By Dr. Linda J. Dobberstein, DC, Board Certified in Clinical Nutrition
GI & Muscle Helper is an outstanding product with three uniquely combined ingredients: glutamine, N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (NAG), and fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS). As its name implies, it supports gastrointestinal health and muscles. The benefits of these three nutrients reach even further as they affect your bones, cartilage, satiety, metabolism, heart health, blood sugar management, and much more! Discover GI & Muscle Helper!
Glutamine
When it comes to gut health and intestinal lining integrity, glutamine is the most important amino acid required for the gut lining. It works together with butyrate, a short chain fatty acid, to continually repair the intestinal lining. Repair of the gut mucosal barrier is an ongoing need against the challenges of the American diet, stress, medications like aspirin, ibuprofen and other NSAIDs, alcohol, endurance exercise, gut dysbiosis, illness, and other factors.
Glutamine also supports muscle tissue recovery. During higher demands, such as physical exercise or illness, glutamine is rapidly used for cellular metabolism, pH balance, immune activity, and tissue repair. It contributes up to 1/3 of your body’s nitrogen supply for these metabolic activities.
Additional physiological benefits include:
● Helps regulate blood vessel homeostasis as they are a type of muscle.
● Supports activity of bone and cartilage building cells.
● Provides energy for heart muscle cells and mitochondria.
● Aids in insulin production.
● Supports fasting and blood sugar management.
● Provides a reserve supply of energy and fuel to your brain during low blood sugar states.
● Supports cardiac muscles and mitochondrial energetics.
Glutamine provides essential material and fuel for repair and high energy demands. Meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, and fish are the richest sources of glutamine. Those who follow a plant-based diet may find lesser amounts of glutamine in beans and legumes and negligible amounts in other foods.
Supplemental glutamine is essential when your body is under significant physical duress and provides helpful anti-aging support. Take glutamine between meals for best results.
NAG: Hydration, Lubrication, and Protection
N-acetyl-glucosamine (NAG) is the second nutrient found in GI & Muscle Helper. NAG is a precursor to hyaluronic acid, which makes and supports synovial fluid levels in your joints.
In your digestive tract, NAG combines with mucin to form a protective barrier and provides lubrication to the mucosal barrier in the gut. It is also used by other moisture rich barriers like your eyes and urogenital tract. NAG provides the material necessary for hydration and lubrication that is essential for protecting your joints, skin, eyes, and other mucosal barriers.
NAG is a Lectin Blocker
NAG is also a lectin blocker, specifically, it binds onto wheat germ agglutinin. This helps block lectin-immune responses caused by ingestion of wheat and other grains. Lectins in your diet may impair absorption of nutrients and possibly contribute to intestinal irritation or other concerns.
NAG is commonly derived from shellfish.
Prebiotic: FOS
FOS, or fructo-oligosaccharides, is a prebiotic that is a naturally beneficial carbohydrate or fiber.
Prebiotic fibers are essential for production of beneficial flora species such as Bifidobacteria, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and Akkermansia. These helpful gut bacteria feed on FOS to provide immune modulating effects that aid management of inflammatory reactions. These reactions affect blood pressure, cholesterol, weight and metabolism, immune integrity, and much more.
FOS prebiotic fibers provide several other benefits including aiding in bile metabolism, which affects glucose and cholesterol metabolism. FOS also assists in blood sugar and insulin management after meals and may lower fasting blood sugar levels due to its effect on the gut microbiota and slowing of bowel motility transit time.
FOS and other prebiotic fibers aid in heart health. They bind onto and assist in the excretion of cholesterol through bowel movements. Prebiotic fibers like FOS contribute to higher levels of HDL cholesterol. Furthermore, FOS may assist with the absorption of minerals like calcium and magnesium which are essential for bone density.
FOS and other prebiotic fibers increase the production of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), like butyrate. SCFAs are essential for maintaining an intact intestinal barrier and are critical for the neuro-immunoendocrine regulation and gut-brain axis.
Researchers found that individuals who consumed 21 grams/day of FOS and other prebiotic fiber rich foods were found to have lower hormone levels of leptin and grehlin. They experienced increased satiety with the prebiotics as well as lower hunger levels. In addition, FOS and other prebiotic fibers were shown to increase energy expenditure or faster metabolism, leading to a healthier body composition.
Fiber is essential for the production and sustenance of beneficial flora. Yet, dietary fiber and prebiotic rich foods are woefully lacking in the American diet. Experts recommend at least 14 grams of fiber per 1000 calories consumed. If you consume 2000 calories per day, strive for at least 30 grams of fiber per day.
Foods that are rich in prebiotic oligosaccharides include artichokes, asparagus, bananas, chicory root, garlic, onions, leeks, and wheat.
“You are what you eat” is an old adage, implying good or bad dietary choices affect your health. A diet and lifestyle that stresses the gut and digestion places a higher need for repair on tissues. It impacts your blood sugar, leptin and insulin, heart health, bones, recovery, and more. Insufficient consumption of amino acids and fiber and various other nutritional factors affect the principle of “you are what you eat.” Consider adding GI & Muscle Helper to your supplement regime to help repair and boost your overall health.
