Why Supplement with Glutamine?

Amino acid supplements are some of the most popular sports supplements in use today. Nearly everyone can benefit from their use, including athletes, bodybuilders, Olympic stars and even the elderly. While certain amino acids are not needed as much by those who push themselves to their physical limits, one that should not be overlooked is glutamine.

Glutamine is what is known as a “conditionally essential” amino acid. Essential amino acids are those which the body cannot manufacture on its own, and therefore they must be acquired from an outside source. Under normal conditions, the body can produce sufficient glutamine. During periods of intense stress such as strenuous exercise or a demanding lifestyle, glutamine is not made in an adequate quantity to support the body’s demands. Glutamine is the single most abundant amino acid in skeletal muscle. Now, if the body cannot make enough of this amino acid to counteract the outside stress factors, imagine how much glutamine you are burning up. This is when supplementing with glutamine becomes vital.

Stress from a demanding lifestyle and intense exercise can be very catabolic (muscle-wasting) if proper steps are not taken to aid in recovery. Due to its high concentration in muscle tissue, glutamine promotes faster muscle recovery and aids in muscle growth. Those who supplement with glutamine may notice less muscle soreness as well.

Daily stress can also wreak havoc on your immune system. Glutamine is a great way to promote a strong and healthy immune system to help ward off illness and fatigue. Supplemental glutamine also promotes a stronger growth hormone response. Growth hormone is vital for a variety of functions including; keeping connective tissue strong, combating the effects of aging, increased muscle mass and reducing body fat.

While there are a variety of amino acid supplements available to aid in athletics as well as health and fitness, none truly offer such a wide variety of benefits the way glutamine does. Glutamine is definitely one amino acid that should be looked to first for improving nearly all areas of life.