Natural Supplements CLA & L-Carnitine - any info or advise

[junjpat]

A friend of mine who is not strictly on adkins but follows a very Low carb high proten diet suggested CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) and Acetyl L-Cararnitine for my VERY SLUGGISH metabolism. Of course she looks great and has followed the diet I mentioned above for about 5 years. I am 38 yrs old on my 8th day of the induction with 5 lbs lost - too early to check the inches though my clothing does not seem any looser yet..want to know if these supplements are a good idea or not. Since having kids (my youngest is 11) I've struggled with added weight that I NEVER HAD Before.
Thanks
June

Age - 38
Height - 5 ft. 3 inch
Start weight 160 lbs
Current Weight 155 lbs
Goal Weight 125-130 lbs

[sadie147]

I've taken CLA in the past for quite a while, it does claim to have other health benefits as well, but as far as weight loss goes all i seemed to be losing was the money it cost to buy it

No idea abough L-Carnatine, i'm not sure it's available in Canada so I've never seen it before sorry.

[missnikki217]

Hi there. First:

CONGRATS! 5 pounds in 8 days is excellent so far considering you have 35 pounds at most to lose to put you at 125.. thats already almost 15%!!! and we can expect to lose 10-15% of the total weight we want to lose in the first two weeks!

If you have DANDR 2002, on page 261 the doctor states: "For those individuals who have not lost weight during the Induction phase of Atkins, nutritionally oriented medicine offers ways to break through this barrier. In conjunction with Induction, certain vitanutrients can assist in breaking up weight loss logjams. In my experience, the leading nutrient to accomplish this fat busting feat is L-carnitine. When carnitine is deficient, the conversion of burned fat to ketones is impaired.. . But very high doses of carnitine are often necessary." This is under the "When Insulin is Out of Whack" section.

Since you've lost a whopping 15% of the total weight you want to lose, my two cents is that this is not necessary for you. You're doing GREAT on your own! You're between high and average weight loss for induction (chart on page 158 )

Hope that helps!

[Misnagid]

Dr. Atkins recommended acetyl-l-carnitine for weight loss.
That and chromium picolinate really seem to help carbohydrate metabolism so less insulin is released. He also recommended Coenzyme Q10
I think I've lost more weight the days I've taken it, in the last month.

Not sure about the other one.

[Sherri]

Hi June,

L-carnitine

L-carnitine is the fat-burner that works at your body's deepest leve-without any help from your will power!
Recent studies indicates that L-carnitine, one of the amino acids, plays an important role in converting stored body fat into energy.
In its action with the cells engine (the mitochondrion), which burns fat for energy, carnitine accelerates the rate at which the body burns fat. The more fat that is burned-the less you have to carry around with you. So, the more carnitine, the more fat your body can burn, and the more energy you get from your body.
It is also important in controlling hypogycemia, energizing the heart, reducing the effects of angina attacks, and is beneficial to patients suffering from Diabetes, liver disease, or kidney disease.
The food sources of L-carnitine are meat, and dairy products but the amounts of food in these foods are not enough for weight loss.
Therefore, supplements of L-carnitine should be taken in a 250 mg tablet twice a daily; however, if there is any evidence of allergy (people can be allergic to anything, even water) the use of L-carnitine alone should be discontinued and the use of a combination with other substances should be considered. The FDA does not consider L-carnitine to be anything but a food supplement.

[Sherri]

Hi again,
I did find this info on CLA. Something I've considered taking myself because I have Hypothyroidism.
Sherri





Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) Supplements May Speed Weight Loss

News Promises New Tool in Weight Loss Battle for People with Hypothyroidism

By Mary Shomon, About.com
Updated: December 3, 2003
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board




by Mary J. Shomon

January 2001 -- Major news for people with thyroid problems who are facing weight loss challenges is the news that the natural dietary supplement conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) reduces body fat in people who are overweight.

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, published in the December 2000 issue of the Journal of Nutrition found that CLA reduces fat and preserves muscle tissue. According to the research project manager, an average reduction of six pounds of body fat was found in the group that took CLA, compared to a placebo group. The study found that approximately 3.4 grams of CLA per day is the level needed to obtain the beneficial effects of CLA on body fat.

