L-Glutamine – Gut Issues, Ligament Repair, Craving Control
I’ve just learned about another “miracle” supplement – L-Glutamine – that I feel my mom, my husband and myself should all be taking, all for different reasons. (See bottom of this post for an update on our results).
In fact, add my cat Boo-Boo to that list (he used to eat the pink fiberglass insulation out of out basement walls and now has chronic tummy troubles/ daily diarrhea).
L-Glutamine would appear to be a rather amazing amino acid, given that it addresses a variety of important issues for each member of my family. Further on you can read some reviews by real people using various brands of L-Glutamine for intestinal issues, weight loss (controls sugar and carb cravings), mood improvment, joint and ligament repair, ED, better immunity, beautiful skin and more. Read through those reviews. I think you’ll be quite persuaded on the amazing benefits of L-Glutamine as I was by these accounts from real people.
My mom (like BooBoo) has serious gut issues and chronic diarrhea (unlike BooBoo, her’s isn’t caused by eating pink fiberglass insulation:), my husband has a torn, severed or damaged suspensory ligament that has been causing him ongoing problems; and I am trying to lose weight and could use help with controlling cravings (mainly carbs, but also sugar to a lesser degree).
Oh, and my mom, sadly, has advanced dementia, so very importantly, L-Glutamine also works to stabilize moods and get rid of sad, gloomy, anxious states, which she is sometimes prone to due to her dementia. Frankly, with the stress my husband and I are both under, we too could benefit from the mood balancing effects of L-Glutamine.
In addition, L-Glutamine provides the body and the brain with fuel and energy, which husband and I would both benefit from, and it would be interesting to see if the brain boosting effects have any positive impact on my moms dementia. Lastly, L -Glutamine also enhances immunity.
So, I’m ordering some and we’re all going on it to see what it does for us.
Glutamine has recently been the focus of much scientific interest. A growing body of evidence suggests that during certain stressful times, the body may require more Glutamine than it can produce. Under these circumstances Glutamine may be considered a “conditionally essential” amino acid.
Glutamine is involved in maintaining a positive nitrogen balance (an anabolic state) and also aids rapidly growing cells (immune system lymphocytes and intestinal cell enterocytes). In addition, glutamine is a regulator of acid-base balance and a nitrogen transporter.
For Gut Issues Various stressors – such as trauma, infection, malnutrition, chemotherapy, and others – can impact the normal function of the enterocytes of the small intestine by adversely affecting how substances are absorbed. For example, when gut permeability is impaired it can allow large protein molecules to diffuse across the intestine – that would otherwise not – and enter the bloodstream. This is called leaky gut syndrome. The body can identify these large protein molecules as foreign and mount an immune reaction against them, which can result in the development of food allergies and other discomfort. In numerous animal studies, in which hyperpermeability of the intestine is experimentally induced, the addition of L-glutamine improved permeability function as well as the gut’s immune function. L-glutamine, the ‘L’ referring to a particular property of the amino acid, can be an amazing aid in healing stomach ulcers, stopping diarrhea, repairing a “leaky gut,” and helping the body repair its cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. L-glutamine is the only amino acid containing two amine groups. This enables glutamine to “give up“ one of these amine groups to combine with glucose to make: n-acetyl-glucosamine—necessary for repairing intestinal lining.
L-glutamine is also considered as an innate neurotransmitter. The existence of L-glutamine helos the substances inside the brain pass on information.
It can also, in glucose deficiency, give sufficient vigor for brain performance, and assists the brain’s recollection, attentiveness and capability to concentrate. The energy properties of L-glutamine make it an important part of any nutritional protocol where maximizing absorption, energy, and recovery are essential. Most athletes and those who exercise will find its use yields major benefits, especially in recovery and in increasing lean body mass while minimizing body fat.
L-Glutamine Reviews
“Oh my goodness this stuff is absolutely amazing! I had heard that it is good to help gut problems like IBS-D so i ordered a bottle. Started taking 1 cap 4 times per day (hr before breakfast, hr before lunch, hr before dinner, just before bed). I increased that to 2 x caps each time and by the second day my stools were normal YAY! After about 4 days i noticed my mood was permanently fantastic! Things that would normally stress me out were not irritating or affecting me at all. I was totally amazed. Been taking these for 2 weeks now and my long term irritability has vanished and my stools are consistently formed. They say our gut is closely linked to our brain, this stuff proves it 🙂 Will not be without it!”
