Supplementing with Glutamine

• By vishwa on Health

• June 4, 2013

In the Ido Portal workshop I had a great opportunity to chat, personally, with the movement Guru while we were having lunch. An interesting commentary about glutamine was made by Ido that took my attention.

As you all know that Ido follows the paleo diet. It requires you to forbid whole grains and all the junk foods. On the other hand, paleo diet followers thrive on meat, nuts, vegetables, some fruits, and tuberous root like sweet potato. We who consume a normal diet consisting of whole grains prefer whole grains or perhaps bananas to replenish our glycogen stores. But what do paleo diet followers consume post workout?

Ido suggested me that he sometimes consumes up to 20 grams of glutamine to restore his glycogen levels post workout. What interested me more was that Ido also strongly endorsed that supplementing glutamine improves the gut health thereby help us in strengthening the immune system. Though several studies suggest the same, the proposal is better believed when a reliable source confirms it.

Many medical professionals believe that most chronic diseases originate from the gut. Glutamine is known to maintain health and functioning of the lining of the gut. How? Glutamine is the chief source of energy for the cells of the gut lining. By nourishing these cells, glutamine helps maintain the health and integrity of the gastrointestinal tract. Most glutamine in the diet is metabolized by the intestines where it maintains the structural integrity of the intestinal lining. For example, using anti-inflammatory drugs or antibiotics can damage the gut lining and can cause gastrointestinal disturbances. Glutamine is known to undo the damage by maintaining permeability/cell hydration at a healthy level.

When a man of great stature like Ido suggests me to supplement with glutamine, I better do it.