Wednesday, 18 September 2024

Glutamine

NOW Foods Pure L-Glutamine Powder Supplement Review

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NOW Foods Pure L-Glutamine Powder is currently one of the bestselling glutamine supplements on the market, with over 500 highly rated reviews on Amazon. But with so many companies now producing pure L-Glutamine, why should you buy this version from NOW Foods?

In this review we’ll be taking a closer look at what you’re getting from the 90 servings you can typically find in one of their 1 lb tubs. This includes the health benefits, background research into the company, and how the recommended dosage differs based on gender and bodyweight.

We’ll also consider whether it’s safe to combine NOW Foods L-Glutamine with their BCAA (Branch Chain Amino Acid) powder, and how it can be included in supplement stacks for endurance and strength.

Does the powdered form of L-Glutamine really represents the best value for money?

NOW Foods Pure L-Glutamine Ingredients

NOW Foods Pure L-Glutamine Ingredients

With just one ingredient, NOW Foods L-glutamine is about as simple as it gets. Powder form is a big advantage too, as the lack of gelatin capsules means it’s suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Each tub is manufactured in a GMP facility to maintain high quality standards, packaged inside a recyclable tub that’s available in two sizes; 1.1 lbs and 2.2 lbs. The powder also contains no wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, or tree nut ingredients.

So how does this compare to other L-glutamine supplements? Is NOW Foods an affordable option?

Most companies now follow the same 5 gram serving size recommendation. Studies have found higher doses of 20-30 g/day to be effective for normalizing plasma concentration in critically ill patients, but 5 g is standard for a post-workout recovery dose.

Bodybuilders will typically take 2-3 of these 5 gram servings throughout the day, with 1 dose in the morning, 1 dose post-workout, and 1 at night before sleep. Although glutamine is perfectly safe, it’s a good idea not to go much above 10 to 15 grams per day.

Cost comparison

NOW Foods also supply their L-glutamine in capsule form, but with 1 g per serving. If you’re looking to maintain the minimum dose of 5 g per day, the capsules will cost you more than twice as much as the powder.

In the long-term, your best option is to buy a tub of their glutamine powder. At time of writing, the 1 gram capsules cost around $0.11 each, while the 1 pound tub was $0.19 for 5 grams. The larger 2 pound tub was $0.20 per serving.

What results can I expect?

There’s a lot of reviews on Amazon and numerous fitness websites saying that glutamine supplementation helps with muscle recovery. Recovery is fairly subject, and for many people this may well be true. Unfortunately clinical studies proving this are hard to come by.

What has been scientifically proven is glutamine’s ability to boost your immune system and improve intestinal health for conditions such as ‘leaky gut syndrome’.

‘Leaky Gut Syndrome’ (LGS) is a condition associated with starvation, injury, infection, chemotherapy, and other types of stress. Many studies consider glutamine the most important nutrient for healing LGS, as it supports recovery of intestinal barrier function.

NOW Foods Pure L-Glutamine Powder Supplement[/one_half_last]

NOW L-Glutamine – Product Summary

  • 100% Pure – Free Form
  • Supports Muscle Mass
  • Supports Muscle Recovery
  • Vegetarian Product

Health benefits of NOW Pure L-Glutamine

For a comprehensive list of glutamine health benefits, we recommend taking a look at our Glutamine Buying Guide.

When is the best time to take it?

Recommended use

As a dietary supplement, mix 1 rounded teaspoon (5 g) in juice, preferably between meals, 1 to 2 times daily as needed.

NOW Glutamine vs. AMRAP Glutamine

NOW Foods Glutamine
AMRAP Glutamine
Glutamine: 5 g
Glutamine: 5 g
Serving size: 5 g
Serving size: 5 g
Container size: 454 g
Container size: 200 g
Cost per serving: $0.19
Cost per serving: $0.83

NOW Glutamine vs. Jarrow Formulas

NOW Foods Glutamine
Jarrow Formulas Glutamine
Glutamine: 5 g
Glutamine: 2 g
Serving size: 5 g
Serving size: 2 g
Container size: 454 g
Container size: 1000 g
Cost per serving: $0.19
Cost per serving: $0.09

What sizes are available?

With a serving size of 5 g and a product weight of 454 g, each tub provides you with approximately 90 servings.

This enough to last you:

  • 6 ½ weeks: 2 servings per day for 45 days.
  • 13 weeks: 1 serving per day for 91 days (4 grams in the last serving).

Who are NOW Foods?

NOW Foods has specialized in the development of healthy foods and natural supplements since 1968, with a goal of empowering people to lead healthier lives.

Their supplements have been featured in just about every major health publication in the U.S., including Men’s Fitness, Prevention, Health Magazine, and Better Nutrition Magazine. They’ve also experienced global success through the creation of NOW® International in 2000, which extended the reach of their natural health products to more than 70 countries.

As for their current product line, this includes a wide range of bestselling dietary supplements. These are designed to address specific health needs, such as digestive support, joint support, heart health, and cognitive health. Categories include Beauty & Health, Essential Oils, Sports Nutrition, and Natural Foods.

But knowing what’s contained in each supplement isn’t always easy, which is why we created the NOW Foods supplement guide. It’s essentially a summary of the most important health benefits, dosages and main ingredients for each product.

We’ve also added in-depth reviews and comparisons with other top rated nutrition companies, to guarantee you only buy the best supplement for your fitness goals.

Glutamine Supplement Buying Guide

Review Overview

Overall Review Rating

4.5 / 5

Overall, NOW Foods have managed to produce a high quality, pure L-glutamine supplement at an affordable price. Although it’s not quite as cheap as Bulk Supplements of Body Fortress, 5 grams of powder is in the same ball park as MusclePharm, Optimum Nutrition, and Jarrow Formulas (1 kg tub).

One thing we would say, is that if you’re struggling to decide between the capsules and the powder, choose the powder. You’ll pay a fraction of what you would for the capsules, and you avoid taking in any gelatin.

You’re also getting peace of mind from the fact this is a NOW supplement. Since 1968 their researchers have been creating high quality, natural health products and supplements. They’ve also built an impressive reputation for customer service, which is reflected in the hundreds of highly rated reviews on Amazon.

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