Is This Missing Ingredient in Your Diet Hindering Your Gut Health?

Hippocrates beat everyone to the punch when he said all disease begins in the gut. Living deep within our intestines is a diverse ecosystem collectively referred to as the human gut microbiome. Proper care and feeding of this ecosystem affect almost every aspect of our health—our immune function, brain function, nervous and endocrine systems, metabolism, body weight, and how well we digest and extract essential nutrients.¹ There is one ingredient, l-glutamine, that is touted with tremendous gut-health benefits, and it’s probably missing from your diet. Continue reading below to learn all about l-glutamine and why you need it in your diet.

The Gut-Brain Connection

You're familiar with the expression "a gut feeling?" It's a real thing—there's a reason our gut is called the second brain. There is two-way communication between the gut and brain via the vagus nerve. The brain and the gut interact directly through the vagus nerve, which connects the central nervous system to the heart, lungs, and digestive tract. The term gut-brain axis refers to the chemical messages that go between your gut and brain. Neurotransmitters and other chemicals produced in your gut also affect your brain. When the delicate balance between good and bad bacteria becomes disrupted, diseases may occur, including cognitive and mood problems. Gut dysbiosis (a fancy term for a microbial imbalance) can lead to anxiety, and re-establishing the gut microbiota can mitigate anxiety-like behavior. Supporting your gut health helps you increase your levels of serotonin (yep, the "happy" neurotransmitter) and GABA (a neurotransmitter linked to feelings of relaxation). Did you know that 90% of serotonin receptors are located in the gut?^2,3

What is L-glutamine, and why do you need it for gut health?

L-glutamine is an amino acid (in fact, it's the most abundant amino acid in the body) and helps heal all tissue in the body. It is one of the essential nutrients for a healthy digestive tract because of its ability to maintain the intestinal wall’s integrity. Your intestinal wall or gut barrier is one of your immune system's essential parts, as it's what keeps potentially allergenic and inflammatory proteins from entering your bloodstream, where they can trigger an immune response. Increased intestinal permeability (sometimes referred to as "leaky gut") and altered gut flora has been linked to the genesis of autoimmune disorders, skin problems, and even psychological and mood issues.^4,5,6

L-glutamine is one of the essential nutrients needed for a healthy digestive tract because it:

Supports the intestinal lining
Supports a robust immune system
Supports tissue repair

Our Digestive Support Protein contains a combination of both L-glutamine and probiotics. This powerful duo strengthens and can support gut health by promoting good bacteria. L-glutamine and probiotics combined significantly reduced inflammatory and oxidative stress factors.Good bacteria influence your gut’s ability to digest and absorb and affect inflammation throughout the body.⁷ Maintaining a diverse and balanced gut microbiome and a healthy, well-functioning gut lining is essential for overall health and mood.⁸ Support yours with our great-tasting Digestive Support Protein.

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