The Importance of L-Glutamine to the Brain and the Body!

The Importance of L-Glutamine to the Brain and the Body!

Glutamine/glutamic acid, along with glucose, is one of the principle fuels for the brain cells. It stimulates mental alertness, improves intelligence, normalizes physical equilibrium, detoxifies ammonia from the brain, improves and soothes erratic behavior in elderly patients, improves the ability to learn, aids in retaining and recall in memory, helps with behavioral problems and autism in children, stops sugar and alcohol cravings, may improve IQ in mentally- deficient children, enhances peptic ulcer healing, and may be used to treat schizophrenia and senility.

Glutamine is the most abundant free amino acid found in the muscles of the body. Because it can readily pass the blood-brain barrier, it is known as brain fuel. In the brain, glutamine is converted into glutamic acid—which is essential for cerebral function—and vice versa. It also increases the amount of Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is needed to sustain proper brain function and mental activity. It assists in maintaining the proper acid/alkaline balance in the body and is the basis of the building blocks for the synthesis of RNA and DNA. It promotes mental ability and the maintenance of a healthy digestive tract. When an amino acid is broken down, nitrogen is released. The body needs nitrogen, but free nitrogen can form ammonia, which is especially toxic to brain tissues. The liver can convert nitrogen into urea, which is excreted in the urine, or nitrogen may attach itself to glutamic acid. This process forms glutamine. Glutamine is unique among the amino acids in that each molecule contains not one nitrogen atom but two. Thus, its creation helps to clear ammonia from the tissues, especially brain tissue, and it can transfer nitrogen from one place to another.

Glutamine is found in large amounts in the muscles and is readily available when needed for the synthesis of skeletal muscle proteins. Because this amino acid helps to build and maintain muscle, supplemental glutamine is useful for dieters and bodybuilders. More important, it helps to prevent the kind of muscle-wasting that can accompany prolonged bed rest or diseases such as cancer and AIDS. This is because stress and injury (including surgical trauma) cause the muscles to release glutamine into the bloodstream. In fact, during times of stress, as much as one third of the glutamine present in the muscles may be released. As a result, stress and/ or illness can lead to the loss of skeletal muscle. If enough glutamine is available, however, this can be prevented.

Supplemental L-glutamine can be helpful in the treatment of arthritis, autoimmune diseases, fibrosis, intestinal disorders, peptic ulcers, connective tissue diseases such as polymyositis and scleroderma, and tissue damage due to radiation treatment for cancer. L- glutamine can enhance mental functioning and has been used to treat a range of problems, including developmental disabilities, epilepsy, fatique, impotence, depression, schizophrenia, and senility. It preserves glutathione in the liver and protects that organ from the effects of acetaminophen overdose. It enhances antioxidant protection. L-glutamine decreases sugar cravings and the desire for alcohol and is useful for recovering alcoholics. Many plant and animal substances contain glutamine, but it is easily destroyed by cooking. If eaten raw, spinach and parsley are good sources. Supplemental glutamine must be kept absolutely dry or the powder will degrade into ammonia and pyroglutamic acid. Glutamine should not be taken by persons with cirrhosis of the liver, kidney problems, Reye’s syndrome, or any type of disorder that can result in an accumulation of ammonia in the blood. For such individuals, taking supplemental glutamine may only cause further damage to the body. Be aware that although the names sound similar, glutamine, glutamic acid (also sometimes called glutamate), glutathione, gluten, and monosodium glutamate are all different substances.

Meet the Perfect Protein, The Mighty Egg!

The Mighty Egg!

In the past, eggs have gotten bad press because of their cholesterol and fat content. Fact: Eating cholesterol does not elevate cholesterol levels and the fats found in eggs are healthy fats that help turn on the fat burning engine in our metabolism. .  Few things match nature’s great engineering at packing such nutritional power in such a small, but deliciously satisfying package, particularly for those looking to build muscle or burn fat. The amino acid profile found in eggs is second to none! So stop throwing that nutrient dense yolk down the drain and take advantage of the healthy fats and added benefits of the protein and healthy fats found in that yolk!

Just one egg can supply over 12 percent of the daily recommended intake of protein. The quality of egg protein is so high that the World Health Organization (WHO) uses it as a reference standard against which the protein quality of all other food is judged. Egg protein is a complete protein and thus includes a number of amino acids such as leucine, isoleucine, valine, methionine, cysteine, lysine, tryptophan, and other essential amino acids that contribute to the repair and regeneration of muscle.

Fact:  The more muscle you carry, the more calories you burn at rest, making it easier for you to lean out or lose weight or both.

Fact: Conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA, is derived from animal sources. Chickens fed their natural diet and raised organically produce eggs with higher levels of CLA. CLA has been found to have antitumor activity at levels achievable through your diet. In other animal studies, CLA has been shown to help with regulation of glucose and to decrease the percentage of bodyfat. CLA is found in the yolk of the egg. CLA  also lowers cholesterol in the body! So why are you not eating the yolk again?

Fact: Some studies, where the cholesterol did increase, found it was the HDL or “good” cholesterol that was on the rise. The data has been so compelling that the American Heart Association was forced to retract its recommended ban on the consumption of eggs and, in fact, today considers their inclusion part of a healthful, balanced diet.

Fact: Omega-3 fatty acids include the essential fatty acid ALA, or alpha linolenic acid, and the conditionally essential fatty acid DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid. These polyunsaturated fatty acids are critical in helping the body reduce levels of inflammation. They are also critical in the maintenance of heart and brain health.

Fact: Additionally, DHA has been shown to turn on genes that increase fat burning while deactivating genes that increase fat storage.

Fact: Eggs contain a plethora of other important nutrients including a number of minerals, vitamins, carotenoids and choline. The majority of these are found in the yolk, with the exception of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and B3 (niacin). They contain heart- and brain-healthy fats, support muscle growth, and fat loss.

The next time you’re looking for a truly tasty treat that is nutritionally dense (the average egg clocks in at about 80 calories) and metabolically friendly (a glycemic index rating of low) it's time revisit the humble, but still incredible egg.

We recommend frying your eggs in coconut oil, this will add additional omega 3 fats into your diet and kick start your metabolism to burn fat all day long!