Thread: L-glutamine

I am wondering if anyone has had any adverse side effects from taking L-glutamine. I looked on the web and can't find anything really bad about it. I have dealt with panic attacks in the past, and one thing that makes me a little nervous is taking something new. I took the Atkins Basic 3 and DID NOT like the way it made me feel. I discovered there is beets in it though, and I think I have an intolerance to beets though...I definitely am intolerant to MSG, and that is made from beets. So anyway...Anything that makes me feel "energized" is almost not good. I don't need anything stimulating my sensitive adrenaline reaction. However, I would like to take it because I could really use some help with sugar cravings. I have a bottle of 500 mg. How do you take it? Maybe I should just start with one pill a day. Any feedback?

Sket,
I took L-glutamine for a while at the very beginning of my LC journey. Some folks require a fairly *high* dose...anywhere from 500mg-1000mg 2-3 times a day. If I remember correctly, I took 2 caps twice a day. I really could not tell any difference in the way I felt, and I am not totally sure it helped with my cravings, but I do believe it is a YMMV thing. For me, chromiumn seems to help more with keeping my cravings in check and the insulin in balance. I take chromium polynicotinate or gtf twice daily.
HTH

Shelley

L-Glut works for me.... I take it in large doses though - a heaping 1.5t (scoop)
which i think if about 8-9g (iirc)

(according to the label -- 1t = 4.5g)

i take a lot due to my weight training.... it aides in muscle repair.... BUT I can tell a difference on days i DONT take it as i'm always looking for something sweet.

I bought the capsules, 500 MG, and they really work as far as decreasing my cravings for sugar. I take one twice a day, with meals, and have not had any problems with adverse side effects. You could always check with your doctor first if you feel uncomfortable taking the supplements. I started off by just taking 1 capsule for a few days, to see how I felt, then I increased to 2 a day. I guess I'm sort of paranoid about taking different supplements as I'm always leary of any possible side effects. I too have suffered from panic attacks in the past, so I can relate!!! Have a great day and good luck!!!

I don't take L-glut regularly--just on an "as needed" basis. If I have a craving coming on I'm afraid I won't handle well, I may open 2 or 3 500mg caps and let melt under my tongue. L-glut is a common amino acid and not likely to cause adverse reactions from what I understand, unless one is sensitive to the binder or filler agents. The reason is that glutamine is a switch hitter--it can convert to glutamic acid (an excitatory neurotransmitter) or to GABA (a calming neurotransmitter) depending on what is needed to balance the central nervous system at the moment. Of course, overdosing on anything is possible, especially with a sensitive system, so I'd urge starting minimally, checking reactions, and upping as needed or not.

Amino acids react quite quickly sublingually, and within 20 minutes to an hour if ingested, however to my knowledge only L-glut tastes decent . They work much, much better on an empty stomach, so that they don't have to compete with other aminos to cross the blood/brain barrier and are generally completely depleted from your system in about 4 hours or less.

For stress and panic situations have you considered GABA (another naturally occurring amino acid)? It can have wonderfully calming effects. Works for me when I've gotten extremely anxious/overstressed, and helps me not "eat over it" if you know what I mean. Another path might be Calmes Forte, a homeopathic remedy many people swear by.

The usual cautions apply that these are my opinions and experience, which do not constitute medical advice.

BC....you quoted once (in the Zone): There's 38 pages on EFA's in my Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements!!!

I believe you now ! lol your like a walking Vitamin Encyclopedia...good to have people like you to explain that we are all taking as vitamins...

like i always said...do your research BEFORE taking anything!

be good
helene