Posted on 27th Jul 2011 @ 9:37 PM

I’m sure most of you have heard the word “glutamine” mentioned at some point in your life, whether it was in an anatomy/physiology class from years back or from that friend of yours who is a real fitness junkie.  Well let’s take a stroll back through science class and find out what’s so amazing about this little amino acid that plays a critical role in the overall health and well being of our bodies.

The Importance of Glutamine

Glutamine is one of the most abundant amino acids found in the body.  It is commonly referred to as a “conditionally essential” amino acid because it is non-essential in normal conditions, and is usually manufactured by the body in adequate amounts.  The body uses glutamine in many ways, some of which are; brain function, blood sugar control, maintaining/building muscle mass, intestinal health and immune system function.  The biggest producer of glutamine in the body is skeletal muscle, which accounts for a whopping 90%.  The lung and brain are also small producers of glutamine along with the liver.

Usually our bodies are able to synthesize the majority of our glutamine needs while operating under “normal” conditions, but we do obtain a certain amount from our diet.  The best sources are protein rich foods from animals like; fish, eggs, milk, beef and yogurt, but can also be found in smaller amounts in plant sources such as; beans, beets, spinach and parsley.  During conditions in which our body is under “stress” (strenuous physical activity, surgery, trauma, illness, etc.) glutamine is bumped up to an essential amino acid, our stored levels are quickly exhausted and additional supplements are vital to help aid in healing and recovery.

According to a study done on patients who received major abdominal surgery, those who received a glutamine supplement had faster recovery times, and their postoperative hospital stay was shorter on average by 6.2 days.  It is also important to note that there were NO reported side effects, which is amazing considering the list of side effects that accompany the majority of medications these days. 

Benefits of pairing glutamine with exercise

Glutamine has been extensively researched over the last 10-15 years in various applications.  Along with proving to be beneficial in the treatment of serious illnesses, injury, trauma, burns, and treatment-related side effects (such as radiation and chemotherapy), glutamine has also found its way into the health supplement field for use in muscle growth and repair, improving endurance, and increasing immune function in athletes.  In a study done on the effects of exercise intensity, duration and recovery, plasma glutamine levels fell significantly during the recovery period after exhaustive exercise.  They concluded that when exercise is very prolonged, the decrease of immune function is greater.  The addition of an oral glutamine supplement might be beneficial in helping reduce the amount of infections commonly seen in athletes.  According to an article “Amino Acid Supplement I: Glutamine” by Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., he states that “The connection of glutamine to the musculature is of special interest.  The amount of glutamine in reserve for release as needed is directly related to muscle mass: more muscle mass means more glutamine is available for metabolic processes.”  It is possible that one of the benefits to having more muscle mass is the increased availability of glutamine during times of stress; therefore, improving ones ability to maintain health, fight off infections and boost muscle recovery.  During exercise, organs in your body demand more glutamine.  The first available source is found in your blood, and when that is depleted, muscles are forced to release their glutamine stores as well.  Overtraining can occur when you repeatedly exhaust muscles of glutamine without proper supplementation.  Consuming a glutamine supplement every day is a great way to replenish your muscles so you can continue to see positive results with your workouts.  

GlutImmune

Our GlutImmune is a natural, dairy-free source of glutamine that is enzymatically derived from red wheat berries.  It is a covalent bonded glutamine which means that it is connected to other amino acids (called an oligopeptide chain), and therefore may be absorbed faster and more efficiently that L-glutamine. Almost all glutamine supplements that you find on the market today are the synthesized free-form amino acid, L-glutamine, which is unstable in most conditions in the digestive tract.Recent publications have stated that covalent bonded glutamine delivers up to 10 times more glutamine to the bloodstream than L-glutamine. 

GlutImmune is a 100% completely stable product and will maintain its integrity when mixed in a variety of ways.  It can be consumed with or without food, at any temperature and is also acid safe!  GlutImmune delivers 1.65g of covalent bonded glutamine (per 5g serving) immediately ready for use by the body, and is 33% glutamine.  We recommend mixing it with a blender, shaker bottle or mixing it in with your favorite foods.  Some great suggestions are; yogurt, oatmeal, cereal, even mashed potatoes!

We would love to know what you think of our GlutImmune and how it has helped you!  Please go to our product page and write a review~

Allergen Warning:

GlutImmune contains 14% gluten.  Due to our minimal processing methods, some individuals with mild gluten intolerance have told us they take this product without any noticeable side effects, however, we want individuals with a known gluten sensitivity informed prior to trying this product.

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