Introduction
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and occur naturally in our body. Both individual amino acids and proteins fulfil important tasks in the metabolic processes of our cells. There are amino acids that the body can produce itself and those that can only be taken in with food.
Certain amino acids are very important for fat burning. The amino acid carnitine has its role in the transport of fatty acids into the mitochondria, the so-called “power stations” of the cells. L-carnitine is often taken in the form of tablets as a food supplement to boost fat burning. In addition, the amino acids L-citrulline and L-arginine are also popular among athletes as fat burners and “workout boosters”.
How does the decrease with amino acids work?
If you want to stimulate fat burning with the amino acid L-carnitine, it is recommended to take 1 gram daily. L-carnitine can be taken as a powder, in capsule form or in the form of bars and drinking ampoules. It is best taken in the morning on an empty stomach with plenty of liquid.
If one uses amino acids as a “workout booster”, it is advisable to take the amino acid 30 – 60 minutes before the sports unit. L-Citrulline and L-Arginine are particularly suitable for athletes who want to increase their training success and lose weight. With L-citrulline and L-arginine, it is usually suggested to take 3 grams daily, during training at best 30 minutes before the sport.
All amino acid products should be taken with liquid. Success in losing weight with amino acids depends strongly on the diet and exercise during the diet. A healthy, low-calorie diet and a combination of endurance sports and weight training are particularly effective for losing weight in the long term.
How much can I/should I lose weight with amino acids?
How much one can lose weight with amino acids depends strongly on the initial situation, the diet and the sports behaviour. A clinical study from 2013 observed that participants with a dietary supplement of 500 mg L-carnitine daily lost 400g of body fat within 4 weeks without changing their diet or exercise. If one takes L-carnitine, eats a low-calorie, healthy diet and does more sports, the success in losing weight can increase significantly.
What are the costs?
The cost of amino acid supplements is generally reasonable. You can buy 100 capsules of L-carnitine for as little as €10, whereby one capsule contains 1 gram and the package lasts for 100 days. If you prefer to take L-carnitine in the form of powder mixed with water, you can buy 500 gram packs for an average of 16€.
Food supplements containing L-arginine or L-citrulline are in the same price range. They are slightly more expensive, since 1 gram is taken 3 times a day, i.e. three times as much as L-carnitine. There are many amino acid preparations to which additional substances are added, such as vitamin B6, guarana, green tea or magnesium.
Depending on your personal requirements of vitamins, other nutrients or wake-up substances such as guarana, you can choose the right product from a wide range of dietary supplements. A big advantage is that all amino acid preparations are sold in the form of stock packs for several weeks to months. Depending on the change of eating habits within the diet, additional costs can arise. Fresh fruit and vegetables and high-quality meat and fish products are more expensive than ready-made meals, but they are much healthier for your body and better for losing weight. Losing weight with amino acids is a very inexpensive way to boost fat burning.
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