Supplements

Creatine and Glutamine

Creatine works. Glutamine works. Wouldn't a mixture of the two be great!? Well if you took a look at half the "miracle" supplements out in the market place you would think so. Not hardly. In fact, taking creatine and glutamine at the same time may actually produce far less muscle-building results than if you just took either creatine or glutamine alone. Let me clarify, you should never take creatine and glutamine together in the same supplement or at the exact same time. You can and should take them on the same day just not at the same time.

Most products are just Voo-Doo mixes

Bottom line is, with most companies the depth of their research comes from the magazines they read. The same magazines you read. Can you believe that? It's true. So as they copy the "hot" supplements that the leaders in this industry produce, now and then they will try to "one-up" the real companies.

This is where their lack of nutritional understanding rises to the surface. I have seen this lately with supplements that claim to contain both creatine and glutamine as though this was some magical combination. It seems, the popularity and effectiveness of creatine and glutamine have made some companies think they are much smarter than they are.

Can't occupy the same space at the same time

When you have two micro-nutrients that involve similar metabolic pathways and utilize some of the same substrate transporters and are trying to occupy the same space at the same time, you run into complications that could very well nullify the actions of both. This is what you run into when you take creatine and glutamine at the same time.

And this is exactly opposite of what you don't want to happen. Even though slamming down one drink that has both creatine and glutamine in it is convenient, what's convenience when it's doing you no good? You want results from your supplements and you can get it with just a little planning.

Allow at least one hour and a half between the two

To garner the maximum benefits of both creatine and glutamine you need to take them at different times during the day. Allow at least one hour and a half between the two. This way you'll maximize the effectiveness of both by making sure you're getting full absorption and utilization of each. Taking creatine without glutamine during the day will allow for successful muscle-creatine uptake. Taking glutamine at different times during the day absent of creatine will allow for maximum glutamine transport into muscle tissue without undue carrier competition.

Plan out your supplement schedule

Though it takes a little more strategic planning and is certainly less convenient, spacing out your glutamine and creatine intake will maximize both nutrient uptake and utilization of the two, and will certainly maximize the rate at which these two novel compounds will assist you in promoting muscle growth. It's easy and scientifically valid - unlike the all-in-one hope and pray supplements.