Is Glutamine Bad For Everyone
Many more articles and testimonies are available about the beneficial effects of glutamine and glutathione than the converse. The benefits of glutamine and glutathione supplements have been studied far more than their pejorative potential.
What were discussing is not a black and white issue. We must understand the subtleties. The complexities of amino acids, their roles in the human body, and also the complexities of antioxidants and pathogens, is still beyond the full scope of our understanding.
Because noteworthy and well-respected practitioners are beginning to recognize and acknowledge the dangers of this amino acid and this antioxidant in certain settings, it is wise for us to know their potential not only for good but also for harm.
Undoubtedly, glutamine is helpful for some patients.
Yet, are there better ways to encourage glutamines presence naturally without supplementing with isolated glutamine?
Eating More Cooked Foods
Raw foods are packed full of nutrients but they can also be difficult to digest. Cooked foods decrease the amount of work your digestive system needs to do to break down food because some of that has been done for you through the cooking process. Even easier to digest are pureed foods like smoothies and pureed soup. Going easy on your digestion can help reduce bloat and lead to a healthier gut. As you heal, you will be able to tolerate raw foods better.
How Is Leaky Gut Diagnosed
Permeability tests
Permeability tests use specific carbohydrates called oligosaccharides and sugars. Oligosaccharides are very large molecules and will only cross the intestinal barrier if leaky gut exists. Comparatively, sugar molecules are small and easily cross the intestinal barrier.
The test consists of drinking a solution of oligosaccharides and sugars. The small sugar molecules cross the intestinal barrier and will appear in the urine. However, if leaky gut exists the large oligosaccharides molecules will also cross the barrier and appear in the urine. The detection of the oligosaccharides in the urine indicates leaky gut is present.
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Intestinal Permeability And Leaky Gut Syndrome
For years, leaky gut syndrome was a somewhat obscure health issue that was dismissed out of hand by mainstream health care practitioners as nothing but myth.
However, as more studies were performed and the evidence began to roll in, scientists discovered a connection between increased intestinal permeability and health problems.
What causes increased intestinal permeability?
The small intestine and colon, which make up the lower half of the digestive system, control the passage of substances into the bloodstream. They do this by way of a semipermeable intestinal lining thats covered with cell barriers called epithelial tight junctions.
In a healthy digestive tract, the gut lining allows nutrients into the blood and keeps disruptors like microbes and undigested food particles out. But an intestinal barrier weakened due to genetic factors, poor diet, excessive alcohol or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use, or even stress can let some of these substances through.
When that happens, the immune system perceives these foreign particles as threats and acts to overpower them. While the body can handle the short-term inflammation caused by the immune systems actions, if microbes, toxins, and food particles continue to seep into the bloodstream, side effects like damage to the intestinal tracts balance of good and bad bacteria and chronic inflammation can result.
And one of the hottest new trends in leaky gut treatment is L-glutamine.
Identify The Foods You Should Avoid:
While you take the time to consume the right kind of food, it is equally important to avoid eating certain foods to improve your gut health. Some foods come with higher possibilities of causing inflammation in the body. Such foods can also negatively affect healthy bacteria while promoting the growth of unhealthy gut bacteria responsible for many chronic health conditions. In order to ensure that this does not happen, it is vital to avoid consuming excess junk food, foods containing artificial sweeteners, refined oils, sugary beverages, processed food, and alcohol. All these foods can harm healthy gut bacteria and compromise the guts protective lining. It is also vital to stay away from wheat-based products like wheat flour, cereals, pasta, and bread, which can also trigger symptoms of an unhealthy gut. Also avoid eating foods such as oats, triticale, seitan, bulgur, rye, and barley frequently. Eating a lot of grain foods that contain gluten is very problematic as well.
In addition to that, it is best also to stay away from processed foods, processed meat, baked foods, and snacks. Processed meat foods include hot dogs, bacon, deli meats, and cold cuts. Baked goods include pizza, pastries, pies, cookies, muffins, and cakes. Snack foods to stay away from consist of the following pretzels, popcorn, muesli bars, and crackers. Sauces like salad dressings, teriyaki, soy, and hoisin sauce ideally have to be avoided as well.
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When To See A Doctor
It is always important to visit your doctor anytime you notice a change in your digestive system after consuming fatty and gluten-based foods. Most people ignore such mild symptoms, as they mostly disappear within hours or a couple of days. However, it is essential to immediately contact your doctor, even when experiencing mild symptoms, especially when those symptoms keep recurring. However, as we have already mentioned, symptoms can also become very severe. Therefore, when you start experiencing signs like bloody stools or abdominal pains that last for several days, then you should visit your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor will conduct the necessary examinations to confirm your condition before starting the appropriate treatment.
Depends On The Reason Youre Taking Probiotics
Initial dose v long term dose
During the first 2-4 weeks of use I would work up to a high dose. Thats because at this point my guts bacteria balance is likely out of whack and in proper need of the good guys.
