I personally take 3 teaspoons of it [glycine] a day as it’s a veritable fountain of youth—it reduces wrinkles and turns on collagen synthesis—the “glue” that strengthens bones, arteries, and ligaments, and holds you together. Plus, it’s protective against a host of chronic diseases, including metabolic syndrome. STORY AT-A-GLANCE Glycine has been shown to extend lifespan in animal studies and mitigate chronic disease and disability, thereby increasing healthspan.
Glycine has anticancer effects, reduces insulin, and alleviates neuroinflammation—it may also protect against depression and is essential for collagen synthesis.
To gain all of glycine’s healing potential, doses of 10 to 20 grams a day may be optimal.
You need at least 12 grams of glycine daily for optimal collagen turnover, plus another 3 grams per day to form glutathione.
Excess methionine from eating animal products without the connective tissues decreases longevity, but adding glycine will reduce the methionine/glycine ratio to counter the negative side effects of excess methionine.
Glycine has neurotransmitter qualities, improves depression, and is also useful for improving sleep quality by helping relaxation at night by being very similar to the neurotransmitter GABA. Glycine is a nonessential amino acid—meaning your body can make it—but most of us, as we age, are simply unable to make enough of it, especially if our dietary intake is low because we are not eating enough connective tissue and collagen in our diet….