“I bought this to help control my appetite and it works when I break open the capsule right into my mouth and it really tastes good and sweet. I have been taking 2 a day. Very excellent quality.”
“I read a report for increasing your own HGH thereby increasing your energy levels and it really works. 1 gram each of L-Lysine; Arginine; L-Glutamine; and CDP Choline. I am 60 and since taking this have the energy I used to at 30!! My husband has a very physically demanding job and the first day he felt a difference also.
“Normalizes bowel function, bowel seals. I was diagnosed with colitis and have been having soft stool almost every morning for a few months. Probiotics used to be helpful for some time but less so after I’d done some traveling. Then I added this, taking it 2 to 3 capsules every night before bed. Every morning the stools are shaped well now.” “I did a candida cleanse and took this product to heal my leaky gut. I feel that it really helped me. I was having auto immune issues and they are almost completely resolved now.”
“Helps boost energy and immune system”.
“I have found that Glutamine works to increase my energy and alertness. I highly recommend it to help those with low energy, alertness, and even focus problems due to fatigue.”
“REally great for performance in cycling and running…”
“Great product for Muscle rebuilding”.
“Seems to control appetite, give energy.”
“I purchased it to help my intestines healing but I see that it works for entire body and help my muscles grow after working out.”
“Has helped the wife cut way down on her daily soda intake.”
“Its good for ibd for repair of intestinal cells”.
“Its an energizer in a subtle way. I like how it helps strengthen your gut as well as heal your body.”
“I bought this supplement after reading that taking 2g of L-Glutamine before bed has been proven to cause an increase in HGH. I haven’t had my before-and-after HGH levels measured, but something my husband & I are doing has significantly increased our energy levels, mental clarity and immune responses (no sicknesses since we started our low-carb, high nutrient, no-sugar regime + selected supplements a few months ago), so this one seems to be doing its part. We both take 2g of it every night before bed — that’s the recommendation I’ve read.”
“This was recommended to me by my nutritionist, to help repair my gut tissue from having candida. I have noticed dramatic improvement in bowel function, and the symptoms return when I stop. I’ll never be without this, especially for the price and quality.”
“I am taking this product for my IBS-C. I have noticed much less stomach and intestinal discomfort. In recent studies, glutamine has been shown to help repair and maintain a healthy small intestinal lining.”
“Glutamine is helpful for so many things, including immune, mental, and muscle function. It’s possibly a conditionally essential amino acid. Great energy supplement!”
“This stuff is an miracle in an bottle it keeps me very calm when ever I feel on edge I just take one of these and everything is back on track I can deal with the crazyness again I wouldn’t change an thing so try this for yourself especially if you are over 45 and Ladies you know what I mean that pre menopausel system”.
“Been taking this from after having Candida overgrowth, and it has been working great. My intestines don’t feel like a sieve anymore to the food I eat. I take 1 every night.”
“The four “essential” amino acids to manufacture your own HGH (Human Growth Hormone) This is Dr. Oz’s prescription for natural human growth hormone, it works! Swear! This is a great price for this product. Other manufactures are trying to cash-in on this by doubling or tripling the price…and it’s the same product. I gotta tell ya, if/when I take these regularly, I ALWAYS have people ask me: “What have you had done?”
I’m not kidding nor exaggerating, I look younger, I lose body fat and my skin looks more plumb and youthful. These 4 amino acids really are the fountain of youth. I’m 54 and look like I’m 42. No one ever guesses my age. This is a must-have for aging baby boomers”.
http://www.amazon.com/NOW-Foods-Amino-Complete-Caps/dp/B0013OQIEY/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1423374588&sr=8-15&keywords=human+growth+hormone L-Glutamine – Now Foods
“I use this amino to curb my carb cravings, which are substantial. Make sure you wait 1.5 hours after eating, and take it 30 minutes prior to eating, or it won’t work as well. I can see a definite difference in my cravings when I use it. The difference is so pronounced that it can’t just be in my head. I can easily walk past a box of donuts without feeling tempted (without the amino, I’d be trying to sniff the box to get my carb fix–sad, but it’s actually happened). Check out 5-HTP, too; they work well together.”
