The Dramatic Muscle-Building Benefits Of Glutamine
Sean Nalewanyj
Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid found in the human body
and is arguably the most important in the process of building
muscle and gaining strength. It can be found naturally in food
sources such as beans, poultry, fish and dairy products, but in
order to consume a highly beneficial amount you should probably
consider buying it in powdered form as a nutritional supplement.
Most serious weightlifters and bodybuilders would consider
glutamine as one of the most important supplements out there, and
for good reason.
What exactly does glutamine do, and how is this beneficial to the
muscle growth process?
Glutamine is best known for being an “anti-catabolic” agent. What
this means is that rather than directly promoting the growth of
new muscle tissue, glutamine works by preserving the muscle
tissue that you have already built. You see, muscle breakdown is
occurring all the time. This naturally happens when you train
intensely, when you don’t provide your body with enough protein
or during the time that you are sleeping. This process is
completely naturally and is to be expected. However, if you are
training and eating properly, then your body is also synthesizing
new muscle tissue throughout the day. Your overall muscle gains
can be calculated by taking the rate of muscle growth and
subtracting the rate of muscle breakdown. Glutamine helps by
minimizing the rate of muscle breakdown, resulting in greater
overall net gains in muscle mass.
Glutamine is also highly beneficial in the positive effect that
it has on the immune system. Not only are your muscles heavily
stressed from your workouts, but your entire immune system is
stressed as well. Glutamine will help you to recover quicker in
between your workouts and will also help to prevent you from
getting sick.
I would recommend supplementing with 10 grams of glutamine daily
in order to see the best results. Although glutamine will not
provide any immediately noticeable results, you will definitely
achieve greater muscle gains in the long term by using it.
Here are the two most important times to supplement with
glutamine:
1) Within 30 minutes of completing your workout.
After an intense workout your body’s glutamine levels can drop by
as much as 50%. In order to restore these levels the body will
typically tap into the glutamine reservoirs within your muscle
tissue. You should consume 5 grams at this time in order to keep
your hard earned muscle in tact.
2) Right before bed.
Taking 5 grams of glutamine right before you decide to doze off
will help to minimize muscle breakdown while you sleep and will
also increase your body’s natural secretion of growth hormone, a
powerful anabolic substance.
Here is a quick recap of the recommended dosages:
Workout Days: 5 grams post-workout, 5 grams before bed.
Non-Workout Days: 5 grams with an afternoon meal, 5 grams before
bed.
Although glutamine will not provide any instant, dramatic muscle
increases, you should be able to see by now that it is extremely
important in the overall muscle-building process and is a
supplement that no serious weightlifter should be without.
Sean Nalewanyj is a bodybuilding expert, fitness author and
writer of top-selling Internet Bodybuilding E-Book: The Truth
About Building Muscle. You can learn more by visiting his
website:
http://www.MuscleGainTruth.com/
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