Commentary by Cory Black
Looking to burn more fat and have more energy? L-carnitine is the key amino acid that helps your body convert stored fat to energy and has many benefits to support your health and fitness goals.
L-carnitine is a naturally occurring amino acid used by the body to transport long chain fatty acids to the power sources in your cells called mitochondria where fat calories get burned for energy. While short and medium chain fats can enter the mitochondrial membrane by themselves, the long-chain fatty acids need carnitine to transport it. These fats are a major source of muscular energy, and supplementing with L-carnitine can increase energy levels and muscular strength.
If you’re among those people avoiding exercise because of the pain and exhaustion that often comes afterward, research has shown that adequate intakes of the L-carnitine may not only lengthen and optimize workouts, but also reduce pain in the days following for all types of athletes, including “weekend warriors”.
Several studies have confirmed L-carnitine’s relationship to exercise. Researchers have tested people at all athletic levels, with and without adequate L-carnitine, for indicators of recovery. They found that people had significantly less post-workout pain and tenderness and less post-exercise muscle damage with L-carnitine supplementation than with placebo. In one study, 75 percent of participants saw a 20 percent improved ability to exert energy within 25 minutes after exercising.
Besides just boosting fat metabolism, L-carnitine is also great for supporting brain function, and helps protect the brain from age and stress related damage to help it function better. Most of the scientific literature describes effective doses from 1 to 4 grams of L-carnitine. For targeting brain benefits, studies suggest taking 1 to 3 grams of acetyl L-carnitine daily.
So make sure you take advantage and supplement your health with the key amino acid L-carnitine. Get the benefits of increased fat burning potential, muscle recovery, brain function, and increases in fat metabolism for a leaner you.
