L-Glutamine: A Powerful Ally for Your Digestive Health
There is one truly fantastic supplement that supports not just the intestines, but the entire digestive tract—from the mouth to the anus. And the best part? I’ll also explain how to combine it with other supplements, physical exercise, specific sleep habits, and of course, a targeted diet.
Let’s dive into everything you need to know about glutamine—more precisely, L-glutamine, referring to the levorotatory form, a crucial amino acid that our body can synthesize, produce, and release naturally.
Why Supplement with L-Glutamine?
Due to our modern lifestyle, our natural supply is often insufficient. Once again, as with so many vital nutrients, our internal and external resources fall short. Fortunately, glutamine can be supplemented.
But the real question is: What do we use it for?
Well, let
me start with a fundamental principle I apply both inside and outside my
clinic, in my home, and with everyone I interact with—family, friends,
patients, acquaintances:
Everything starts in the gut.
I’ll repeat that because it’s essential to understand: it’s not just about
food. In fact, nutrition alone isn’t enough. And I’ll explain why shortly.
The Digestive Tract: More Than Just Digestion
When we talk about the digestive system, we’re referring to a process that begins in the mouth, passes through the stomach, enters the small intestine—where nutrients are absorbed—and ends in the colon or large intestine for elimination. But here's the thing: if your gut is dysfunctional, you will be unhealthy. And vice versa. This is a truth I consider non-negotiable.
There are many topics I’m open to debating, but this one is firmly grounded in both professional training and years of clinical experience. This isn’t dogma—it’s clinical observation. Every time we improve gut health, we see improvements in overall health. And this is precisely where L-glutamine shines: by helping us restore and seal the intestinal barrier.
Nutrient Absorption Begins with Gut Integrity
When we eat—ideally real, nutrient-dense food with proteins, vitamins, minerals, and trace elements—it first passes through a healthy mouth. A healthy oral cavity means no mercury fillings, cavities, tartar, plaque, or candida. It’s like a bingo card: every square matters.
Next, food enters the stomach, which must have proper functional capacity. If stomach acid is too high or too low, digestion falters. From there, food moves into the duodenum (part of the small intestine), which is where real nutrition takes place.
Let’s stop
using the words “eat” and “digest.” Instead, let’s talk about nourishment.
True nourishment equals true health. And even if we’re struggling with poor
health, proper nutrition gives us the tools we need to defend ourselves,
regenerate tissues, and build resilience.
Why Is Gut Permeability Such a Hot Topic?
So when food reaches the small intestine, ideally well-digested, with the help of healthy bile and pancreatic enzymes, and a properly functioning liver, the small intestine gets to work. It says, “Alright, I’ll absorb these nutrients Javier gave me.”
But why do we talk so much today about intestinal permeability?
Well, permeability is actually a normal and necessary function of the gut. It allows our immune system—80% of which surrounds the digestive tract—to analyze what we eat and determine if something is harmful. If something’s off, the immune system acts to eliminate or neutralize it before it ever enters our bloodstream.
When Gut Permeability Turns Against Us
Under normal conditions, intestinal permeability allows the immune system to do its job: reach out, grab a pathogen, hold it, examine it, break it down, and decide whether to use it or discard it. Ironically, some pathogens can even be beneficial to us—our bodies strive to extract value from everything. But when a pathogen is harmful and we lack the ability to eliminate it properly, problems arise.
Now, when we talk about increased or chronic intestinal permeability, we’re no longer dealing with a selective barrier—we’re talking about a sieve. You know, like the one we use to drain pasta? (Preferably made from almond flour to avoid inflammation, right?)
That’s what a dysfunctional gut becomes: a filter that lets everything through. As a result, all kinds of pathogens enter the bloodstream, leading to a condition known as endotoxemia, often accompanied by gut dysbiosis. This is the perfect storm for chronic low-grade inflammation.
L-Glutamine to the Rescue
This is where L-glutamine should make its entrance—cape and all—like Superman revealing the “S” on his chest (though we don’t see much of him these days).
The levorotatory form of glutamine, the one our body uses, plays a crucial role in promoting cellular adhesion. If we're talking about permeability, we must understand that the enterocytes (the functional cells of the gut lining) are like little hairy cells that can begin to pull apart. These separations allow harmful pathogens to pass through and trigger immune responses.
Glutamine helps bring these cells back together, enhancing their tight junctions, the specialized structures that seal the spaces between intestinal cells.
More Than Just the Intestine
That’s how powerful L-glutamine is: it supports all mucosal barriers—not just in the small intestine, but also in the colon, stomach, mouth, and throughout the digestive tract.
But here’s
the million-dollar question:
Why do we even need to take an amino acid supplement today to maintain
barriers that should be functioning naturally?
The answer lies in our modern lifestyle—and yes, we’re looking at you, ultra-processed foods. I won’t go into a deep dive here, because you probably already know: we need a more conscious approach to nutrition.
Stay tune for the next part.