Glutamine - Great Benefits for Those Under Stress

Trauma, burns, infections, prolonged exercise and other stressors can deplete your body's glutamine stores. The more stress you're under, like that of a marathoner, the quicker you can deplete your glutamine supply. Also, during calorie restriction your body might not synthesize glutamine as quickly as you need it. Consequently, researchers speculate that your body will use glutamine to fuel the brain and other body systems first. If any is left over, it will then be used to build muscle and maintain a strong immune system. That's where supplemental glutamine may help keep your tank topped off.

More Growth Hormone

Perhaps the most exciting news for bodybuilders and those fighting the aging process is glutamine's effect on growth hormone. As you already know, growth hormone is one of the body's most anabolic (muscle building) hormones. A recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported a whopping 430% increase in growth hormone after taking glutamine. In turn, growth hormone may promote greater muscle growth and the preferential use of the body-fat stores for energy.

A study at Louisiana State University Medical College gave 2 grams of glutamine to nine healthy athletes in the morning 45 minutes after a light breakfast. Blood levels of growth hormone rose 430 percent above initial levels 90 minutes after glutamine supplementation. (See figure 1)

Less Lactic Acid

When you exercise, your body burns glucose and glycogen for energy. This produces lactic acid, which if left unchecked, can make the muscles so acidic that they no longer contract. Glutamine plays a vital role in regulating the body's acid-base balance. It helps produce bicarbonate ions that neutralize this lactic acid. A sufficient pool of glutamine may allow you to train longer and achieve greater exercise intensity.

Stay Healthy

It's no mystery to most long distance runners that within 1 week after race day you're likely to get sick. In fact, a recent study showed only 48.8% of those taking a placebo stayed healthy, while 80% of those taking glutamine stayed healthy. Why? Researchers are discovering that strenuous exercise can reduce the effectiveness of the immune system. While most of the body's cells use glucose for fuel, the immune system requires significant amounts of glutamine. This amino acid is important for the proliferation of lymphocytes and for several key functions of the macrophages. When you take glutamine, you provide your body with the fuel it needs to stay healthy. This may allow you to train more frequently without as many of those frustrating down periods.

A study at Oxford University compared the health status of more than 150 runners. Half of the test subjects were given 5 grams of glutamine after a strenuous bout of exercise, while the other half took a placebo. Almost twice as many in the group with glutamine stayed healthy during the next 7 days compared to the placebo group. (Figure 2)

Now you can buy pure, free-form, L-Glutamine at an incredibly low price. Guaranteed HPLC-tested pure L-glutamine with nothing added. Ideal for bodybuilders to add to creatine or a protein powder. Perfect for endurance athletes to mix with a carbohydrate drink before and after hard training or on race day. Order some today!

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Reprinted with Permission.