| Glutamine, one of the twenty special amino acids | | | | deficiency is so common in our day, that medical |
| that have been encoded by the standard genetic | | | | practitioners check for Glutamine deficiency as one |
| code, is also one of the most common amino acids | | | | of the primary tests when searching for clues in |
| that occur naturally in the human body. It makes up | | | | patients with symptoms of chronic illnesses or |
| more than sixty percent of the skeletal muscle | | | | dysfunction in cognitive functioning and mood swings. |
| tissue, and is fuel for both the digestive tract and the | | | | Nevertheless, it's important to understand that |
| immune system, while also playing a pivotal role in | | | | anybody thinking of starting a regimen including |
| responsibly conducting nitrogen to muscles around | | | | Glutamine supplements should consult a physician or |
| the body. High concentrations of Glutamine are | | | | nutritionist first; especially those suffering from either |
| especially available in the brain, the gut lining, the | | | | Type I or Type II diabetes since they are usually |
| lungs, the heart, the kidney, the liver, and the | | | | advised to exercise extreme caution with respect to |
| muscles. In short, no human body can survive | | | | Glutamine powders or supplements. This is mainly |
| without this vital amino acid; in fact most | | | | because surplus amounts of Glutamine in the human |
| bodybuilders and athletes use it as a supplement to | | | | body are broken down by the liver and the kidneys |
| enhance their performance or to strengthen | | | | for the production of glucose. |
| themselves physically. Glutamine can be found in | | | | Aside from being used as a diet supplement by |
| protein powders (mostly favored by the likes of | | | | bodybuilders and athletes, Glutamine has been |
| athletes, weightlifters, and bodybuilders); and is also | | | | deemed effective in treating muscle cramps or pain in |
| rich in other high-protein foods including fish, red | | | | the elderly. It can also speed up the Krebs Cycle and |
| meat, beans, poultry and dairy products. | | | | aid in weight loss while retaining muscle mass. |
| While the human body does not take well to | | | | However, the principle use of Glutamine is still the |
| anything taken in excess, however useful it might be, | | | | replenishment of the body's stores of amino acids; |
| studies regarding the side effects of excess | | | | which is why supplementation is considered |
| Glutamine use have even churned out inconclusive | | | | particularly healthy after strenuous exercise or long |
| results. Still, it's safe to say that it's never a good | | | | workouts. Furthermore, people suffering from any |
| idea to take high doses, and it has been proved that | | | | kind of physical trauma, immune deficiencies, or |
| excess use might lead to an an upset stomach, if | | | | cancer also tend to find Glutamine very helpful. |
| nothing else. | | | | Thus, as the article suggests, Glumatine use (in a |
| It is now widely believed that since Glutamine occurs | | | | controlled manner) has many favorable effects, yet |
| naturally in the human body, supplementing a diet | | | | most often comes free of any adverse side effects; |
| with the amino acid comes free of any major health | | | | which is why it's become such a popular fixture on |
| risks or adverse side effects, as long as it's done in | | | | the market for health supplements. |
| low doses. In fact, it is mostly encouraged; Glutamine | | | | |