There’s nothing quite like the feeling after an incredible workout, practice or class. The kind of session where you pushed yourself to fit in one more rep, or one more challenging flow when you thought you just couldn’t possibly.
If we could bottle up the ingredients for a perfect workout we absolutely would. We imagine that might include a dash of motivation, proper fuel, a good night’s sleep, and the energy to keep pushing.
Green Energy adds a little pep to your workout with alkalizing greens, antioxidant superfoods and vegan aminos in a berry-licious flavour. One ingredient that deserves more attention in our opinion is the amino acid l-citrulline.
L-Citrulline - What is it?
L-citrulline is a non-essential amino acid that your body is able to make in the intestines and the liver. It’s naturally found in nuts and chickpeas, as well as in the Cucurbitaceae plant family: cucumber, pumpkins, gourds, squash and in the white rind of watermelon.
Derived from the Latin name for watermelon “citrullus”, l-citrulline was named in the late 1800’s by gastroenterologists. In 1914, two Japanese researchers managed to successfully isolate the amino acid from watermelon.
The Many Functions of L-Citrulline
L-citrulline and its beneficial byproducts are involved in blood flow, muscle function, detoxification, energy production, and immune function.
A study of l-citrulline supplementation showed a 40% decrease in muscle soreness after exercise and a significant increase in the number of reps completed. This could be due to its ability to improve blood flow, detoxify ammonia, and the many beneficial compounds produced by l-citrulline.
Blood Flow & Muscle Function
Two beneficial byproducts of l-citrulline supplementation are l-arginine and nitric oxide. These are critical in relaxing blood vessels, decreasing blood pressure and boosting blood flow to the muscles. More blood flow to the muscles, equals more oxygenation and nutrients. This results in faster healing of strained muscle fibres and a decrease in muscle soreness, as well as improved stamina and endurance. L-citrulline, l-arginine, and nitric oxide are also involved in regulating immune and inflammatory cells.
Detoxification & The Urea Cycle
L-citrulline and l-arginine are key players in the urea cycle which helps the body remove ammonia build up.
We can understand the importance of the urea cycle by looking at what happens when it’s not running smoothly. Symptoms of a poorly functioning urea cycle and excess ammonia are fatigue, poor energy production, and loss of muscle mass. It’s no coincidence that l-citrulline and l-arginine supplements are often used for energy production and improving muscle mass.
Energy Storage & Production
Another byproduct of l-citrulline is creatine phosphate. a readily available source of energy that is stored in the brain, heart and skeletal muscles. The increase in stored energy in the muscles that creatine phosphate provides is especially beneficial during workouts with short bursts of power, like sprinting or weight lifting. Creatine has also been researched for concussions, neurological disorders, and its role in the immune system.
The supplemental creatine that is popular among athletes and bodybuilders comes in a different form but has the same effects.
Other Uses of L-Citrulline:
- Heart disease
- Antioxidant activity
- Immune function
- Potential use for sickle cell disease
- Erectile dysfunction and male fertility
Why not just take l-arginine or nitric oxide alone?
Taking l-citrulline is surprisingly, a more efficient route to producing l-arginine, than taking l-arginine itself. Very high doses of l-arginine or nitric oxide can result in digestive upset and diarrhea. But when your body makes them from supplemental l-citrulline, you get the benefit without risk of gastric upset.
Green Energy
Green Energy skips the caffeine and sugar, giving you a jitter-free boost. Powered by plants, you’ll find botanical extracts and a healthy dose of amino acids to support stamina and endurance. Vegan sourced L-citrulline and l-arginine pair up in this berry-licious formula to support healthy blood flow to your muscles and give your workout a healthy boost!
Try it out and let us know how you felt during your workout!
References:
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1245/l-citrulline
https://www.verywellhealth.com/citrulline-4774848
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Citrulline
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5368575/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090123210000573
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6295647/
https://examine.com/supplements/citrulline/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18341206/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095254620300168
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