Burn your fat and become smarter as well ?

The amino acid acetyl L-carnitine (ALCAR), which is present in some non-vegetarian meals, is naturally synthesized by all of us. It is crucial for energy generation and lipid metabolism.

ALCAR has neuroprotective properties and is also linked with cognitive development.

It has been demonstrated that taking ALCAR supplements helps reduce fat, increase cognitive function, and increase exercise efficiency. Up to 2 g/day of ALCAR is safe and well-accepted.

Let me show you its benefits, side effects, and mechanism in all of us, and by the end, you will know whether it's something that you should supplement or definitely supplement.

Age-related declines in L-carnitine amounts in humans have been reported in many studies. This means that as we get older, our body's L- carnitine levels decline from baseline. There is strong proof that 2 g of acetyl-L-carnitine supplementation per day can enhance people's cognitive abilities and make them smarter, making ALCAR one of the best supplements for the brain and body. Research on adult, neonatal, and pediatric brains demonstrates that ALCAR can enhance energy status, lessen oxidative stress, and avoid ensuing cell death. ALCAR can offer an acetyl moiety that can be used for myelination and cell development, which can be used as a precursor for acetylcholine, glutamate, glutamine, and GABA, and it can be integrated into lipids.

OK, so I can see that you are interested at this point, so let me show you how it works and its benefits.

personal experience

If you're searching for a health and fitness product that can promote fat reduction and improve mental efficiency, ALCAR is a great option. I'd personally tested ALCAR, and after using it consistently for a month, I was astonished by the results. I lost about 2 kg in 4 weeks without substantially changing my sleep schedule, eating routine, or normal desk-job working rituals.

With the exception of HIIT (high-intensity interval training) every Sunday, my diet did consist of low-carb, high-protein, and low-sugar foods, along with the routine cardiovascular activity of 20 minutes. The studies support the argument that I am attempting to make here, even though this may skew the statistics regarding the effectiveness of ALCAR.

how does it HELP?

The heart and skeletal muscles contain about 95% of the body's overall carnitine reserves. Only about 0.5% of the body's carnitine is found in circulating plasma, with the majority of the rest being kept in the liver and kidneys.

When long-chain fatty acids are transported across the mitochondrial membranes in muscle cells, they are oxidised and converted into energy (a process known as β - oxidation). Carnitine, which is derived from lysine and methionine, is also involved in the transport of fatty acids out of the mitochondria.

It transports back acetyl groups and other tiny pieces created in fatty acid oxidation on its journey from inside the mitochondria. Due to its function in lipid metabolism, carnitine indirectly influences all other cell energy metabolisms, including the combustion of carbohydrates, to some extent. It can thus be connected to insulin, metabolic syndrome, and glucose metabolism.

The plus point here is that ALCAR can also cross the blood-brain barrier, which is a protected layer around our brain that is a selectively permeable membrane, thereby allowing only certain chemical compounds into the brain. This selective permeability is crossed by certain chemicals, and the acetyl group is one of those, hence, it helps that "juicy" L-carnitine supplement reach the mitochondria in our brain.

For all of you who did not get any word of the above-mentioned statements, ALCAR simply acts as an energy carrier and provides "energy," which is actually the white fat cell "adipose tissue," to the heart and brain. This way, they can function with more efficiency and efficacy. It's kind of like Red Bull designed for your brain and heart cells, minus the negative effects.

Clinical research

Researchers and neurologists have proposed using Acetyl L-carnitine supplements to promote weight loss, often in conjunction with a low-calorie diet, exercise, or prescription weight-loss drugs. Weight loss has been a secondary outcome in most studies, and these studies have had equivocal results.

In a randomised clinical trial in 258 adults aged 47–59 years with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, participants who took 2 g/day L-carnitine plus the prescription medication orlistat (360 mg/day) for 1 year lost more weight (11.3 kg) than those who took orlistat alone (9.5 kg).

In another study, a total of 911 participants went through eight trials, doses ranging from 1.8 to 4 g/day of L-carnitine for 30 to 360 days; in the ninth trial, the dose was 15 mg/kg/day for 182 days. In the end, study participants who took carnitine supplements lost an average of 1.33 kg more weight than the placebo group.

It has been discovered that ALCAR has anti-inflammatory properties that can actually help stabilize membranes, work as an antioxidant to guard against oxidative stress, boost the activity of nerve growth factors, increase energy metabolism, and trigger cholinergic reactions. Studies have also demonstrated that following spinal cord damage, ALCAR administration boosted mitochondrial mass and triggered mitochondrial biogenesis in hypoxic rodents.

The cortex of ALCAR-treated mice had larger quantities of phosphocreatine and adenosine nucleotides, as well as a higher ratio of phosphocreatine to creatine, both of which indicate increased energy levels. ALCAR-supplemented mice had higher concentrations of noradrenaline and myoinositol, lower GABA levels in the hippocampus, and higher serotonin levels in the frontal cortex. This study indicated the potency of ALCAR on neurotransmitters and its precursor nature to noradrenaline. For all of you who want to understand clinical research better, I suggest that you take a deep dive into the references section. I've mentioned them at the bottom of the blog.

HOW CAN YOU GET ALCAR?

Supplementing ALCAR is easy. It is predominantly available in red meat and is also present, though almost negligible, in poultry, seafood, and dairy products; however, it is absent from grains, veggies, and fruits. ALCAR is also available as a dietary supplement. So if you are a vegetarian like me, then grab up a stack of ALCAR supplements, available as OTC supplements. The brands that I personally use are Healthvit and Nutrija, as they are budget-friendly and also provide high quality and quantity of ALCAR. This is not sponsored by any of these brands, just my personal research and opinion shared with you.

Carnitine is also synthesised endogenously in the liver, kidneys, and brain from the amino acids lysine and methionine, so if you are taking food with a high amount of lysine and methionine regularly, then probably you won't require supplementing ALCAR.

TO SUM IT UP

In the end, the choice is yours. As I stated at the beginning of the article, taking ALCAR supplements only has positive effects on your brain and body, and very few to no negative effects have been recorded in the currently available literature. Although I am not a physician, psychologist, or nutritionist, you should consult a medical expert before making any decisions or taking any supplements.

ALCAR can provide benefits; it is not a magic pill and should be used in combination with a healthy diet and exercise routine. As with any supplement, it is recommended to first consult with a healthcare professional before incorporating ALCAR into your routine.

Check out the blog section for more informative and intuitive articles, and feel free to look through the sources for citations. Till then, remember to take deep breaths and spread love.

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REFERENCES

1)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5621476/#R107

2)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304383518302799

3)https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/acetylcarnitine

4) https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/5/1389

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