The benefits of glutamine

Q: My husband uses the supplement glutamine. He says that since I workout now, I should also use it. Do you recommend that I use glutamine, and if so, how should I take it?

A: Yes, glutamine is an effective supplement for both men and women. This amino acid provides your body numerous benefits. For starters it helps to keep your immune system functioning properly, which can help you prevent getting sick. It can also help to boost growth hormone (GH) levels when you workout to help you make better gains in muscle strength and development. And it can help to delay fatigue during your workouts, allowing you to train harder for longer. In addition to this, research even shows that glutamine can help you drop body fat. In addition to its ability to raise GH levels, which releases fat from fat cells, glutamine also increases metabolic rate during rest and exercise. That means you burn more calories than you normally would sitting around and when you workout. The more calories you burn, the more body fat you lose. Studies also show that glutamine prevents fat cells from storing body fat. That means that glutamine can help you drop body fat from both sides of the coin - burning more and storing less. I suggest you take about 3-5 grams of glutamine within 30 minutes before workouts and after (with your pre and postworkout meals), as well as with your first meal of the day and your last meal of the day.

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