July 31, 2017
L-Carnitine is a conditionally essential Amino Acid that has only recently stepped into the spot light as an important amino acid.
L-Carnitine
It can be found in red meat, fish, poultry and milk products. It can also be found to a lesser extent in tempeh, wheat and avocados.
So what are some possible benefits of L-Carnitine? At first glance on the internet, it seems it’s a miracle cure for all our woes. It’s good for fat loss, muscle mass, bone mass, heart conditions, kidney treatment, male infertility etc. I’ve scoured reputable websites and have compiled a list of a few things L-Carnitine can be good for.
Fat Loss
L-Carnitine transfers long chain fatty acids into the mitochrondria, which acts as engines within your cells, burning these fats to create usable energy.
Brain Function
Studies have shown that it can help with age related mental decline and improve markers of learning. It has helped reverse the decline in brain function associated with Alzheimer’s. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1944900
Effective for Kidney Disease
There is research that suggests it can improve red blood cell counts during hemodialysis.
Weight loss
Some research has shown that L-Carnitine can help obese individuals or the elderly lose weight. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27335245
Stamina
Studies are showing that it can increase blood flow and nitric oxide production, helping to reduce fatigue. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18545197
It’s definitely a supplement worth looking into – there seems to be a lot of good feed back from people out there in the fitness community using it but I would take it all in with a grain of salt.
If anyone out there takes it, let me know how it’s worked for you!