Dr. Michael Pariza, who conducted research on CLA with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, reported in August 2000 to the American Chemical Society that "It doesn't make a big fat cell get little. What it rather does is keep a little fat cell from getting big." Pariza's research did not find weight loss in his group of 71 overweight people, but what he did find was that when the dieters stopped dieting, and gained back weight, those taking CLA "were more likely to gain muscle and not fat.'' In a separate study conducted at Purdue University in Indiana, CLA was found to improve insulin levels in about two-thirds of diabetic patients, and moderately reduced the blood glucose level and triglyceride levels.





CLA has been the subject of a variety of research in the past several years, and findings also suggest that some of the other benefits of CLA include the following:

• Increases metabolic rate -- This would obviously be a positive benefit for thyroid patients, as hypothyroidism -- even when treated -- can reduce the metabolic rate in some people.
• Decreases abdominal fat -- Adrenal imbalances and hormonal shifts that are common in thyroid patients frequently cause rapid accumulation of abdominal fat, so this benefit could be quite helpful.
• Enhances muscle growth -- Muscle burns fat, which also contributes to increased metabolism, which is useful in weight loss and management.
• Lowers cholesterol and triglycerides -- Since many thyroid patients have elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels, even with treatment, this benefit can have an impact on a thyroid patient's health.
• Lowers insulin resistance -- Insulin resistance is a risk for some hypothyroid patients, and lowering it can also help prevent adult-onset diabetes and make it easier to control weight.
• Reduces food-induced allergic reactions -- Since food allergies can be at play when weight loss becomes difficult, this can be of help to thyroid patients.
• Enhances immune system -- Since most cases of thyroid disease are autoimmune in nature, enhancing the immune system's ability to function properly is a positive benefit.

If you're interested in taking CLA to help with weight loss, keep in mind that it's not a magic pill, and you will need to start a program of diet and exercise in order to successfully lose weight and keep it off.

If You Are Interested in Taking CLA

CLA is a supplement, and does not require a prescription. It is available at health food stores, and at online outlets like Drugstore.com. Experts recommend that you use a patented name brand, as some brands have inconsistent or insufficient amounts of CLA contained in them. The brand used in testing was "Tonalin" brand CLA, which comes in 1000 mg capsules. To obtain the level determined to be effective in the testing -- 3.4 g, or 3400 mg, per day -- you would need to take 4 of these capsules a day, with meals.

Please note also, that you should not think that CLA alone will help you lose weight. You still need to be, as I am, on a balanced, reduced-calorie, low-glycemic diet, and have to incorporate regular, vigorous exercise, and weight bearing activities, into your life.

Frequently Asked Questions About CLA





See my article, Frequently Asked Questions About CLA for the answers to the following questions:

• Is Any Brand of CLA Good to Use?
• Is CLA Safe to Take With My Thyroid Medications?
• Is CLA Only for People with Thyroid Problems?
• How Much Should I Take?
• Does CLA Have Soy in It? Should I Take It If It Says It Contains Soy?
• Where Can I Get CLA?
• How Should I Take It?
• Does CLA Have Any Side Effects?
• Where Can I Read More About CLA's Health Benefits?

[Every1LuvzAngie]

I saw some at the vitamin store and didn't buy any...I bought cinnamon instead because I've read great things about cinnamon helping metabolize sugar...but I am def going to pick some up now...I used to take CLA as well...maybe thaz why I lose more weight before hmmmm. lol

[izza]

Ok. I have been considering taking a supplement. I have read about many different types:

acetyl-l-carnitine
chromium picolinate
coenzyme Q10
L- Carnitine

I would like to start taking some and would like to know exactly what I buy. I am also taking a vitiman E supplement and Centrium vitamin.

[frankenspine]

Feel free to check ot this site (ProCaps Laboratories - The Informed Choice in Vitamins and Supplements). The manufacturer makes a wide variety of high quality suppliments including CoQ10, L-Carnatine and a wonderful line of mulitvitamins.

[2007choquette]

I am looking for a brand of mulit vitamin or the atkins
#3 supplements to take. I need a boost in energy andf have headaches. Any suggestions. I am taking nothing right now. As I do not have the money to buy anything extemly expensive at the moment, but will consider it if I know that it will help boost me up. I can't go out and buy seperate pills, anything combined in one bottle? Hope someone can help.