If youâre looking for a new supplement to support your weight loss and improve your workout performance - look no further than Carnitine. L-Carnitine in particular is a great addition to your supplement stack. Because as well as aiding with fat loss and performance - this type of Carnitine is stimulant free and can be used in combination with your current fat burner.
However, before you invest in a brand new supplement, itâs important you know the science behind it. That way youâre not spending money on something that disagrees with your body, or really isnât suited to you. On that note, hereâs a quick breakdown of Carnitine to help you decide if itâs the right supplement for you:
What Is Carnitine?
Carnitine is derived from the amino acids lysine and methionine and is known as a conditionally essential amino acid. Basically, this means Carnitine is only considered essential for those who are deficient in the compound. Carnitine comes in many different forms, including L-carnitine, acetyl-L-carnitine, propionyl-L-carnitine and more. Carnitine can also be found in nearly all of the cells of the human body.
How Does Carnitine Work?
Carnitine is vital for energy production and works by transporting long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria. It's here they are oxidised (or burned) so they can produce energy. Carnitine also helps prevent the toxic compounds created by this process from accumulating and causing harm. In general, your body produces a sufficient amount of Carnitine to meet the needs of most people. Itâs usually only specific genetic or medical issues that result in a Carnitine deficiency. As mentioned above, for these people Carnitine is considered an essential amino acid.
Where Can You Find Carnitine?
As we touched on, Carnitine comes in many forms, the two main forms being D and L. These two forms are known as isomers, which means they have the same formula, but the arrangement of their atoms and certain properties are different. In saying this, L-Carnitine is the only type that is active in the body and itâs the form you find in food. Youâll find it in animal products such as fish, meat, milk and poultry. A good rule of thumb is the redder the meat, the higher the Carnitine content. Aside from your body and food, Carnitine can only be found in supplements - the most common forms of supplementation being L-Carnitine and Acetyl-L-Carnitine.
The Benefits of Carnitine
Carnitine has many health and performance benefits. One major benefit being that Carnitine helps with the metabolising of fat. Because without Carnitine, long-branched chain fatty acids cannot enter the mitochondria, where they eventually produce energy. When combined with regular exercise Carnitine can also help you burn fat faster. This is commonly seen in supplements and energy drinks that contain L-Carnitine. These products boost metabolism, help with weight loss and improve overall athletic performance.
Further benefits include:
Increased muscle mass, fat loss and energy levels
More stamina during exercise
Lower risk of cramping during exercise
The increased flow of blood to areas low on oxygen
Improvement in insulin sensitivity
Enhanced exercise performance for blood sugar regulation
Check Out Our Range Of Carnitine Products
Ready to lose more fat and increase your performance in the gym? Check out our range of Carnitine Supplements in the Sportsfuel store today. Carnitine is also great to combine with Fat Burners. So be sure to check out our range of Fat Burning Supplements as well if youâre interested.
5 SUREFIRE WAYS TO INCREASE ENERGY ALL DAY
In a world where being highly motivated, focussed and energised are daily requirements to succeed, we need all the help we can getâŚand some days coffee alone just doesnât cut it!
In this article we will look at the top 5 ways to increase energy all day.
1. Sleep
Sleep â This might sound strange but sleep duration and quality is the most effective predictor of energy the next day. If you are feeling lethargic, tired or irritable, sleep should be your priority.
Simply achieving 7.5 hours of unbroken quality sleep can be life changing for daily energy and motivation.
Here are some quick tips to get the best sleep.
Sleep before midnight is 2x more beneficial than after midnight.
Plan to be in bed 8 hours before you need to wake up. 30 mins to doze off and get settled.
Use Magnesium which has been shown to improve sleep quality and increase energy through the day.
Read a book to wind down. Donât rely on digital games, social media or watching TV.
Donât eat within 2 hours of bedtime. The digestion and blood sugar fluctuations can prevent getting to sleep and staying asleep.
