Glutamine Supplements

"Glutamine supplements have become a firm favorite with serious bodybuilders and with good reason."


The information below summarizes the most important facts about glutamine supplements and should arm you with enough knowledge to decide if you need to use it.

To find out more about this important supplement and to benefit from generous savings on a wide range of glutamine products, please visit the Bodybuilding.com cyberstore.

What is it?

Glutamine is a free form amino acid that can be found in protein powders and a wide range of foods including beans, meats, fish, poultry and dairy products. It is one of the twenty non-essential amino acids and makes up over 60% of the free amino acids found in the body.

What does it do?

L-glutamine is found throughout the body and plays a very important role in protein metabolism. It appears that glutamine supplements may help bodybuilders reduce the amount of muscle deterioration that occurs, because supplementation reduces the need for other tissues to rob the glutamine that is stored in muscle cells.

It has been shown that intense physical workouts can reduce glutamine levels in the body by as much as 50%. Since the body relies on glutamine as cellular fuel for the immune system, supplementation can minimize the breakdown of muscle tissue and improve protein metabolism.

Who needs it?

Bodybuilders and anyone who has been exposed to stress or physical trauma can gain from the intake of glutamine. Bodybuilders in particular use high levels of glutamine when working out resulting in a greater susceptibility to illness due to a weakening of the immune system.

Catabolism can occur if the body robs muscles of glutamine for use in maintaining the immune system. It therefore follows that glutamine supplements have an important role in keeping muscles building instead of deteriorating.

How is it taken?

Bodybuilders can benefit by taking 10 grams of l-glutamine per day, although clinical studies have not yet determined a precise amount for muscle metabolism optimization. It's probably best taken post-workout due to its recuperative effects.

Is it safe?

There are no side effects associated with l-glutamine as it is a nutrient that occurs naturally in the body. As is the case with any nutrient, ingesting excessive amounts of glutamine could cause an upset stomach.

Does scientific evidence support its use?

The effects of glutamine supplements on replenishing the body after trauma or stress have been shown in Europe where it is commonly given to hospital patients.

Glutamine's cell-volumizing effects have been shown in several studies but no conclusive efforts have been made to evaluate its effects on weight training adults.

One recent study did show up to a 400% increase in growth hormone levels when as little as 2 grams of glutamine supplement was consumed.

Recommended Glutamine Products

There is an extensive range of glutamine supplements on the market, some containing only pure glutamine and others delivering a blend of supplements. It's really a question of choosing the one that best fits your objectives and pocket.

Clicking here will present you with five of the most effective and popular glutamine supplements currently available.



Don't forget to check out this week's recommended bodybuilding article entitled What causes muscle growth?

1. Stimulus - exercise is needed to make the muscles work, use energy and cause microscopic damage to the fibers.

2. Nutrition - after intense exercise the muscles need to replenish their stores of fuel.

3. Rest - it is during the rest or recovery phase that the muscles repair the microscopic damage and grow.

Muscle size increases due to hypertrophic adaptation and an increase in the cross section area of individual muscle fibers. Intensive exercise impacts more on the strength influencing fast twitch type II fibers, therefore the increase in muscle size is accompanied by greater strength. . . .

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