Keith has lost more than 62 pounds in the past 28 weeks. Most of this progress is attributed to following his ketogenic diet, but he has also been testing supplements for weight loss.

In this video, we will share information on a supplement Keith takes called L-carnitine for weight loss benefits.

We will also address whether or not L-carnitine is the right supplement for you!

L-Carnitine for Weight Loss [Video]

Intro

Keith:

What Is L-Carnitine?

Becky:

L-carnitine is an amino acid, which is a building block of protein.

Keith, can you explain to people how this supplement helps with burning fat from your body?

Keith:

Sure! L-carnitine is one of the amino acids. You may also hear it referred to as carnitine or L-carnitine.

Chemical Makeup

The ‘L’ just denotes in chemistry it’s an isomer, which means it’s a mirror image. There is a ‘D’ isomer and an ‘L’ isomer.

Becky:

So basically, the name describes how the chemicals are strung together?

Keith:

Yeah, just the way they look.

Now the ‘L’ form, especially with amino acids, is typically the form that our body utilizes. You may hear it referred to as just carnitine, and in most cases, that is the L-carnitine form.

Role In The Body

L-carnitine is a vital molecule for the transportation of fatty acids from within the cell and through the mitochondria membrane.

L-carnitine is a vital molecule for the transportation of fatty acids from within the cell and through the mitochondria membrane.

This allows the fatty acids to enter the Krebs cycle and be burned for energy.

This process utilizes an enzyme called carnitine transferase that hooks onto the fatty acids and pulls them into the mitochondria. The transferase then drops them off and goes back out to pick up some more fatty acids.

Becky:

Right. So all of your cells, in order to utilize energy, have to take in these fatty acids that are broken down from digestion, into the cell itself.

The little powerhouses in your cells called mitochondria do the job of utilizing energy from fatty acids. So we have to get these fatty acids not only into the cell but also into the mitochondria within the cell.

That is what L-carnitine helps your body to do.

It carries fatty acids into the mitochondria where they can be burned for energy.

L-Carnitine’s Role in Weight Loss

Keith:

So, I would not say L-carnitine necessarily speeds up my weight loss, but I want to make sure that I’m giving my body and my cells all the right substrates so that everything is there to burn fat efficiently.

If there is a lack of carnitine, then obviously your fat burning is going to slow down. So by taking L-Carnitine, I am making sure that my engine is going to work correctly.

By taking L-Carnitine, I am making sure that my engine is going to work correctly.

How To Get L-Carnitine In Your Diet

Becky:

So, you can get L-carnitine from your diet, right?

What kinds of foods would we be looking to add?

Foods

Keith:

Typically L-carnitine, because it is part of a protein, is found pretty richly in red meats and a little less so as you go down the meats list. It’s pretty low in poultry.

We personally get some red meat in our diets, but you know it’s not a lot, which is where the problem comes.

Becky:

Right, and that is saying something because you [Keith] are a meat-eater.

Keith has always been a meat eater and a good Nebraska boy. In the United States, especially the mid-west, we are known for our agriculture and meats.

Supplements

Though you do include red meat in your diet, you still supplement with L-carnitine for weight loss. I believe this is so you are never at a deficit.

Keith:

That is right. Taking a supplement is just an insurance policy for me.

You had also mentioned at the beginning of the video about finding out whether it is for everybody in our audience.

The answer to that is…yes, but!

Becky:

Right, because there are a lot of people that don’t eat red meat.

Keith:

Right. Plus, if you are eating a little bit lower-calorie, which we typically do as we get older – we have fewer caloric needs. This can make it tough to get all those protein needs in there.

It can also be especially challenging to get the proper amount of L-carnitine if you are practicing a ketogenic diet.

We have talked before about how you do not want to have a high protein intake on a low-carb or ketogenic diet. You have to keep that protein intake moderate, which can put you in a little bit of a quandary.

Becky:

That is where a supplement can come in handy. For someone who is over fifty, we tend to hear more about L-carnitine.

I think it gained popularity among the bodybuilder industry, but it can be right for a person who is in their 50s or above or their 40s. Only if they are currently on a fat-burning diet.

The Takeaway: L-Carnitine For Weight Loss

Becky:

That point is important.

L-carnitine is a supplement. Supplements are called supplements because they supplement a diet.

So you can’t just take l-carnitine, still consume a junk food diet, and expect any results.

Keith:

Yeah, it’s not going to work. It’s just going to be a waste of your money.

You are not going to get leaner, and you will get fatter.

Becky:

So there you have it.

L-carnitine is a supplement that can directly impact your cells’ ability to burn fat. However, you are never going to get anywhere unless you get that diet under control.

L-carnitine is a supplement that can directly impact your cells’ ability to burn fat. However, you are never going to get anywhere unless you get that diet under control.

If you need a good place to begin, check out our free keto starter kit.

You can learn what foods Keith has added to his diet and those he has taken away to get his weight loss results.