“This is recommended for any situation where intestinal or colon lining is irritated or worn down. It helped me along with some other things to get rid of IBS entirely. Pretty amazing. I didn’t even have to finish the entire bottle. I recommend this along with Kindle book http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D8NLBLI which helped me cure Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I read this kindle book and learned of glutamine and other things that worked for the author and me in a few months. My doctor did not know about these things and said there was no real cure because they did not know the cause.”
“I was skeptical about the weight loss benefits, but used with the Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet (get the book- it’s out of print, but available on Amazon), it seems to be very effective to ward off carb cravings.” “Glutamine eliminates sugar cravings. I take one in the morning, and will take one later in the day if I crave a sugary snack and don’t want to give in. It works within 10 minutes!”
“It seems a miracle. Just adding a spoon to a liter of water and the sore after intense exercise is gone!I use this for gastritis and leaky gut. Helps right away.I am having a lot of issues with depression. I took the “Braverman Personality Test” (Google this, very interesting) to find out what supplements I am deficient on, and am now taking them all religiously… helps tremendously!It works well for curbing appetite.I have an alcohol problem, and I find this reduces cravings very well (no need to use as much willpower to not drink if you don’t get the urges in the first place). There are several other benefits to L-Glutamine – increase muscle mass/muscle recovery after workouts, heal GI tract from excessive NSAID use and celiac disease and gluten intolerance, improve mood and energy and mental focus, etc. (do some research)…I take it on an empty stomach first thing in the morning (maybe with a small amount of juice to help bypass the blood/brain barrier) and wait at least an hour before eating anything with protein to avoid competition with other amino acids in food. Just be careful if you have bi-polar tendencies since it L-Glutamine is an ‘excitatory’ substance in the brain.”
“I purchased L Glutamine a week ago for my gut. I started taking 2 per day since, now I am getting benefits already. I sure hope it heals my gut completely by the end of the month like it says. Let’s see, it’s July 15 now, I’ll find out the 30th if my gut healed up more and ill re-edit this review. Just have to wait another 15 days…”
“I saw a lot of improvement!! Way more focus, my speech has improved and feel a lot more alive than ever before!! This stuff really does heal your gut! No weird reaction to any foods, no depression or anxiety and way better communication. I’d recommend this product to those with bad digestion problems.”
“Great cell builder”.
“On the recommendation of a menopause expert I had been taking this strength of capsule for a few days for the peri-menopause.” “This stuff really lifts my mood, cuts my food cravings and has made me a more personable person. I take this with 5-HTP and L-Tyrosine (not at the same time as aminos should never be taken at the same time) and I am a new person. People actually like me now – and I like them. I got this because I read The Diet Cure by Julia Ross which is a book I highly recommend if you are trying to lose weight.”
“This is recommended for any situation where intestinal or colon lining is irritated or worn down. It helped me along with some other things to get rid of IBS entirely. Pretty amazing. I didn’t even have to finish the entire bottle. I recommend this along with Kindle book http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D8NLBLI which helped me cure Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I read this kindle book and learned of glutamine and other things that worked for the author and me in a few months. My doctor did not know about these things and said there was no real cure because they did not know the cause. Hope this helps.”
“Works really well to help relax you in combination with other Brain chemical building amino acids and a diet high in protein and low in sugar. It is a key factor in improving my anxiety, depression and ADHD more than any of the several medications I have taken over the last 10 years. If you are interested, I use this amino acid along with many others in something called amino acid therapy. I highly recommend reading the book ” the mood cure” by Julia Ross .” “My immune system was knocked down and I had read that L-glutamine helps to build it up. I got my doctor’s approval to try it. I began to take it on the day of my 3rd round. Within 2-3 days I would normally begin to feel the side affects of the chemo in my mouth and my body in general. Amazingly, my typical side effects were significantly minimized….my mouth became slightly sensitive but it didn’t effect my eating. Overall, my 3rd and 4th treatments were much more tolerable due to the L-glutamine. I highly recommend it. I am still taking 1 table daily—-which has been my normal dose.”
