Glycine, The Amino Acid that Benefits the entire Body

 

Glycine: The Muscle-Building, Brain-Boosting Amino Acid that Benefits the Entire Body

 

While you may not be familiar with the term specifically, you use glycine every day to strengthen your body and, frankly, allow it to work properly. This amino acid is essential for many different muscle, cognitive and metabolic functions. It helps break down and transport nutrients like glycogen and fat to be used by cells for energy, and in the process, it supports strong immune, digestive and nervous systems.

 

In the human body, glycine is found in high concentrations in the skin, connective tissues of the joints and muscle tissue. One of the key amino acids used to form collagen and gelatin, glycine can be found in bone broth and other protein sources. In fact, glycine (along with many other nutrients like proline and arginine) is part of what gives “superfood” bone broth its amazing healing abilities.

 

Glycine Benefits & Uses

According to research done by the Departments of Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, glycine can be used to help lower symptoms in people suffering from conditions like ulcers, arthritis, leaky gut syndrome, diabetes, kidney and heart failure, neurobehavioral disorders, chronic fatigue, sleep disorders, and even certain cancers. Amino acids such as glycine can be found in supplement form, but it’s easy — and probably even more beneficial — to acquire them from natural food sources.

 

Some of the many health benefits of glycine include:

  • helping build lean muscle mass
  • preventing scaropenia (muscle loss, muscle wasting or deterioration)
  • playing a role in the production of human growth hormone
  • boosting mental performance and memory
  • helping prevent strokes and seizures
  • protecting skin from signs of aging or cellular mutations
  • protecting collagen in joints and reducing joint pain
  • improving flexibility and range of motion
  • stabilizing blood sugar and lowering risk for type 2 diabetes
  • improving sleep quality
  • lowering inflammation and free radical damage by increasing glutathione
  • production
  • reducing risk for certain types of cancer
  • building the lining of the gastrointestinal tract
  • producing bile salts and digestive enzymes
  • helping reduce allergic and autoimmune reactions
  • boosting energy levels and fighting fatigue
  • helping produce red blood cells
  • fighting the effects of stress and anxiety
  • helping control symptoms of seizures, schizophrenia and mental disorders