Losing weight with amino acids

introduction

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and occur naturally in our body.Both individual amino acids and proteins fulfill important tasks in the metabolic processes of our cells. There are amino acids that the body can produce itself and some that can only be ingested through food.

Certain amino acids are very important for burning fat. The amino acid carnitine is important 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 dietary supplement to stimulate fat burning. In addition, the amino acids L-citrulline and L-arginine are often used by athletes as fat burners and “workout boosters”.

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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. You can take L-carnitine as a powder, in capsule form or in the form of bars and drinking ampoules. It is best to take it in the morning on an empty stomach with plenty of fluids.

If you use amino acids as a "workout booster", it makes sense to take the amino acid 30 - 60 minutes before the exercise session.

L-citrulline and L-arginine are particularly suitable for athletes who want to increase their training success and want to lose weight (see also: Lose weight with exercise - these sports are particularly effective). In the case of L-citrulline and L-arginine, an intake of 3 grams per day is usually recommended, if you are exercising, at best 30 minutes before exercise. All amino acid products should be taken with fluids. Success in losing weight with amino acids depends heavily on 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 sustainably.

How much can I / should I lose weight with amino acids?

How much you can lose weight with amino acids depends heavily on the initial situation, diet and sports behavior. A 2013 clinical study found that participants taking a diet supplement containing 500 mg L-carnitine per day lost 400 g of body fat within 4 weeks without changing diet or exercise. If you take L-carnitine, eat a low-calorie and healthy diet and do more sport, the weight loss success can increase significantly.

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How high are the costs?

The cost of dietary supplements containing amino acids are generally cheap. You can buy 100 capsules of L-carnitine for € 10, one capsule contains 1 gram and the pack 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. Dietary supplements that contain L-arginine or L-citrulline are in the same price range. They are a little more expensive, as 1 gram is taken 3 times a day, i.e. three times as much as L-carnitine.

There are many amino acid supplements to which additional substances have been added, such as vitamin B6, guarana, green tea or magnesium. Depending on your personal requirements for vitamins, other nutrients or stimulants such as guarana, you can choose the right product from many different dietary supplements. A great advantage is that all amino acid preparations are sold in the form of storage packs for several weeks to months.

Additional costs may arise depending on changes in eating habits as part of the diet. Fresh fruits 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.

Side effects of losing weight with amino acids

If dietary supplements containing amino acids such as carnitine or citrulline are taken in the recommended amount, no side effects are to be expected. These only occur in the event of an overdose, i.e. when amino acids are taken in a significantly increased concentration over a longer period of time.

Overdosing can lead to excessive perspiration, increased body temperature and dehydration (see also: Desiccosis). Gastrointestinal complaints such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting can also occur. Organs such as the liver and kidneys can also suffer from severe overdosage over a long period of time.

One should be careful not to consume any modifications of L-carnitine such as D-carnitine or other modifications that are not permitted in Germany as they involve risks. If you take a dietary supplement with L-carnitine available in the drugstore or pharmacy and stick to the recommended dosage, you usually don't have to worry about side effects.

What are the risks / dangers of "losing weight with amino acids"?

Amino acids are generally not harmful as they occur naturally in our body and perform important functions that make them vital. If one suffers from kidney weakness and the kidney function is restricted, one should avoid preparations that contain amino acids. If the kidneys cannot excrete excess amino acids, it builds up in the body, which can be harmful. Even with healthy kidney function, when taking dietary supplements with amino acids, you should strictly adhere to the given dosage recommendations in order to avoid side effects caused by overdosing.

Medical evaluation of the diet by

Losing weight with amino acids is a dietary supplement that is intended to boost fat burning and make training more effective, depending on which amino acids you take. L-carnitine stimulates fat metabolism, while L-citrulline is used as a fat burner and workout booster. This means that amino acids promote weight loss with a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Read more on the topic: Amino acids and exercise

If you change neither diet nor sports behavior, you can see a weight loss success, but very little with 400 grams of fat loss in one month. Therefore, with effective training and good nutrition, amino acids are a great way to increase weight loss. If you stick to the recommended dosage of the preparations, no side effects are to be expected, as the ingested amino acids occur naturally in our body. The only danger is with enormous doses over a longer period of time or with impaired kidney function.

What alternatives are there for losing weight with amino acids?

If you want to lose weight very quickly, radical mono-diets are very popular, with which the pounds drop in a few days. Examples are turbo diets with shakes such as Almased®, Yokebe® or Doppelherz®, or mono diets such as the fruit diet, vegetable diet and cabbage soup diet. A major disadvantage here, however, is the great risk of a yo-yo effect after the end of the diet.

If you want to lose weight in the long term and do without dietary supplements such as amino acids, low-carb diets are often tried. Here, the carbohydrates are reduced on the menu and proteins and fiber are placed in the foreground. These diets are easier to incorporate into everyday working life than mono diets, especially shake diets, which are often very hungry. Examples of low-carb diets are the Atkins diet, which specifies a specific phase program with disciplined exercise units, or the Logi method and Glyx diet, in which the glycemic index of individual foods plays an important role.

Exercise and a healthy lifestyle support every diet and, through targeted muscle building, help burn more calories and shape the body. You should start slowly and gradually increase the training.

How can I avoid the yo-yo effect with this diet?

When losing weight with amino acids, the risk of a yo-yo effect depends largely on your diet and exercise during the diet. If you eat radically in the form of a zero diet, the risk of the yo-yo effect increases significantly. Basically, the amino acids have a supportive effect on fat burning and metabolism and carry a low risk of a yo-yo effect.

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