Drum roll, please. Glutamine Powder (500g per jar, in fact) is in stock and ready for your shopping cart!

Cindy, for one, is very excited. See, Cindy began a blog campaign to carry Glutamine last year, citing scads of research in favor of glutamine's benefits to intestinal & brain tissue, muscle maintenance, and immune function.

Cindy's not the only one who has taken notice of glutamine's many benefits either. Dr. Rodier is excited to see glutamine on the Co-op's shelves, too. He recommends glutamine often, sharing:

"Glutamine is an amino acid most needed to heal injured and inflamed tissues and tissues that line the brain and intestines. I use it routinely for people who have intestinal problems."

Even mainstream medicine has taken note of glutamine's benefits. Once considered a "non-essential" amino acid (meaning the body can produce glutamine), glutamine has recently been reclassified as a "conditionally essential" amino acid. This means under conditions of stress and inflammation, the body needs more glutamine than it can produce.

This extra need comes as no surprise when you learn how many key functions glutamine supports in the body. Four particularly important functions are:

• Supports Healthy Intestinal Tissue Lining - Glutamine protects against bacteria, fungi, and other toxins that can migrate across any breaks in the mucosal lining of your gut and into your bloodstream (where they can cause all kinds of allergic reactions and health troubles).

• Boosts Brain Function - Glutamine supports neurotransmitter production and acts as "brain food" when glucose supplies are low. Glutamine is also an important source of fuel for your nervous system.

• Increases Immune Function and Detoxification - Glutamine is a chief fuel source for immune cells. Glutamine also helps increase reserves of the potent antioxidant glutathione, which in turn helps protect cells and prevent damage from toxins. 

• Helps Regulate pH Levels - Glutamine plays a unique and vital role in pH regulation. When pH is too low (acidic), glutamine is directed to the kidneys where bicarbonate ions are released to balance acidity. When pH is too high (alkaline), glutamine is sent to the liver, where hydrogen ions are released to balance alkalinity. Pretty cool, eh?

• Supports Healthy Muscle - Glutamine is involved in more metabolic processes than any other amino acid! One particularly important one for aging folks is muscle development. Glutamine  supports the body in synthesizing protein and building muscle mass. Supplemental glutamine also helps replenish diminished glutamine stores after exercise and other physical demands.

Read more on our Glutamine Powder product page.