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Carnitine The Ultimate Weight Loss Nutrient |
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totalhealth’s Special Report
Obesity, Weight Loss and Glucose Control
Carnitine The Ultimate Weight Loss Nutrient
by Robert Crayhon, M.S.
In the history of the United States we have
never faced a bigger challenge in our
struggle to lose weight. Why? Overusing
the fork and underusing the sneakers has a
lot to do with it. But in America we also
suffer from something called “over-consumptive,
under-nutrition.” What that
means is simple: we eat too many calories
that do not have enough nutrients in them.
The reason that this presents such a
problem is that these small nutrients,
micronutrients, which are missing in our
diet, play a key role turning food into
energy. When it comes to fat burning,
one nutrient stands above the rest in
importance—carnitine, which is known
interchangeably as L-carnitine.
Carnitine is a vitamin-like nutrient that
occurs naturally in the body and is probably
the most underappreciated nutrient
there is. Its central role in helping cells
make more energy, its lack of toxicity and
its wide range of benefits have made it
the most remarkable nutrient I have used
in my nutrition practice over the past
12 years. I have never seen people feel
such an improved state of overall wellness
and a natural increase in energy as
they have when they increase their intake
of carnitine.
Most adults consume about 50 mg of
carnitine per day in their diet. This is not
enough for optimal health. Vegetarians
often consume no carnitine in their diet
and feel much better when they supplement
with it because carnitine is found
only in foods predominantly of animal
origin such as red meat and milk. Fruits,
vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds contain
no carnitine. The body makes carnitine
from lysine, methionine, vitamin C,
iron, B3 and B6, so carnitine is not technically
an essential nutrient. Yet for optimal
health, supplements are essential.
Carnitine deficiency is more common
than many people think and can lead to
such problems as overweight, fatigue, elevated
triglycerides and heart problems.
A recent study showed the powerful
advantage of combining carnitine with a
weight loss program. For those eating a
healthy diet and getting moderate exercise
for 12 weeks, the average weight loss was
one pound. For those who added two
grams of carnitine per day to the same regimen,
weight loss averaged 11 pounds.
Merely adding 2,000 mg of carnitine from
carnitine tartrate increased weight loss
elevenfold (11 pounds in the carnitine group
versus 1 pound in the non-carnitine group)!
Why does carnitine have this effect?
Because carnitine is the forklift that takes
fat to the fat incinerators in our cells
called mitochondria. Unless fat makes it
into the mitochondria, you can’t burn it
off no matter what you do and no matter
how well you diet. This is why carnitine is
so crucial for optimal weight loss. Once
fat is inside the mitochondria, fat is magically
transformed into energy. It’s like
turning bricks into gold. This is why carnitine
both encourages weight loss and
increases energy levels.
For weight loss and general immune
enhancement, begin with 500 mg, preferably
on an empty stomach in the morning
before breakfast. I usually do not recommend
more than 3 grams per day, and 500
mg to 2 grams per day is fine for most
needs. Carnitine should not be taken
before bed as it can increase energy levels
and may prevent sleep. Carnitine is not a
stimulant but gives an even, natural
energy by enhancing the body’s own
energy producing processes. If you have
any health conditions, make sure you take
all supplements under the guidance of
your physician.
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