Who doesn’t hate getting sick? Due to the effect intense training has on the immune system, elite athletes tend to get sick more often. Did you know Glutamine supplementation can actually help your compromised immune system?
Glutamine refers to an essential amino acid that the body is capable of producing on its own. However, under times of stress such as muscular trauma and illness, stored glutamine levels can drop by as much as 50%. Glutamine is the primary fuel source for the immune system to fight invading micro-organisms. Since the immune system is necessary to help the body recover from stress, glutamine plays a role in helping the body recover from intense training by “normalizing human growth hormone levels (hGH), promoting glucose uptake into the muscles, enhancing the hydrated state of the muscle, and reducing the acid buildup within the muscle.” In regards to dosage, there has been multiple suggestions from different sources. There has been no studies showing an upper limit to supplementation but the most common recommended dosage ranges from 20-30 grams per day to increase and maintain a constant blood concentration. Helping boost your immune system is as simple as a spoonful in your shake.
Ask Barry if Glutamine should be in your shaker today!
For more information on the benefits of glutamine, check out http://www.precisionnutrition.com/all-about-glutamine