L-Glutamine: For Immune System and Intestinal Health

L-Glutamine is an amino acid that is one of the building blocks of the proteins the human body needs. The body fills all of its L-Glutamine needs, manufacturing it in the skeletal muscle system. A small amount can also be obtained from the proteins we eat, and may be necessary when the body's L-Glutamine stores are depleted due to severe physical stress. L-Glutamine serves a number of functions, many of which have to do with the digestive and immune systems. Its primary role is to maintain the health of the cells that line the intestine, the intestinal mucosa.

It is believed that when L-Glutamine is lacking, these cells become impaired, and allow toxins and infectious agents to enter the bloodstream. Many of the cells that comprise the human immune system use L-Glutamine as an energy source, perhaps more than glucose, the body's usual fuel. L-Glutamine has been tested as a supplement to the nutritional needs of the critically ill, and has shown an ability to improve the health of the intestinal lining, lessen the side-effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and reduce the occurrence of secondary infections, such as pneumonia, bacteremia, and sepsis. Because L-Glutamine is depleted by severe physical stress, it is of interest to those who engage in long periods of exercise.

There is some evidence that L-Glutamine can alleviate the immune suppressing effects of severe overtraining. There is no evidence that either mood or degenerative brain disorders can benefit from L-Glutamine. The body tolerates L-Glutamine supplements well, with only minor gastrointestinal upsets, such as bloating and constipation, as the only reported side effects. There is a small handful of drug interactions reported with L-Glutamine, most of them favorable, as L-Glutamine can alleviate the side effects of drugs that increase permeability of the intestinal walls.

Pregnant and nursing mothers, and persons with renal or hepatic failure should avoid L-Glutamine supplements, or consult their doctor.

Recommended L-Glutamine Supplement

We have stumbled upon a company that produces a product that provides the highest quality of L-Glutamine is Xtend-Life Natural Products from New Zealand. Xtend-Life has one of the strictest regulatory environments in the world for the manufacture of dietary supplements, far exceeding U.S. FDA standards.

Their flagship product, Total Balance, contains standardized L-Glutamine, along with many other potent herbal supplement extracts, numerous vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other speciality nutrients, many of which are documented in this site.

We here at www.InstantHealthSecret.com personally take Xtend-Life's Total Balance as the foundation of our own health regimen and have achieved excellent results: we have noticed an increase in energy, mental acuity, and general sense of well-being.