Why are People Adding L-Carnitine to Their Coffee?
L-Carnitine is one of the latest trends in supplementing your daily cup of coffee. This article will go over precisely what L-Carnitine is, why people add it to coffee and what to know before you try it.
If you are an avid coffee drinker, you have probably heard of people adding supplements or other things to their coffee. At coffee stores, you might have even seen things that can be added to coffee that are advertised to have added health benefits. L-Carnitine may be one of them.
L-Carnitine is found naturally in some foods, and it is also sold on its own as a dietary supplement. So what exactly is it?
What Exactly Is L-Carnitine?
According to the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), carnitine is a nutrient found in many foods that your body also makes on its own, and it helps turn the food you eat into energy. Red meat has the most, poultry, fish and dairy have moderate amounts, and fruits, vegetables and grains have very little.
The ODS also notes that healthy people's bodies can make all the carnitine they need. L-Carnitine supplements are a separate product, sold as capsules, liquids and powders and often marketed to people who work out.
What to Know About L-Carnitine Supplements
Prescription carnitine is used under a doctor's care for specific groups of people who don't have enough of it, such as people with a rare genetic condition called primary carnitine deficiency and people with end-stage kidney disease on dialysis, according to the ODS.
Supplements sold for everyday use are a different story. The ODS says carnitine supplements improved exercise performance in some studies but not in others, and that the evidence on weight loss is limited. Talk to your doctor before taking L-Carnitine, especially if you have a health condition, are pregnant or take any medications.
Why Add it to Coffee?
The main reason people add it to coffee is convenience. If you already drink a cup every morning, stirring a scoop of L-Carnitine powder into it means one less pill or shake to remember.
Coffee and L-Carnitine also tend to show up in the same routines: both are popular with people who work out early in the day, and L-Carnitine is often marketed around energy and fitness goals. Fans of the trend say they like having everything in one mug. Whether it does anything for you is a different question, and one the research hasn't settled.
How to Add L-Carnitine to Your Coffee
If you want to add L-Carnitine to your coffee, powder is the easiest form to mix in. Read the label, and check with your doctor before adding any supplement to your routine.
Many companies have flavored and unflavored varieties of L-Carnitine powder depending on your taste preferences.
Parting Thoughts
Adding L-Carnitine to coffee has become popular thanks to the way it's marketed. It's easy to stir into your morning cup in powder form, but the research on what it does for healthy people is limited, so talk to your doctor before you try it.
Make coffee with L-carnitine effortlessly when you use Waka's quality instant coffee. Get it here.
This article is for general information only and isn't medical or nutritional advice. If you have questions about caffeine, your diet or a health condition, talk to your doctor.
