Heal your gut with the amino acid l-glutamine

Friday, September 09, 2011 by: Elizabeth Walling
Tags: l-glutamine, gut health, health news

(NaturalNews) With chemical additives, excessive gluten consumption, over prescription of antibiotics and more, the integrity of our gut lining is weakened further with each passing year. It's no wonder that digestive disorders and their accompanying deficiencies are more common than ever before. Healing the gut lining restores your body's ability to build a strong immune system and to produce those feel-good neurotransmitters in the right amounts. Evidence points to the amino acid l-glutamine as a natural means for restoring the integrity of the gut lining and for once again putting digestive wellness within your grasp.

How L-Glutamine is Connected to Gut Health

Glutamine provides cells in the digestive tract with a vital source of energy that is required for regulating their production. Its role in strengthening the gut lining is well known. Glutamine also helps water absorption in the gut, aiding in hydrating the whole body - certainly a necessary component for good health.

What is lesser known is that glutamine also plays a role in the health of the pancreas, liver, mouth and esophagus. The function of all of these parts will impact digestion and therefore the health of your gut. Glutamine can help ensure the entire digestive process runs more smoothly, which may help prevent future damage to the gut system and may even aid the body in healing any damage already done.

Because of the strong connection between gut health and general health, using l-glutamine to strengthen your gut can lead to benefits such as:

- Increased immunity
- Reduced allergies
- Better moods
- Improved nutrient absorption

L-Glutamine Supplementation Tips

L-glutamine is best taken in powder form to avoid additives that may irritate an already sensitive gut. Its taste is not entirely unpleasant and is masked easily with a small amount of juice.

The general dosage recommendation starts at one gram three times daily. However, some alternative health experts recommend much higher amounts of up to 30 grams per day in divided doses. The average diet naturally contains several grams of glutamine, and it is thought that doses of up to 14 grams per day is quite safe for most.

Note: those with bipolar disorder may experience mania from too much glutamine, so supplementation may be contraindicated in this case. Those with kidney or liver disease, or women who are pregnant or nursing may want to consult with their physician before starting a new supplemental regimen.

For more information:

http://www.glutenfreefitness.com/supplements...

http://mdheal.org/leakygut.htm

http://www.aminopure.com/research/digestive....

About the author:
Elizabeth Walling is a freelance writer specializing in health, nutrition and wellness. She is a strong believer in natural living as a way to improve health and prevent modern disease. She enjoys thinking outside of the box and challenging common myths about health and wellness. You can visit her blog to learn more:
www.livingthenourishedlife.com