How to Get More Carnitine (with Your Slow Cooker!)

When you think of “superfoods” and “comfort foods”, you might imagine two very different things.

Perhaps a plate of fried chicken and mashed potatoes… as opposed to a smoothie made with acai berries and spirulina.

But comfort foods and superfoods don’t have to be mutually exclusive. In fact, some of the most powerful superfoods are the ones your grandma used to bring to the table… like grass-fed beef.

Grass-Fed Beef: The Superlative Source of Carnitine

In another Healing Gourmet article, I shared the virtues of the “longevity nutrient”: Carnosine. This amazing nutrient is found in the highest amounts in grass-fed beef.

Today, I want to share the benefits of another amazingly power nutrient in grass-fed beef: Carnitine.

While they sound very similar, carnosine and carnitine have different chemical compositions and actions. Take a look:

Benefits of Carnitine

In addition recent findings that this nutrient promotes a longer life, there are many amazing things it can do to improve your health and quality of life:

Boosts Energy at the Cellular Level: Carnitine helps to transfer long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria or “powerhouse” of the cell where they are oxidized to produce energy. Because of this, carnitine helps reduce fatigue.

Promotes Cellular Detox: Just as carnitine transports substances into the mitochondria, it also helps to remove toxic compounds generated inside the cell, preventing their accumulation.

Benefits Bone Health: Carnitine can slow the bone loss process and decrease bone turnover in animal studies.

Balances Blood Sugar: Carnitine benefits blood sugar balance by increasing glucose oxidation, glucose storage, as well as glucose uptake. Better blood sugar balance means a trimmer tummy, less risk of diabetes and better brain health!

Acts as an Antioxidant: Carnitine helps prevent free radical damage to healthy cells.

Protects the Brain: Studies also show that carnitine may improve mental function and reduce deterioration in older adults with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.

Save Money, Save Time, Save Your Health

Today I want to share a super-simple, inexpensive and delicious recipe to help you boost the levels of this important nutrient in your body.

Not only is this recipe one of the easiest things you’ll ever cook… it’s also incredibly versatile and ridiculously cheap.

In fact, ounce for ounce, this healthy dish will cost you LESS than a fast food burger.

Better yet, it can be used in a myriad of ways.

Here are some of my favorites:

Served cold over an organic arugula salad with high-quality blue cheese crumbles, shaved red onion, organic roasted red peppers and artichokes…
Tucked into a gluten-and-grain-free Paleo Wrap, topped with guacamole and salsa for a Mexican dish…
Served with Bibb lettuce wraps, water chestnuts, bean sprouts, matchstick carrots, and a dipping sauce of Sriracha and coconut aminos for fresh Asian…
Scattered over eggs for a high-protein breakfast

Carnitine Packed, Melt-In-Your-Mouth Overnight Roast

Ingredients

2 large onions, sliced
1-3 lb. grass-fed bottom round roast
Optional Ingredients: Celtic Sea Salt (1/2 tsp.), fresh ground black pepper, 1 tsp. ground cumin (make it Mexican), 1 tsp. ground ginger (make it Asian)

Preparation

Place roast in slow cooker with fat side up. Top with optional seasonings, if using. Lay onion slices over roast. Add 1 cup of water to slow cooker. Cover and overnight on the “low” setting (12 hours). When the roast is buttery-tender, turn the slow cooker setting to “warm” until ready to serve. Caution: if you tend to wake in the night, the amazing aroma from this dish may disturb your slumber!

[Cost Notes: Based on US Wellness Meats bottom round roast ($25 for 3 lbs/$0.52 per oz.) and Burger King Whopper ($2.39 for 4 ounce burger/$0.60 per oz.)]