We all have heard that proteins are the building blocks of life. A protein is a mega-structure or what we call in the medical world a macromolecule that is composed of numerous tiny components called amino acids.
Your body is in constant need of these amino acids to carry out crucial functions such as building up muscles, production, and maintenance of enzymes, hormones, and other tissues. One such critically acclaimed amino acid is glycine.
Glycine is an amino acid that the body is capable of producing itself but in the case of glycine, it is the more the better. Why is this amino acid so important? Is using glycine for anxiety a good step? All of these questions will be answered in detail in the successive paragraphs.
Health Benefits Of Glycine
Glycine has miraculous healing powers. There are numerous health benefits imparted by the amino acid but the most evident effect is seen on anxiety. There are different ways in which glycine is capable of flushing out signs of anxiety and stress from your body.
Anxiety
Becoming anxious over the loss of a job is a natural phenomenon. However, if the feelings of fear and insecurity persist for long periods, making life difficult for you, then you might be suffering from an anxiety disorder (which means anxiety in layman’s terms).
Anxiety is characterized by overwhelming feelings of fear, increased heartbeat rate, sweating, tremors, and nausea, etc.
There are different types of anxiety disorders including:
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Social anxiety disorder
- Phobias (agoraphobia, claustrophobia, hydrophobia, etc.)
- Panic attacks
In contrast to anxiety, depression manifests itself as sadness, fatigue, lack of energy, loss of interest, and a loss of will to live. However, it is seen that substances capable of curing anxiety are generally good at alleviating symptoms of depression too.
Glycine Vs Anxiety
This therapeutic amino acid has a direct and an indirect impact on anxiety. It has the ability to lessen the symptoms of anxiety and also reduce the factors that lead to it. In addition to this, the amino acid supplement can also decrease the complications arising from anxiety. For example, anxiety patients have a hard time sleeping. By improving sleep glycine breaks the cycle and causes stress reduction.
It was found in a study that glycine was linked to anxious behaviors. The anxious group of the study showed decreased amounts of glycine in the hippocampus (part of the brain) as compared to the non-anxious group.
How Does Glycine Work?
The human body is composed of small cells that have specific receptors. These receptors have specific affinities for chemical molecules. When the matched molecule attaches to the receptor it leads to a cascade of events.
The central nervous system (brain, and spinal cord) have receptors called glutamate receptors. A subclass of the glutamate receptors is N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. It has been seen that anxiety disorders are the outcome of the overactivity of these NMDA receptors.
What glycine does is that it binds with the NMDA receptors in the brain and leads to amelioration of the symptoms of anxiety. The most evident effect is seen in obsessive-compulsive disorder patients. Studies show that glycine is a glutamate receptor modulator and can play a part in the management of psychiatric disorders.
Chronic Anxiety
Glycine has tremendous effects on chronic anxiety. It has a calming effect on the body. The introduction of glycine has proved to be a beneficial step for anxiety patients. It was found in a study that glycine supplementation can effectively be used as a treatment modality in the management of mental disorders. The amino acid is recognized as an effective way of combating chronic anxiety.
It should be noted that glycine should only be consumed in small quantities as very large doses are linked to adverse effects.
Panic Attacks
Panic attacks are sudden outbursts of fear that occur by themselves and do not have a valid, significant trigger. Glycine is believed to reduce panic attack frequency because of its neuromodulatory effect on the NMDA receptors.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Glycine has shown some promising results in the management of anxiety induced by schizophrenia. Therefore, further studies were conducted to understand the range of its effects.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by high levels of persisting anxiety that are refractory to most treatments. Research has concluded that glycine can bring about evident NMDA receptor modulation which can bring about ease in anxiety patients.
Thus, the amino acid supplement can also be used in the management of Bipolar disorder depression, and other unrelenting illnesses.
Neurodegenerative Disease-Associated Anxiety
People suffering from neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s frequently face chronic anxiety. It was found out in a study that anxiety was linked to a lack of glycine. To confirm this claim another study was carried out where glycine was administered in healthy humans. IV glycine leads to an increase in glycine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
The study showed that glycine leads to improvements in cognition and reductions in anxiety.
Sleep Disorder
Numerous studies have revealed the harmful effects of sleep disorders. The most harmful adverse effect of sleepless nights is anxiety and depression, a study suggests.
As per another study, students having higher stress levels were unable to sleep well. The inability to sleep leads to high levels of anxiety. Therefore one way of treating anxiety is to treat the sleep cycle.
Glycine is a pretty impressive supplement when it comes to improving sleep quality. According to a study, oral administration of glycine increases cutaneous blood flow and helps you sleep better.
Another study bore witness to similar effects achieved by glycine administration. The randomized controlled trial concluded that glycine leads to reductions in fatigue, and imparted a feeling of “liveliness” and “clear-headedness”. All these effects aid in improving the quality of sleep and reducing anxiety.
A study published in the Neuropsychopharmacology Journal found that NMDA receptor modulation is the reason behind glycine’s sleep-promoting effect. Glycine supplementation causes hypothermia too and aids in inducing a high-quality sleep.
You can try beherbal.com’s deep sleep complex to aid in sleeping. It cuts down the mental tension and lets you sleep well.