Donât drink too much water before bed. Getting up to go to the toilet can disrupt quality sleep.
Reduce alcohol. Even though it is a sedative it can reduce deep sleep where recovery happens.
Reduce caffeine and stimulants after 2pm. Caffeine will still be in your system 6-8 hours after consumption.
Use Ashwagandha. This Ayurvedic herb has been shown to reduce cortisol and promote better sleep quality.
Pro Tip: Switch Nutrition Adrenal Switch⢠is your go to product containing Ashwagandha and Magnesium to reduce stress, improve sleep and increase energy the next day!
2. Caffeine
Still KING for energy⌠however, you can get too much of a good thing and certain forms are better than others. Yes, caffeine boosts energy, alertness, focus, motivation, and performance. However, too much caffeine can cause a crash, tiredness, diarrhoea and an increasing dependence or addiction.
It is not uncommon for people to start with 100mg (1 cup of coffee) and before long need 300mg (triple shot) to get the same benefit. This is called adrenal resistance. Your body is producing adrenaline in response to the caffeine, but you are not responding to it as well.
This can be unhealthy as your adrenals are working overtime to call up the energy, but your brain and muscles are not picking up the phone.
Natural caffeine provides all the benefits of synthetic caffeine anhydrous but has a smoother, longer lasting feeling without the crash or chemical residues of synthetic caffeine. You will find natural caffeine in Switch Nutrition Coffee Switch⢠(for your coffee lovers), Power Switch⢠(Pre-Workout) and Thermal Switch⢠(for the fat burning energy chaser).
3. Move
Regular exercise is far more effective at boosting energy than a remaining sedentary and conserving energy. Moving at regular intervals helps boost blood flow and improve insulin sensitivity which results in more energy being utilised by your working muscles and your brain.
In fact, one study found that sedentary people with persistent tiredness and fatigue reduced their tiredness by 65% with regular exercise. In another study just 10 minutes of walking increased energy more than a sugary snack.
So, get away from your desk for 10 minutes each hour and go for a walk or do some movement that increases your heart rate and improves your blood flow.
4. Nootropics
There is a new class of botanical compounds that help enhance focus and mental energy while reducing fatigue. They are called Nootropics!
Nootropic is the term given to a compound that boosts cognitive function. Some nootropics are gabanergic (calming) and others are adrenergic (excitatory). Some boost mood, focus, mind-muscle connection, and others enhance learning or memory recall.
EnXtra®
EnXtraÂŽ - Alpina Galanga is the source of this NEW patented natural compound that amplifies the benefit of caffeine by 30% for up to 5 hours without jitters or a crash. It is thought to act as an adaptogen allowing your body and brain to respond positively to stimulants and stress.
EnXtraÂŽ boosts dopamine receptors and down regulates adenosine. This means it may enhance motivation, happiness, satisfaction and focus while reducing fatigue and tiredness.
EnXtraÂŽ has been shown to increase alertness with or without caffeine by 100% over placebo. In 2019 it won the prestigious Nutraingredients Best New Ingredient Award. You should make sure this ingredient is in your next pre-workout or focus supplement.
Hordenine
Hordenine â Found in Hordeum vulgare, this neuro stimulant works by inhibiting MAO (MonoAmine Oxidase). This inhibition reduces the metabolism and breakdown of catecholamines (adrenaline, dopamine etc). Simply put, Hordenine keeps you focused and motivated for longer.
In a 2009 study hordenine showed to peak energy at 60 â 90 minutes after consumption and significantly increase energy burned over placebo. You will find hordenine in Thermal Switch⢠& Power Switchâ˘.
Theobromine
Theobromine â Found in Theobroma cacao (chocolate), this unique stimulant also possesses vasodilating benefits. This means it may boost your energy and focus while enhancing blood flow for greater muscle performance and recovery.
In addition to this, Theobromine has bronchodilation benefits that may support better respiratory performance.