“I use the pure powder when at home, but these will do when on the road for extended periods. Much more bang for the buck with the powder, so use that to help heal leaky gut if you can.”
“I’m taking this supplement since 3 weeks ago, I can feel feel some change because I’m sleeping better now. Thank you, I will buy this product again :)” “I use this combined with moducare sterinal and have had excellent results with pain and movement in my hands, knees and feet. I take one a day , along with 3 of the moducare sterinal tablets, and have felt the improvement amazing. I did not want to take the medication for my rheumatoid arthritis my doctor prescribed because of the side effects. After researching l-glutamine I was impressed by its effectiveness. I no longer wake up in pain at night and I can use my hands like I always have. When I don’t take my moducare and l-glutamine, the pain and stiffness returns.”
“I use this amino to curb my carb cravings, which are substantial. Make sure you wait 1.5 hours after eating, and take it 30 minutes prior to eating, or it won’t work as well. I can see a definite difference in my cravings when I use it. The difference is so pronounced that it can’t just be in my head. I can easily walk past a box of donuts without feeling tempted (without the amino, I’d be trying to sniff the box to get my carb fix–sad, but it’s actually happened). Check out 5-HTP, too; they work well together.”
‘This does help quick muscle recovery if you workout a lot. However, if you are going to buy this, consider buying the powder. this is not enough to help your muscle recovery.’
‘I’m combining L-Arganine with YOHIMBINE HCL and L-Glutamine as WebMD said that these three together might help with erectile dysfunction. I’ve only been using them three weeks and they may be helping a little but need more time to find the truth. I’m watching this one carefully for side affects as it is the only one with warning labels.’
‘Try L arginine (1 or 2g), pycnogenol (1 or 2 pills daily Twin Labs). If necessary add also Citrulline. Very good for ED. There is a lot info online and some call it the natural Viagra.’
‘I came upon a recipe for a mocha java protein shake that used protein powder, powdered coffee, cocoa, almond milk, glutamine and crushed ice. Really good tasting stuff but I didn’t notice the punch of recovery I’ve experienced with other formulas. I do use it as a replacement meal occasionally and it does work wonderfully for that.’ My bladder use to hurt all the time and I felt I had to use the bathroom all the time. This problem had gone on for years and I took medication to get some relief. I had a health doctor about two years ago suggest I take this for this problem. I no longer take medication for this problem or have the symptoms. Once in a while it will hurt and I just stop and think did you take your L-Glutamine today. ‘
‘I’d had several recommendations to use L-Glutamine as an adjunct in weight loss–to aid in controlling the cravings for sweets.”
“There’s a study by The Philadelphia Monell Chemical Senses Research Center that found that salt cravings are due to calcium deficiencies, sugar cravings are due to magnesium levels. If you’re sleeping poorly, that’s also a sign of a magnesium deficiency. Anyway, I use the magnesium deficiency thing as an excuse to take Epsom salt baths (high in Magnesium Sulfate, I believe), which are lovely with no creepy side effects. Just relaxed muscles and good sleep.” “Some people have success reducing the sugar cravings with other amino acids, like L-tyrosine, GABA, DL-phenylalanine or 5-HTP. I’m following “The Diet Cure” and find I was okay giving up sugar but that made me crave starch. The list of amino acids are mentioned each for a different symptom that leads the craving. Based on the chart, I’m starting with L-glutamine (dosage is early morning, mid morning, mid afternoon).”
“Back in the 70’s I read a book that called L-Glutamine the surprising brain fuel. It opens the brain cells so they can get more oxygen.”
“I also have a masters degree in nutrition so I know not only from personal experience that L Glutamine is healing for a damaged intestine as it helps to rebuild cells.”