Anywhere between 75-100 billion a day, with half in morning and half before going to bed, would sit in the sweet spot during this time.
Of course, I would test out a smaller dose in the first few days, just to check my body agrees with the particular probiotic.
Then long term I would be happy with 50 billion CFUs a day, which Ill explain below
Defense dose
I also go with a higher and more frequent dose of probiotics during times when my good bacteria is being wiped out.
eg if I am using antibiotics, NSAIDs, steroids , acid blockers, enjoying some good ol food poisoning / diarrhea etc. then a higher dose of probiotics can be necessary to replenish the good bacteria thats being lost.
As an example when taking antibiotics Ill typically take 100 billion CFUs of probiotics a day. Antibiotic therapy often leads to gut dysbiosis in which bacteria in the gut are disrupted30, so its a pretty good idea to use probiotics alongside of them.
Obviously, Id check with my doctor to ensure probiotics are compatible with my specific treatment. But, once again, this sort of escalation of dose is only temporary and can typically be reduced shortly after antibiotic therapy is completed.
Extra support dose
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As With Everything In Life Balance Is Key So I Recommend You Look For A Product With Around 10
The 2 most important groups of bacteria are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium36. So making sure you choose a product with strains from these 2 groups is crucial, eg L Acidophilus.
Importantly, look for a probiotic containing my 7 favorite strains: L Plantarum37, L Rhamnosus38, L Acidophilus39, B Bifidum40, B Longum41, B Lactis42 and B Coagulans43.
Repairing The Gut Lining:
During the reset phase of the leaky gut protocol, while we are resetting the microbial load in our GI tract, we can begin the process of healing and repairing the gut lining. The Gut Repair product has compounds within it that enhance the repair of the gut lining.
I have found that individuals with severe SIBO may struggle with the arabinogalactan fiber within the Gut repair. Others thrive off of it during this 30-day program because the fiber helps to strengthen the gut microflora. If you struggle with fiber and higher FODMAPS foods than I would avoid it and use a pure L-glutamine instead.
Gut Repair: This is a blend of nutrients designed to heal and seal the gut membrane and replenish the mucosal membrane.
Moderate-Severe Cases 3-4 spoonfulls daily Mild-Mod Cases: 1-3 spoonfulls daily
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Strategy #: Kill Overgrowth Of Bacteria Fungi Or Viruses
What came first, the chicken or the egg?
The concept applies to infections and the gut. Infections can cause gut dysfunction. Gut dysfunction also creates an immune environment that invites infection. In either case, when an infection is present, it must be dealt with appropriately. A lingering infection delays & blocks healing from occurring.
As I mentioned earlier, it’s tough to rebuild something that is still smoldering. A hidden infection can be a cause of the smoldering.
Here are a number of infections worth discussion when it comes to mucosal health in the gut.
Epstein-Barr Virus :
EBV infection can linger & reactivate chronically years after acute infection or exposure.
EBV is in the same family of viruses as Herpes Simplex Virus , Herpes zoster , Cytomegalovirus & others. All of these viruses share an “envelope” or “lipid capsule” as part of their viral structure.Lipid-coated viruses such as EBV are implicated in chronic disease, fatigue, & inflammation throughout the body – including the gut mucosa.
EBV lives in your lymphocytes which are highly present in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue . It turns lymphocytes into a “zombie” like state where they stick around in the body much longer than intended.
In my practice, I use Ultimate Monolaurin by Inspired Nutrition.
Helicobacter pylori :
H. pylori is prevalent in the Western world. High antibiotic use the US population may increase its incidence compared to other parts of the world.
Strategy #: Prevent Damage In The First Place
“All disease begins in the gut” – Hippocrates, 460BC-375BC
The first rule of healing the gut barrier is to keep it from being damaged in the first place.NSAIDs , alcohol, coffee, cigarettes, as well as intake of inflammatory and sugar-laden foods hurt the gut.Grains, legumes, and nuts hurt the gut too when not prepared appropriately. Traditional preparations such as soaking & sprouting nuts, legumes, and grains are best to reduce lectins and other compounds known to ease insults to the gut lining.These ingredients are also often stored in bins for long periods of time. Moisture, mold spores, or other microbial growth may contaminate even organic & otherwise healthy products. These microbes produce toxins & elicit immune responses that are also damaging to the gut.
The harvesting of grains like wheat will also use gut-hurting compounds like glyphosphate .
Round-up recently made headlines as a man with terminal cancer was awarded $39 million, and Monsanto was fined $250 million after the ruling implicated glyphosphate as a cause of the man’s disease.Glyphosphate helps dehydrate wheat before harvesting & eases the physical process of gathering the grain. Most non-organic wheat contains glyphosphate residues. Even if you’re not gluten sensitive, or sensitive to the many other problematic proteins in wheat – you also need to contend with glyphosphate residue.
