L-Glutamine is an amino acid that is used to make protein in our body.
What Does L-Glutamine Do?
L-Glutamine helps make other amino acids which can be used to make more protein which helps make our muscles stronger. Glutamine is the most abundant free amino acid in muscle.
L-Glutamine also helps make glucose in our liver, which helps to maintain the blood glucose concentration, essential for normal brain function. This is particularly important during prolonged exercise when the demand for glucose increases due to greatly increased uptake by our working muscles.
L-Glutamine is essential for cell growth and is also used as an important fuel by our white blood cells that defend us against infections.
Side Effects of L-Glutamine
For the majority of footballers, L-Glutamine is entirely harmless. The occasional side effects of L-Glutamine are nausea, vomiting, joint pain, and hives, but these are very uncommon.
However, if you have low L-Glutamine, you can often have symptoms of bloating, constipation, and a severe upset stomach. Ensuring you have enough L-Glutamine can help decrease stomach issues.
Where Does L-Glutamine Come From?
L-Glutamine will come from food products you would get your protein from, like chicken, fish, and dairy, as well as vegetables like cabbage and spinach.
If you feel you might still be low on L-Glutamine, you can always find a supplement to make up for the loss of this important amino acid.
The amount of L-Glutamine in the blood declines for several hours after a bout of prolonged exercise. Low L-Glutamine means you can’t build muscle as well as you should, so ensuring you are getting enough is a must for footballers.
