Glutamine Useful Info

About Glutamine:

To understand the functions of glutamine, one needs to know two things. First, the muscle is always in a state of flux. That is, it is always either growing or shrinking and our actions and diet control the direction in which the muscle is moving. Sitting for long periods of time, (like at a desk every day), can help weaken your muscles as there is no active fuel supply to keep the muscle strong. Second, amino acids are a body's primary source of creating protein, which is the primary source of fuelling, repairing and supplying energy and growth hormones to the muscle.
Glutamine is an amino acid and thereby helps to build and tone muscles. Of all the amino acids, glutamine is one of the more prolific as it performs many tasks, each beneficial to our health and well-being overfall, and to our ability to build muscle during rigorous bodybuilding activity specifically.
Glutamine:
*Boosts the immune system
*Increases protein metabolism
*Reduces depression
*Protects against ammonia toxicity
*Fuels the digestive tract
*Prevents muscle catabolism which occurs during serious bodybuilding workouts.
While many foods contain glutamine naturally, much is lost during cooking. Raw spinach and parsley are two great sources of glutamine that can be eaten raw. Milk is another. Other glutamine sources requiring cooking are beef, chicken, fish, eggs, beets and beans.
While glutamine is not considered an essential amino acid, it is essential to bodybuilders and athletes as extreme exercise regimes require more amino acid intake than can be achieved through diet.
But glutamine doesn't stop working there. Glutamine benefits go far beyond providing sustainable protein levels for muscle-builders. Glutamine benefits the brain by having a cellular structure that allows it to pass into the brain where it becomes glutamic acid - a substance that helps sustain brain function - and compensates low glucose levels by increasing glutamine metabolism, thus creating more energy for the body.
Glutamine assists the process of digestion by helping to balance the body's PH levels of acid/alkaline, a balance necessary to create the healthy absorption of nutrients, regulating the nitrogen levels, and transporting nitrogen to the muscle. By replenishing glycogen supplies in the muscle, glutamine is directly responsible for preventing muscles from breaking down during exercise. It's this facet that makes it the most appealing to serious bodybuilders as it helps preserve the gains made in muscle building.