Antioxidant
The condition of the build-up of toxic oxidants in the body is known as oxidative stress. The development of oxidative stress is directly linked to anxiety. According to a study, oxidative stress leads to alterations in brain cell function and inhibition of the production of neurons. The ultimate result is cognitive impairment and anxiety.
Glycine is an active component of glutathione production in the body. Glutathione is a mighty antioxidant. According to a study, higher levels of glycine are linked to reduced oxidative stress. The latest study confirms that glycine consumption is linked to a reduction in oxidative stress and subsequent improvements in cognition.
Other Health Benefits Associated With Glycine
There are multiple advantages of using glycine as a food supplement. The effective ones are as follows:
Boosts Energy Levels
If you are planning to undergo strenuous, hectic activity, we suggest you take some glycine supplements with you. The amino acid is readily used up by the body to make creatine i.e. the ultimate tool to quick power.
Creatine enhances your muscle size and strength. It enhances you to sprint or lift heavy weights i.e. ideal for short bursts of energy.
According to research, an energy drink made out of amino acids can be advantageous in boosting energy.
Good For Building And Preserving Muscle
Collagen is a special protein that is pivotal for optimal working and healing of muscles, ligaments, bones, and joints. Glycine enhances strength by forming collagen inside the body.
The improved structure of muscles and joints casts out pain from them. This also prevents bone loss, a study suggests.
In addition to collagen, the amino acid is also responsible for the formation of creatine. This protein extends support to the muscles while adding size to them too. You may also see improvements in neuromuscular connections. This feature makes it an ideal supplement for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s patients.
People entering the later stages of their life should pay special attention to the amount of glycine in their diet. This is because muscle wasting is a natural phenomenon that occurs in old age. The only way to prevent this is by taking sufficient amounts of proteins. According to a 2020 study, glycine supplementation causes a delay in cognitive decline and premature aging of the muscles.
The shield provided by glycine against skeletal muscle loss is impressive and reliable, a study suggests.
Saves Your Liver
The amino acid is good for your liver too. If you are habitual of consuming alcohol, then you are at great risk of developing alcohol-induced liver disease. Fat deposition is the effect of alcohol-induced liver injury. Research says that glycine reverts the damage and reduces fat deposition too.
Astonishingly, glycine directs the stomach to metabolize alcohol. This takes off the load from the liver which prevents conditions like liver cirrhosis.
In addition to protection, glycine also reverts the effects of injury to the liver. In a study carried out on rats, it was found that glycine reduces cell death and decreased levels of ethanol in the blood.
Aids In Type 2 Diabetes
Patients suffering from type 2 diabetes show low levels of plasma glycine. Whereas the amino acid has shown promising results in the management of type 2 diabetes. According to a 2018 study, glycine supplementation increases insulin sensitivity and acts as a barrier against oxidative stress. The culminating effect is an improvement in the glycemic index.
The renal complications arising from prolonged diabetes are also reverted by glycine supplementation, a study suggests.
Protects Your Heart
Narrowing of arteries (atherosclerosis) is the major reason for heart diseases. Blood pressure and atherosclerosis can lead to complications such as heart attack. Glycine is pretty effective in improving blood flow to the heart and also lowers blood pressure, a study suggests.
According to studies, glycine has a protective effect on the heart as it prevents cytotoxicity. Another study found out that the amino acid (glycine) improves mitochondrial function and also prevents cardiac cell death.
Herbal Supplements For Anxiety
In addition to glycine, some very effective herbs can cast out anxiety from your head. You can use a combination of different herbs and glycine to get rid of stress. The most efficacious herbs are discussed below:
1. Chamomile
According to a meta-analysis, chamomile is very useful for reducing anxiety (generalized anxiety disorder). It also improves the quality of sleep. The sleep-inducing quality of chamomile is appreciable, a study suggests.
2. Saffron
A 2019 study showed that saffron can effectively alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. Strong evidence suggests that saffron can be used in the treatment of anxiety and other mental disorders. The antidepressant effect of saffron is impressive. Safranal from saffron was found to be even more productive than diazepam in reducing trait anxiety.
3. Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is a famous herb used in Indian households. Traditional Chinese medicine also recognizes it as a multi-benefit herb. As per a 2019 controlled study, ashwagandha is quick at inducing sleep and reducing anxiety.
A 2020 study promotes the use of ashwagandha as an anti-anxiety agent.
Where Can I Find The Best Supplements?
If you are looking for the best anxiolytic supplements then you should see all products from beherbal.com. There are a myriad of products aimed at kicking out anxiety and stress from the body.
You can get the best natural glycine supplement by clicking here. The magnesium glycinate will pump strength in your muscle and punch down any anxiety inside.
The Ashwagandha extract is another extremely beneficial herb for fighting anxiety. The list still goes on. You can also acquire a Golden saffron extract that is rich in safranal. You won’t need to use any more anti-depressants once you start consuming the saffron extract.
You can take a chill pilltoo. Here at beherbal.com, we have produced a chill pill that is a combination of the best anxiolytic herbs (GABA, chamomile, 5-HTP, etc.).
Conclusion
Glycine is a non-essential amino acid that should be taken in via diet. The amino acid has superb anxiolytic properties. It reduces the oxidative stress in the body leading to a reduction in stress and protection to the heart. Your chronic anxiety and mental health issues are very well solved with this one dietary supplement. It lets you sleep better and decreases the frequency of panic attacks and severity of Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
