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Top Four Supplements to Boost Energy and Mood

Everyone wants to feel better. In today’s hectic and fast paced life, we all want more energy and an improved mood.

The problem is that most of what is being touted as mood or energy enhancers is really anything but. If they even work at all, another problem is that they are not natural and can have harmful long-term effects.

The good news is that if you are actively looking for a solution to this problem, there are amino acids. Yes, amino acids are the supplements you learned about back in school as the building blocks of protein. Take a look at four of the most popular.
Continue reading “Top Four Supplements to Boost Energy and Mood”

Glutamine for Energy

Whether you wake up every morning to a 5k run or if you find it harder and harder to get out of the bed in the morning everyone can benefit from an increase in energy. It may mean the difference between finishing that last set; it could mean getting that report in to your boss earlier than usual. If you find yourself suffering from a lack of energy in your day to day life or if you just want an extra boost to increase your fitness results then look no further. Glutamine supplementation is a healthy and natural method of increasing your overall energy levels, read on to get the full scoop.

What is Glutamine?

Glutamine is one of the 20 naturally occurring amino acids existing in nutritional protein. It is considered a conditionally essential amino acid in that it becomes essential during bouts of intense endurance exercise or physical trauma. Additionally, in humans, glutamine is the most abundant free amino acid.

In summary glutamine is a form of an amino acid supplement that is non-stimulatory and provides a number of health benefits when supplemented correctly, particularly in those who may have a deficiency (of glutamine) and/or those who exercise regularly. Glutamine is sold as a stand-alone supplement, can be found in high levels in whey/casein protein and can also be found in different meats and eggs.

Functions of Glutamine

Glutamine as a supplement plays a key role in a variety of biomechanical functions including: protein synthesis (all 20 proteinogenic amino acids do this), regulation of acid-base balance in the kidneys (produces ammonium), cellular energy (what we’re after!), nitrogen donation for anabolic processes (more energy), carbon donation for citric acid cycle (even more energy), and the nontoxic transportation of ammonia .

Benefits of Supplementing Glutamine

The benefits of glutamine supplementation have a wide range of impact in the human body. What we want to focus on is how glutamine can help support a healthy and consistent increase in overall energy. This is achieved due to the fact that glutamine is the primary transporter of nitrogen for your muscle cells, meaning an increase in glutamine – specifically when levels are depleted through training – can help to return that energy lost. You may be familiar with the notion that the recovery process is one of the most important factors in making real and consistent progression; therefore through the use of glutamine we can give ourselves an important advantage that allows us to recharge more rapidly and increase overall output.

Glutamine Dosage

As with all supplements, dosage should be based on a combination of high attentiveness to your body’s personal response and the adherence to the information/warnings included with your products packaging. Standard adult dosage ranges from 5g -30g and is typically broken up into several smaller doses throughout the course of the day. If you are looking for a supplement to support an increase in overall energy levels, or are just focused on recovering as fast as possible so you can get back in the gym, glutamine supplementation is a great option that is hard to ignore.

Sources:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18059593

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10368336

Glutamine as an Immunonutrient

Our bodies sometimes need a helpful boost to keep us on track. The extra help could be beneficial before, during, and after periods of intense stress or instances of decreased overall health. To help us through these different situations, we rely on our body’s main line of defense: the immune system. Since the immune system works around the clock to protect our bodies from detrimental stressors, the need to maintain its proper function is essential. Choosing to add the immunonutrient Glutamine to your daily routine can help the immune system to perform its best while simultaneously enhancing its functions and abilities.

What is Glutamine?

Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid [3,4] that is found in the body and is one of the few amino acids capable of crossing the blood to brain barrier. While the body does create the amino acid naturally, additional stress, such as intensive exercise regimens, and illness can create a need for an additional supply of Glutamine. The nutrient is essential in helping to counteract and lower the increased levels of Cortisol in the body elevated by this stress.

How can Glutamine help?

Those of us who are recovering [1,2,4] from either an intensive workout, an illness, or malnutrition brought on by sickness, need a properly functioning immune system to revitalize their bodies and fortify their defenses from future infection and recovery time. After exhaustive exercise, our body suffers from a state of oxidative stress which can release harmful free radicals. Glutamine [3,4] acts as a vital precursor to the powerful antioxidant Glutathione utilized in fighting against free radicals in the body. Glutamine also works to maintain optimum performance of the immune system by ensuring a readily available energy source to perform necessary defensive actions against bodily weakness and illness. An additional supplement of Glutamine is especially beneficial in cases where the body is unable to correctly maintain a constant supply of energy. Cells performing beneficial actions [4] inside of the immune system use Glutamine as an energy source versus other cells which use forms of glucose. In cases of those who have been placed in more intensive care to help decrease recovery time, Glutamine [2,4] has been shown to improve the ability of the intestines to absorb essential vitamins and nutrients necessary for recuperation.

Other possible benefits of Glutamine

Besides acting as an immunonutrient, Glutamine [2,3,4] is also thought to be helpful in aiding gastrointestinal function through fortifying the lining of the intestines, providing relief from insulin resistance, and fighting against different compounds which are known to cause inflammation of different systems in the body.