Dosage recommendations: In all suggested dosage recommendations I believe that working up to the desired level in small increments is most beneficial and creates the least imbalances. Spreading the desired dose out over three periods will maximize energy benefits as well as stabilize moods and unnecessarily upsetting the stomach. For general health benefits: Week One: One dose (one tablet or depending on manufacturer’s suggestion) once a day Week Two: One dose twice a day Week Three: One dose three times a day Recovery after exercise: Adding the equivalent of 5 grams to a good whey protein shake after exercise will increase protein absorption and aid in battling the catabolic nature of exercise and maximize the anabolic phases. Repairing a “leaky gut” often categorized by diarrhea, flatulence or bloating: The dose here will vary from person to person, but I have found that in some cases it may require as much as 30 grams a day. I suggest using only powdered L- glutamine for this, due to the high doses necessary to achieve these benefits. Week One: One quarter (1/4) teaspoonful (approx. 1000mg) three times a day Week Two: One half (1/2) teaspoonful (2000mg) three times a day Week Three: Three-fourths (3/4) teaspoonful (3000mg) three times a day.
For Gut Issues Various stressors – such as trauma, infection, malnutrition, chemotherapy, and others – can impact the normal function of the enterocytes of the small intestine by adversely affecting how substances are absorbed. For example, when gut permeability is impaired it can allow large protein molecules to diffuse across the intestine – that would otherwise not – and enter the bloodstream. This is called leaky gut syndrome. The body can identify these large protein molecules as foreign and mount an immune reaction against them, which can result in the development of food allergies and other discomfort. In numerous animal studies, in which hyperpermeability of the intestine is experimentally induced, the addition of L-glutamine improved permeability function as well as the gut’s immune function. L-glutamine, the ‘L’ referring to a particular property of the amino acid, can be an amazing aid in healing stomach ulcers, stopping diarrhea, repairing a “leaky gut,” and helping the body repair its cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. L-glutamine is the only amino acid containing two amine groups. This enables glutamine to “give up“ one of these amine groups to combine with glucose to make: n-acetyl-glucosamine—necessary for repairing intestinal lining. L-glutamine is also considered as an innate neurotransmitter. The existence of L-glutamine helos the substances inside the brain pass on information. It can also, in glucose deficiency, give sufficient vigor for brain performance, and assists the brain’s recollection, attentiveness and capability to concentrate. The energy properties of L-glutamine make it an important part of any nutritional protocol where maximizing absorption, energy, and recovery are essential. Most athletes and those who exercise will find its use yields major benefits, especially in recovery and in increasing lean body mass while minimizing body fat.
UPDATE (March 22, 2015):
I took L-Glutamine (Now Foods ) for 2 weeks and noticed no difference at all in cravings for sugar or carbs. No notice in energy or mood (was feeling low energy and low mood/ depression). May have had a positive effect on my digestion, undetermined, not something i have a problem with for the most part. Overall, I saw none of the effects for myself I was hoping for, but may try again in future.
Gave to Mom for only a couple days hoping it would further improve her mood, and help her gut. After a few days I stopped becuase in fact, her mood seemed to worsen significantly. could have been coincidence, but I had to stop – I can not risk doing anything to negatively affect her mood or she’ll become difficult to manage. We’ve finally got her doing quite well, so even the smallest sign of back tracking has to be taken seriously. I realize maybe it was due to a healing reaction – if it was helping her gut, she may have started feeling unwell in the process. But still, as I said, things are stable and I cant afford to risk rocking that boat. Too bad, I was really hoping it would help her gut.
Update May 10. 2015
Husband is still on the glutamine and I do think it is contributing to healing his suspensory ligament (which is I’d say now about 90% healed, as compared to February when it was more like 35%, and it had been that way for a couple of years prior, so this is huge) in combination with the other supplements he is taking. I am persuaded enough that I will order another round of glutamine for him to take. I also notice that his biceps seem larger and harder, and he hasn’t been working out. I’ve mentioned this to him, and he just laughs, thinking its very unlikely that there is any change in his biceps with no effort on his part, but I know what I feel! I honestly wasn’t expecting such an effect, nor was I thinking about it at all, until on several occasions I noticed the change in his biceps when I touched his arm, and I had to stop and run through the list of the things he is taking in my mind to try to determine if there is something that might be causing this. And there it was – of course! The glutamine.
As for Boo the cat, I have been trying to administer the glutamine and I do think it possibly has beneficial effects on him. But Boo is a tough patient. I mean, he’s actually a pretty cooperative little guy, given that I am restraining him in a blanket , stuffing a syringe into his mouth, and making him swallow some unknown substance. But he clearly doesn’t like it, and the distress it causes him causes me to not be consistent, so its hard to tell.
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