Glycine
Glycine is an amino acid produced in our very own body, meaning that we don’t need to consume it in our diet. That being said, there are many reasons why we may want to increase the amount of glycine in our diet or with supplementation. Glycine is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, so it works at relaxing our central nervous system, useful in sleep, anxiety and bed wetting. It also has anti-aging effects, according to Nutritional Biochemist and author Henry Osiecki, it can make you look and feel younger.
ANTI-AGING
Glycine increases mitochondrial respiration, as we age the ability to produce energy decreases, by giving glycine you prevent this from happening. Glycine, strengthens the body’s connective tissue. The majority of our collagen is glycine, and collagen is found throughout our body, in cartilage, bones, muscle tissues, blood vessels etc.
SLEEP ISSUES
Glycine increases serotonin levels, normalising circadian rhythms. It inhibits muscle activity (controlling muscle tone) during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Glycine aids sleep by lowering core body temperature which is required to aid sleep. Decreasing daytime sleepiness and improving cognitive impairment.
ADDICTION
There is evidence that supplemental glycine helps reduce liver toxicity that is due to chronic alcohol consumption.
SALYCILATE INTOLERANCE – Glycine improves tolerance for those with sensitivities to benzoic acid and salycilates.
LIVER DETOXIFICATION – Glycine is useful in liver support and helps with fatty liver.
AUTOIMMUNE – Glycine with vitmain D and glucosamine decreases autoimmune inflammation.
FOOD SOURCES of glycine can be found in gelatin such as bone broth.
References
- BioConcepts- Importance of Clinical Nutrition
- CNKI-Progress in Study of Glycine Derivative
- NCBI-Glycine neurotransmitter transporters