You hear people yell out this question in supermarkets, real estate offices, subway tunnels and the depths of dark woods: what is glutamine? Why do you see it listed as an ingredient on the best supplements and recovery drinks, and why should we be making sure we’re getting enough? Is it yet another one of those strange and unnecessary add ons that ‘experts’ are always telling us to take, or is it a legitimate source of some tangible benefit? Turns out, glutamine is both incredibly important to your body’s functioning, and of great benefit to certain people as a supplement. Why, and for whom? Read on, brave and gentle reader, and find out!
First of all, what is glutamine? Is it a vitamin or a mineral? No. It’s a an amino acid, and like all amino acids it is used to build protein. It’s also the most abundant amino acid in your body, suffusing your muscles and being used in enormous amounts every day. It’s primary job is to fuel the cells of the immune system so that you can fight off infections effectively. It also serves to keep digestion running smoothly, and helps your brain to run along without a hiccup. However, let’s be honest about something: most people produce as much glutamine as they need themselves. Therefore it’s conditionally essential, because most people will simply not need more than their body produces. There are others, however, who can greatly benefit. Who are they?
Normally your body produces as much glutamine as your body needs for a regular amount of activity. However, if you are sick, injured, or exercising extensively, you can benefit from supplementation. During intense exercise glutamine is released into your blood stream in large amounts, depleting your stores and thus making supplementation a wise idea.
The key reason for athletes to take glutamine supplements is because it may assist with recovery by helping your muscles make more glycogen, which is your source of energy during exercise. The more glycogen your body produces, the more it can exercise. Additionally, glutamine has also been shown to increase the production of growth hormone (which is also stimulated through intense exercise itself). Given its role in boosting the immune system, it can be of benefit for athletes to take glutamine in order to prevent their expenditure leaving them at risk of illness and infection.
Where can you find glutamine? Fish, meat, and beans are excellent sources of glutamine. A typical person’s diet will provide about 5m of glutamine a day, which is not enough if you’re an athlete training on a regular basis. Therefore you can choose to either eat foods that are high in glutamine, or try to find some quality supplements like the P90X Recovery Drink which contain glutamine in its composition.
Drinking glutamine is an easy process, and best done right after a workout on an empty stomach. It’s relatively tasteless, mixes well with water, and is well tolerated by most people. Studies have shown few negative side effects from glutamine, but always check with your health care provider before taking supplements.
Author Resource:
Phil Tucker is a Fitness Product Review specialist for Miami based Extreme Fitness Results LLC. He enjoys the http://www.extremefitnessresults.com/P90X-Extreme-Training-System-_p_118.html P90X Workout with Tony Horton and taking the glutamine-rich http://www.extremefitnessresults.com/P90X-Recovery-Drink_p_54.html P90X Recovery Drink.
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