When we workout, it is not just the external physical exertion that we go through, the inside of our body also exercises as much.
Thousands of biochemical reactions occur inside our body especially to break down the stored fats to release energy to perform during the workout sessions. Our stamina to perform depends largely on how effectively our body is able to use fat for fuel and to improve the oxidation of fats, L-carnitine comes into the picture.
Yes, you heard it right. L-carnitine is a popular supplement among the athletes and fitness enthusiasts around the world, especially taken to improve their performances. People also take l carnitine for weight loss. Let’s discuss what is l carnitine first.
What is L-Carnitine
L-carnitine is a vitamin BT compound, often considered a combination of conditionally essential amino acids and vitamin B. L carnitine is essential during the fatty acid metabolism and its circulation in our body to gain energy. L carnitine transports the fatty acids to the mitochondria, which acts as a power generator. Mitochondria metabolizes the fatty acids into yielding large quantities of ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate), which are the energy stored at the cellular level in our body.
For more information about conditionally essential amino acids, please visit- Types of Amino Acids
In our body, l carnitine is formed in liver and kidneys by synthesising the amino acids present in the food we eat or from the amino acid supplements. It is found in muscles, brain, and heart in our body. In men, it is also found in the sperm cells. The natural source of l carnitine is red meat, animal products, avocado, and soy-beans.
L carnitine supplements are available in the form of Acetyl L-carnitine, L-carnitine L-tartrate, or propionyl L-carnitine. Each of them are mostly similar and equally effective, the difference lies only in their molecular formulation. The acetyl L- carnitine is the most popular and it is also attributed to provide protection against aging and neurodegeneration, as it also acts as an antioxidant. L-carnitine is a daily supplement with its dosage ranging from 500 to 2000 mg per day, depending on your requirements.
Well, we have seen L- carnitine as a booster for increasing fatty acids metabolism in our body, thus providing energy and stamina for training. The experts refer L-carnitine to the trainers who are supposed to burn fat or who require weight loss. Let’s discuss- is L-carnitine effective for weight loss?
Is L-Carnitine effective for Weight Loss?
As mentioned above, L-carnitine transports the fatty acids to the mitochondria, where they are used to produce energy in the form of ATP. When we exercise, this ATP is broken down into ADP (Adenosine Diphosphate) and the energy is released. This ADP is a waste molecule as it can’t be further broken down to gain energy and usually contributes to the fat in our body. L-carnitine helps in the removal of such bi-products of energy production from the cells. Hence, they don’t accumulate to form fats and hence with L-carnitine we gain energy by not putting on weight.
If you are already in a low-calorie dieting, then chances are that you feel fatigue and have poor appetite control, resulting in overeating due to the lack of fatty acid oxidation. So, the end result becomes giving up on the diet routine and switching to the previous obese physique. L-carnitine reduces the hunger (as almost every nutrient is utilized into energy) and fatigue, thus making the low fat diet a success.
Hence, we can say that L-carnitine is effective for weight loss. It is advised to take L-carnitine during your largest meal of the day (mostly during lunch) to observe the maximum weight loss. And needless to mention, L- carnitine don’t usually interfere with the other supplements, so it can be taken with your existing supplement routine.
So friends, we hope that you find this information useful. If you have any doubts or suggestions about using L-carnitine, feel free to express in the comment section below. Even if you found the usage of L-carnitine went wrong, do share with us because sharing is caring. Let the fellow trainers benefit from your experiences. And stay tuned for the upcoming articles on the effective dosage and benefits and side effects of L-carnitine.
Meanwhile, happy training!
