Glutamine

If you are someone who has been taking supplements for a while then chances are you have probably heard of glutamine. Is it worth adding to your supplementation routine? How is it going to impact your performance? Today we are going to dive into the world of glutamine and its benefits to your training.

You’ve probably noticed wherever you look there are more and more supplements coming out on the market, and trying to decide which ones are important to actually use can be overwhelming. Glutamine (a non-essential amino acid) has been around for a while, and if you ask us it’s the perfect addition to your routine.

Let’s look at the specific benefits of glutamine:

Post-Workout Recovery

One of the most common benefits you hear about when discussing glutamine is its ability to help prevent muscle breakdown post workout. After a workout, your muscles need to be fed with nutrients in order to be stimulated to build new muscle. Adding in glutamine after an intense training cycle can allow your body to keep up your supply and keep muscles from breaking down. Glutamine in the muscles is used in protein synthesis to actually help build muscle mass.

Immune System Benefits

After an intense workout, your immune system goes down. These workouts are demanding on your body for you muscles and your nervous system. As you probably know, when your immune system has been lowered it puts you at an increased risk for infection or sickness. As athletes, these can take us away from what we love the most for too long. Supplementing with glutamine post workout can actually help to enhance your immune system to deal with the stress of workouts on your body.

Improve Intestinal Health

Another great benefit of glutamine is its ability to help improve your intestinal health. In fact, it is shown to play a critical role in healthy digestion and brain function. It does this by helping to protect against mucosal breakdown in the gut. Intestinal problems are increased when our bodies are put under high levels of stress, which can even include a tough workout.

Now that we’ve heard some important benefits that glutamine can provide, the question often is asked – are there any side effects?

The good news is – no! It is important to not take HUGE amounts but if you stick to the recommended 5-15 grams then there are no known side effects from glutamine supplementation. It’s also important to check your protein powder and other supplements as some already include glutamine.

If you are looking for a supplement that is truly worth adding into your routine – glutamine is a great one! It can help your body recover, boost your immune system, and even help to reduce intestinal issues.