Theobromine can be found in the following big hitting energy formulas⌠Coffee Switchâ˘, Thermal Switch⢠& Power Switchâ˘.
NeuroFactorÂŽ
NeuroFactorÂŽ - Coffea Arabica Fruit Extract is the source of this highly researched ingredient. It has been shown in clinical trials to boost BDNF (Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor) by 143%.
BDNF is a protein peptide that helps improve the architecture of the brain to boost its processing speed and memory recall. In fact, as we age, lowered levels of BDNF is thought to result in lowered mental performance and potential onset of age-related cognitive decline and a decrease in mental energy.
NeurofactorÂŽ may be more helpful for learning and memory. However, it does help support focus and energy so itâs a nice addition to your pre-workout (Power Switchâ˘), thermogenic (Thermal Switchâ˘) or nootropic coffee supplement (Coffee Switchâ˘).
Ketones
Exogenous Ketones are a recent supplement super star. They entered the market in 2017 and have continued to show promise in study after study.
They work by essentially putting your body into a temporary state of ketosis even if you arenât following a ketogenic diet.
Once the ketones are circulating in your body they not only provide energy to your cells but they signal certain processes to occur.
Up Regulate Mitochondrial Biogenesis â Ketones signal your body to produce more new healthy mitochondria. The mitochondria are the powerhouse of your cells. This is where your energy gets converted from fats and some carbs.
Down Regulate Ghrelin â Ghrelin is a hunger hormone. Ketones have the ability to reduce ghrelin which can significantly reduce cravings and hunger. This may stop you looking for that quick fix snack.
Increase BDNF â Like NeuroFactorÂŽ, ketones can boost brain function, and like MCT oil, they pass through the blood brain barrier providing energy to your brain to boost alertness and focus without stimulation of your central nervous system and without an increase in blood pressure or heart rate.
You will find Ketones in Keto Switch⢠or a precursor to ketones in MCT Oil Powder. They both help boost mood, focus, energy and productivity.
5. Eat Wholefoods
Nutritious healthy balanced meals can make all the difference to your daily energy needs. When you eat rubbish, you will feel rubbish. What goes up must come down. What I mean by this is too many simple carbs or sugary foods can temporarily boost energy and will increase blood sugar.
However, once insulin comes in and disperses the sugar into storage (sometimes fat cells), your blood sugars crash, your mood crashes, your energy crashes and you become grumpy, tired and less productive.
Eating meals high in quality protein (30% total calories), good fats (30% total calories) and a moderate amount of complex carbohydrates (40% of total calories) with around 5 â 10g of fibre (per meal) and loads of colourful veges and some fruit, will set you up for consistently good energy all day.
If you canât get enough greens or plant diversity in your diet, then consider supplementing with a great energy superfood formula Vitality Switchâ˘. The name says it all⌠VITALITY!! All day energy and exuberance for life.
Itâs also worth mentioning certain artificial colours and preservatives have been linked to fatigue, tiredness, loss of performance and overall health decline. Be sure to minimise the bright colour artificially sweetened drinks in favour of natural options where possible.
Pro Tip: Do not consume caffeine or a combination of caffeine and other nootropics too close to bed as they can disrupt your sleep. Quality sleep leads to quality brain function, less sugar cravings, better cortisol rhythm and greater energy. đ
Disclaimer: The above article is merely a guide and is in no way a recommendation or a treatment protocol for any health conditions or diseases. You should always consult with a qualified health care provider before changing your supplement, training, or nutritional strategy. Formulated Supplementary Sports Foods must not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women, anyone consuming prescription medication or children under the age of 15 unless advised by a qualified health care provider.
The much anticipated fat burning product âGhost Lifestyle Burnâ is finally hitting Australian and New Zealand shores this week.
Brought to you by âGhost Lifestyle,â one of the hottest new sports supplement brands in the world right now, Ghost Burn has all the makings of a top tier fat burner. Limited quantities of the product have been made available in the US, as well as the UK and Europe. But for now 99% of the first run is being released down under.
