, soy, eggs, fish, beans, and dairy products. That’s the reason Rati Beauty weight loss diets include all of these food items extensively in their weekly diets so that you can lose weight the natural way without relying on external supplements that can have side effects. Avocados and soybean also have both lysine and methionine.
Most importantly, never take any supplements on your own, without a doctor’s approval, as it may lead to severe side effects because high levels of l-carnitine can increase the risk of clogged arteries. Interestingly, it’s better to rely on lysine and methionine through dietary sources for the synthesis of L-carnitine in the body because, they have a greater absorption rate than direct supplements.
Summing up, it would not be prudent to rely solely on l-carnitine to lose weight. To successfully lose weight, nothing works as well as following a healthy diet such as Rati Beauty and exercise.
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