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Pathophysiology Of Glutamine Deficiency
Glutamine is essential also for the growth and viability of cell lines in culture, and requires that it is present in the medium 10100 fold in excess of other amino acids. Presence of glutamine in the medium cannot be substituted with glutamic acid or glucose . Glutamine deficiency leads to cell death in many human cell lines. Enteral administration of glutamine stimulates intestinal mucosal protein synthesis and protects enterocytes from apoptosis. Animal and clinical studies have shown that glutamine deprivation leads to villous atrophy, mucosal ulcerations and cell necrosis in the small intestine . There is an increased susceptibility to infections due to decrease in plasma glutamine concentration which impairs the functioning of immune cells .
How To Take Glutamine As Its Found In Nature
Another option is to take glutamine with its co-factors.
Glutamine is best and safest when found amidst the other amino acids around which it is found in nature.
So supplement with glutamine by consuming gelatin, in which case you will actually be consuming the healing glutamate/glutamic acid and, in turn, promoting healthy levels of glutathione production.
Remember, too, that gelatin is most effective when consumed with its co-factors, whole food sources of protein and fat.
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Drinking Bone Broth Regularly
This superfood brims with collagen and minerals that can soothe and repair a damaged gut. Sip it alone as a warm drink or use it as the base for soups and in other recipes. I recommend making bone broth yourself at home in a slow cooker or pressure cooker , using bones from grass-fed cattle or organic chickens. If you dont want to make it yourself, Bare Bones and Kettle & Fire are both great options.
Choosing The Right Amount Of Probiotics To Take
As with most things leaky gut related, the probiotic dosage recommendations out there vary widely and be quite confusing.
But heres the thing: it is impossible to give a blanket statement until we cover a few points of distinction.
Unsurprisingly, most people never mention these points as they require deeper level thinking, but they are very important. The goals you personally want to achieve from taking probiotics and the quality of supplements you choose can really make all of the difference.
And as with everything, speak to your healthcare professional to work out what makes sense for you personally.
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Intestinal Dysbiosis Pathogenic Infections And Low Beneficial Bacteria
Intestinal dysbiosis, whether from an overgrowth of bacteria , or parasites or fungi, are a well-recognized contributor to leaky gut by triggering the release of zonulin, and reducing the protective mucous layer in the large or small intestine . Poor diet, chronic stress, frequent antibiotic use, and regular lack of sleep have all been shown to contribute to dysbiosis as well.
Similarly, decreased beneficial bacteria in the gut are also associated with leaky gut, because beneficial bacteria help maintain the healthy mucous membrane in the gut and keep pathogens in check [61
How Much Glutamine To Take For Leaky Gut
Depending on the disease condition, the recommended daily dose of glutamine ranges from 15 to 45 grams , for a minimum of five days. GlutaSolve® contains 15 grams glutamine and 90 kilocalories per packet in a tasteless, quick-dissolving powder.20 mai 2020
Contents
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Supports Healthy Food Choices
Due to its ability to support healthy blood glucose levels, l-glutamine supports healthy eating habits, instead of feeding cravings for sugars and carbohydrates that cause inflammation throughout the body . Additionally, a 2019 study shows that low glutamine levels in the brain were associated with heavy alcohol consumption and cravings, too.
Are Eggs Bad For Leaky Gut
Fatty fish like salmon is another choice that can be cooked in ways that work well for a leaky gut diet. Just be sure not to overcook the meat, as this can make the fibers tough to chew . Eggs are another protein source that can be cooked in a variety of ways and pair well with other nutritious foods.
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The Best Recipes For A Healthy Gut
1. Nourishing Chicken Zoodle Bone Broth Soup
Ingredients for the bone broth
- Whole organic chicken
- 4 to 6 cups bone broth
- 3 to 4 small to medium zucchinis
- 2 cups shredded organic chicken
- 2 to 3 garlic cloves, crushed or minced
- Himalayan sea salt to taste
Preparation
Soup:
2. Rejuvenating Celery Juice
- 1 to 2 bunches organic celery
Preparation
Juice the celery. Drink it fresh.
Antimicrobials Kill Off Bad Gut Bacteria
It is clear that imbalanced gut bacteria, or dysbiosis, plays an enormous role in the development of leaky gut.
Because of that, its absolutely necessary to kill off bad bacteria and encourage healthy growth of beneficial microbes.
Most often, getting rid of bad bacteria is going to require being on antimicrobials of some kind .
As a dietitian, Im a big fan of herbal antimicrobials. Here are some of my favorites to use:
- Oregano oil
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Amy Myers Md Leaky Gut Revive
Amy Myers MD Leaky Gut Revive is designed to target leaky gut and other digestive conditions using a variety of effective ingredients. Each serving contains well-known ingredients that promote digestive health, including L-glutamine, DGL, arabinogalactan, marshmallow root, slippery elm root, and aloe vera.
Together, these six ingredients work to support the gut lining while minimizing irritation and even ulcers.
A one-month supply costs $45, which is extremely affordable. What’s also nice about this leaky gut supplement is that it’s available in powder form. It’s flavorless and can be added to your favorite drink.