There are various products on the market that claim to increase your endurance through unexplained pseudoscience – L-glutamine is not one of them. Mystery pills often do more damage than good, providing an initial placebo effect and then resulting in you harming yourself through overtraining.
But L-glutamine is a proven tool in aiding muscle tissue regeneration and is the ultimate cell volumiser. In this article, we discuss the benefits of adding this supplement to your diet and the science behind it.
What is L-glutamine?
Glutamine is a conditionally essential amino acid that can benefit the body as a supplement. An amino acid’s role is primarily to help build protein, and glutamine is the most abundant within muscle tissue.
As with most amino acids, there are two forms: L-glutamine and D-glutamine. The one that we provide here at Pharma Fitness is the molecule found within the body and more commonly referred to as simply ‘glutamine’.
L-glutamine is elevated to an essential amino acid when muscle is wasting during periods of disease or physical trauma. It is one of 20 naturally produced organic compounds in dietary protein and can be found in various foods, including chicken, fish and some leafy green vegetables.
What does L-glutamine do for bodybuilders?
The purpose and benefits of L-glutamine are to prevent muscle breakdown and create an increase in protein synthesis. It is very effective for intestinal and immune system health and proven to build muscle in those suffering from wounds or muscle-wasting conditions.
It is when the body is put under such immense pressure there can be a greater need for glutamine than the body can physically produce. Should your body get into this state, it may start to break down its protein stores in an attempt to release more amino acids. Bodybuilding can trigger this state.
Intense training breaks down muscle tissue and rapidly reduces glutamine levels. By supplementing with Pharma Fitness’ L-glutamine tablets, you’ll regenerate the necessary amino acid and avoid injury through exhaustion. It is also thought that by using supplements to replenish glutamine levels, bodybuilders will increase their endurance, experience less fatigue and prevent sore muscles.
Bodybuilders who take L-glutamine are consciously protecting themselves from extreme fatigue during training. They are preventing their body from breaking down stored protein by topping themselves up with the amino acids necessary for recovery. Using our L-glutamine supplements is a form of proactive maintenance, reducing the chances of serious injury and infection.
Why is L-glutamine good for you?
After major injuries, you may be prescribed a high-glutamine diet that requires you to eat copious amounts of protein or take supplements. This is because your immune system is dramatically affected by an insufficient amount of the amino acid and will deplete your protein stores if necessary.
Ultimately, these benefits relating to the immune system are a by-product of L-glutamine’s role in the intestines. It is a vital energy source for intestinal cells, and adding supplements when necessary will support your intestines in their work towards keeping you healthy and continuing normal growth of your body’s cells.
By investing in this way in your intestines, you’ll increase endurance and promote fat metabolism. If you’re looking to gain weight significantly during training, this is a healthy way to ensure your intestines are working the best they can to absorb all the necessary vitamins and nutrients.
L-glutamine also assists in maintaining a barrier between the interior of your intestines and the rest of your body. ‘Leaky gut’ is a proposed condition where bacteria and toxins are able to ‘leak’ through the intestinal wall, and the symptoms have been known to cause discomfort and infection. However, by using Pharma Fitness’ L-glutamine tablets, you are able to better prevent harmful bacteria from moving into the rest of your body.
How much L-glutamine should you take?
As glutamine is an amino acid, you can rest assured that in regular quantities it won’t cause any harm. Those who have high-protein diets will already be consuming over five grams a day. Studies conducted on glutamine supplements have used a wide variety of doses, including a maximum of 45 grams per day, with no recorded negative side effects.
We advise to take up to a maximum of six of our L-glutamine tablets throughout the day, depending on your personal requirements. You know your diet better than we do and adding glutamine supplements to your regular diet will cause a change in the way you process food. If you are a vegan or vegetarian, you may currently be consuming a reduced quantity of organic glutamine. Therefore, you may be more inclined to have the maximum dosage in order to make up the difference.
Our Pharma Fitness L-glutamine tablets increase stamina and endurance. So if you’re looking to work out better and for longer (and want to recover from it faster), look no further. For a one-off payment, you can get 240 tablets – that’s equivalent to around 40 days of fuelled training!
It is, however, important to bear in mind that too much of any vitamin can be harmful to your body. If you are interested in this supplement but have any queries or concerns, please speak to one of our pharmacists.
