Focus on Amino Acids: Glutamine

There are dozens of different amino acids in the world, and around twenty that are used in the human body. They are vital in many bodily functions, and are sometimes prescribed in the hope that they will help patients lose weight, find increased energy, improve mental fatigue and better tolerate stress. Today we are looking at a common non-essential amino acid supplement in depth: glutamine.

The Basics

The scientific name for L-glutamine amino acid is (2S)-2,5-Diamino-5-oxopentanoic acid. Its molecular formula is C5H10N2O3, which translates to 5 atoms of carbon, 10 of hydrogen, 2 of nitrogen and 3 of oxygen. All those common substances put together play an important role in our body! It is the most abundant free amino acid in our body, and is founding healthy blood samples in concentrations of 500-900 micromol per liter.

Functions

Amino acids are all involved in the synthesis of different proteins within the body. The body makes its own glutamine -- the major source of this is the muscles. Around 90% of all the glutamine in the body comes from a person's muscle mass, which leads some to believe that if you have lower muscle mass, you may also be deficient in L-glutamine and require amino acid supplements. In addition to protein synthesis, L-glutamine:

• Is a source of cellular energy, as glucose is
• Produces ammonium in the kidneys to help regulate your body's acid-base balance
• Provides nitrogen in anabolic processes

When are glutamine amino acid supplements necessary?

If you suffer from a catabolic illness or injury, you may need to derive l-glutamine from your food or supplements -- your body may not be able to make enough on its own. 10-15 years of study have been performed on glutamine, and it is considered useful for treating burns, injuries, and helping with the side effects of cancer treatment.

Supplements and food sources

Supplements are one of the richest sources of L-glutamine, and unlike with some supplements, higher dosages do not seem to result in reduced effects. You can also supplement your L-glutamine intake by eating foods like:

• Beef, chicken and fish
• Milk and other dairy products
• Cabbage
• Beets
• Spinach
• Parsley
• Beans

Depression: Helping Yourself Through

Depression is a cruel disease. Other illnesses simply don’t rob you of your very motivation to get better the same way that depression does. You feel that nothing will ever change, so there is no point trying. One of the key things to understand is that depression can be caused by simple imbalances in your hormones and the nutrients within your body … while it makes life at large seem idiotic and pointless, your life isn’t usually the cause of your depression. If drugs only make you feel worse (as they do for many depression patients) and you're undergoing natural treatment of depression, today we are looking at some strategies to help make this period of your life nothing but a memory.

Early treatment

This is critical … while we hear this about many illnesses, it is especially true in depression. When you think or feel a certain way, neuronal pathways in the brain are activated. The longer they stay activated, or the more repetitively they are activated, the easier it becomes for signalling to work on that pathway in future. If you fail to get help early, you are literally teaching yourself to be depressed. If you know what the doctor is going to say and you don’t like it, there are plenty of natural treatments for depression that you can try.

Nutritional Supplements

When you are depressed, you don’t necessarily eat right -- and this only contributes to the cycle. Break it with effective nutritional support for depression.

Do something you love

Depression takes all the color out of activities, I know… I've been there too! But it is essential when you are feeling depressed to do things that you like doing, that once inspired you and energized you. This is a key step in the natural treatment of depression.

Set realistic goals

Understand that you are ill -- although it might not have been caused by a virus, the way your body reacts is not completely under your control when you are depressed. If you can’t do the ironing AND make dinner, don't stress. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it -- that's what loved ones are there for.

Avoid alcohol and drugs

The term "self-medicating" is very much a misnomer with depression. Alcohol frequently makes the problem worse -- when you are hung over the next day, it often triggers a massive bout.

Exercise

Exercise is one of the most potent natural treatments of depression -- it is both preventive and cure. Make sure it is an activity you like -- take an mp3 player walking, go swimming and enjoy the calm and quiet underwater, or find a nice outdoor spot for some individual yoga.