After doing tons of research recently on what powders/ supplements/ proteins I should be taking if I want to be building muscle and basically making the most of my time in the gym, I was feeling a TAD overwhelmed with information. There are SO many sites with so many different pieces of information. I don’t ever like to put anything into my body until I feel that I’m thoroughly informed about its’ safety and purpose. That being said, after lots of internet & Youtube perusing, I came to the conclusion that the three most important things to take to supplement a workout regimen are protein (duh), BCAAs, & L-Glutamine.
Before I get too ahead of myself, let me tell you a little about what I’ve been doing for fitness and what inspired me to want to nail down my fitness enhancing supplements!! About 6 weeks ago when we moved back to Sonoma County, I decided to cancel my membership with Orange Theory. I had been going to Orange Theory for about 6 months but wasn’t happy about the thirty minute commute to the nearest location in Sonoma County. After the first week of being in Northern CA, I realized that I wasn’t going to Orange Theory and needed to pick something closer in order to make sure I would make fitness a priority. Fitness is important for me, especially during times of stress… AKA this last month and a half with the move, getting settled, & searching for a new home. Getting in a good workout, yoga class, or run is ALWAYS something that puts me in a better mood!
After deciding to cancel my OTF membership, I was thinking about previous exercise regimens I’ve tried and enjoyed. One of my favorite programs I’ve done has been the BBG workouts by Kayla Itsines. In case you haven’t heard (which you probably already have), BBG is a SUPER popular exercise routine created by an Australian trainer. It’s now successful around the world and very well known. Should I do a post all about it/ why I like it?
Before I get too ahead of myself, let’s talk about the MVP of today’s post- L-Glutamine. After doing my research on what I should be taking to increase my exercise performance, I marched my booty down to my local health food store to see if my friend that works there had any recommendations/ thoughts on products! The first thing that he recommended was of course, protein and then a product called L-Glutamine. After learning all about it and trying it myself, I’ve become obsessed with the hugely noticeable benefits it has along with the way it’s made me feel!
Let me tell you what exactly L-Glutamine is:
L-Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the bloodstream and is a building block of protein. The body uses L-Glutamine in large amounts but often times doesn’t have enough of it, especially if you are working out often. L-Glutamine can be found in foods, but it’s sometimes challenging to eat enough of the foods that contain this precious amino acid. Some foods that contain L-Glutamine are Turkey, Broccoli, Spirulina, Asparagus, Grass-fed Beef, Bone Broth, Venison, & Wild Caught Fish.
L-Glutamine for fitness and building muscle:
“Whether your goal is to increase athletic performance, boost metabolism, improve recovery or even build muscle, research shows that L-glutamine is a must-have supplement.
During an intense workout, your body becomes stressed and your muscles and tendons require more glutamine than the amount supplied by a normal diet.
Supplementing with L-glutamine allows your muscles to fight and push a bit further, which boosts your strength and helps repair your skeletal muscles.”
Now for the low-down on ALL the benefits L-Glutamine has to offer:
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Improved athletic performance and recovery from exercise
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Improved metabolism and detoxification of the body
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Helps promote muscle growth and decreases muscle soreness
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Improves IBS
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Helps to curb sugar cravings
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Helps to heal leaky gut/gut health
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Helps with memory function, focus, and concentration
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Promotes healthy immune system function
Now, I want to tell you about the benefits I’ve specifically noticed from taking L-Glutamine! I noticed from the very first time trying the supplement that my brain felt very engaged and “turned on.” I absolutely can say that I’ve noticed the memory function and focus benefit from taking it. The other main benefit I’ve noticed is the healthy immune system function. While I was chatting up my friend who works in the health food store, he actually told me that I can try taking 6g of L-Glutamine if I feel a cold coming on. I was explaining to him that I had been around many different sick people that week and wanted to avoid getting sick. I basically ran home and did as he said (took the 6g in water for a few days in a row) and DIDN’T GET SICK. He informed me that some of his clients use L-Glutamine as a sort of seasonal immune system support as needed!
Honestly, what started out as a supplement for working out has now turned into one that I think I’ll always have on hand. I do want to point out that it’s SUPER important to make sure that you are choosing a clean source of L-Glutamine like the one linked below. I recommend buying from your local health food store or from the link below and always checking the ingredients to make sure there isn’t anything else hiding in there.
Whether you plan on taking L-Glutamine to help support a fitness routine or for any of its’ other noticeable benefits, I hope it can be just what you need it to be!
Have you tried it before? Are you going to? Let me know in the comments!
As always, thank you for reading!!
1 comment
Thanks so much for this post, I have been doing a lot of research myself! When do you take L-Glutamine, prior to a workout or after or first thing in the morning?