This means Sportsfuel customers are among the first in the world to get their hands on this exciting new fat burning supplement. Get your GHOST Fat Bruner today!
Why The Australasian Only Release For The Ghost Fat Burner
According to Ghostâs Instagram, powdered thermogenics are leading products in the NZ / AUS market, making it the ideal place to debut their latest creation. Working hand in hand with fans and retail partners, Ghost set out to create something truly unique and beneficial in the weight loss / fat burner category.
At a glance, this hard hitting fat burner combines superior and organic ingredients, with thoroughly researched and clinically proven technologies. All ensuring you achieve your fat loss goals in a quick and safe manner. With that said, letâs jump into more about this new fat burning supplement and why you should be pumped itâs finally hitting our shores.
The Stand-Out Ingredients Of Ghost Burn
If thereâs one thing Ghost Lifestyle pride themselves on most, itâs being fully transparent about the ingredients in their products. Like all other Ghost products, Ghost Burn features a 100% transparent label, fully disclosing the doses of each ingredient. So you know exactly what youâre getting in each and every scoop.
Hereâs a snapshot of the innovative and beneficial ingredients youâre getting with Ghost Burn:
Ghost Carnitine
Starting off with a bang, Ghost Burn gives you a serious kick of 3g worth of the well known weight loss aid âCarnitine.â Now while this may seem like nothing special, the big difference (something you wonât find in other fat burners) is the fact Ghost Burn actually combines two different types of carnitine. In this case 1.5g of âL-Carnitine Tartrateâ and 1.5g of âAcetyl-L-Carnitine.â L-Carnitine Tartrate has been shown to help with fatty acid oxidation, reducing catabolism and free radical formation. While Acetyl-L-Carnitine has additional and more defined cognitive (brain and clarity) benefits. This combo seemed like a no-brainer, giving you the best of both worlds with this unique âGhost Carnitineâ blend.
Caffeine Anhydrous Caffeine addicts this is for you. Ghost Burn comes packed with 150mg of Caffeine Anhydrous per scoop. This specialised and dehydrated form of caffeine is becoming more and more popular thanks to its weight loss and athletic performance benefits. Grains Of Paradise Grains Of Paradise is a spice similar in makeup to that of Ginger. Itâs been shown to increase energy levels and convert white adipose (fat) tissues into brown adipose tissues. The increase in brown adipose helps increase your overall energy expenditure, which naturally leads to more fat burning. Theobromine
Theobromine is a mild stimulant and diuretic that helps with weight loss by giving you more energy to put in more work at the gym. It also helps with shedding water weight and suppressing your appetite.
NeuroFactor
NeuroFactor is a natural, patented coffee extract. Taken from the whole fruit (including the bean) of a coffee plant, this extract has been clinically studied and proven to boost mental clarity and cognitive function.
The Benefits Of Ghost Burn In A Nutshell:
Promotes Enhanced Fat Burning And Curbs Your Appetite
Boosts Your Physical Energy
Increases Your Mental Focus And Clarity
100% Transparent Formula
A Generous 40 Serves Per Tub
3 Great Tasting Flavours (Mango, Sour Green Apple, Sour Watermelon)
Order Ghost Lifestyle Burn Today
Be one of the first in the world to get your hands on this brand new fat burning machine. Order Ghost Lifestyle Burn from the Sportsfuel store today and also check out the other great Ghost products in our Online Store!
*Note: because of the exclusive AUS/NZ release stocks are likely to go fast.
Cellucor Super HD Xtreme is another exciting Cellucor product due to soon be released in New Zealand. This is an updated version of the previous Cellucor Super HD, a popular fat burner which was released here in 2014 but has since been discontinued.
Get ready for a pre-workout like none before - Cellucor C4 Ultimate Pre-Workout is almost here! Read our Cellucor C4 Ultimate Review for an insight into what you can expect!
