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My Favourite: Glutaminemaxx
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What is it?
Glutamine is an essential amino acid, (called l-form aminos) that makes up 60% of your intra-muscular muscle pool. It is the most abundant amino acid in your body and is essential for many functions that occur in your body, thus making it a vital and important supplement that should be taken seriously.
What does it do?
L-glutamine is responsible for a large number of very important functions in your body, the easiest way to inform you would be to simply list them.
- The transfer of nitrogen between organs. (essential for growth)
- Fuel for your immune system. (ideal for fighting bugs)
- A building block for DNA.
- Regulates protein synthesis.
- Regulates protein degradation. (essential for high protein diets)
- Acts as an ammonia scavenger. (the byproduct of protein digestion is ammonia, high levels of ammonia can cause you to feel drowsy and lethargic)
- Increases circulation of growth hormone. (a necessary link to recovery)
- Aids in the stabilization of insulin levels. (this is due to the increased utilization of protein)
- Increases muscle cell volumization. (your muscles nutrient uptake)
- Aids in hair, nail, and skin rejuvenation.
As you can see this supplement plays a large role in many aspects associated with the body’s ability to recover and general well being.
Who should use it?
Without trying the hard sell approach on you we would have to say all of us would benefit from glutamine supplementation. Glutamine is derived from meat and dairy products and is pooled, (stored) in the blood. The problem is the hormone cortisol destroys glutamine. Basically anyone that is active, (especially if you weight train) will probably be deficient in glutamine, more so if you exercise and are stressed. (That narrows it down to a significant portion of the developed world!!) It takes your body days to replenish its glutamine pool after intense exercise, therefore if you exercise daily this can lead to low or no recovery, diminishing gains, loss of appetite, poor performance, and a general feeling of poor wellbeing and tiredness. Not a good place to be!!
It is also conditionally essential - during times of stress it is used up by the body depleting the stores which makes it then essential to provide it through diet or supplementation. I.e. illness, training - sport, mental and physical stress (injury and work or personal stress)
L-Glutamine is also an extremely good to supplement during acute illness and injury. Chemo, after operations.
In summary, L-Glutamine is a highly utilized supplement within the active community. Its benefits have been extensively documented. Basically, if you exercise, the glutamine pooled in your blood is easily destroyed. It is rated it as an essential supplement, right up there with protein powders, multi-vitamins and minerals.
