Glycine—a single compound present in meals—is taking TikTook by storm.
The compound has been on the rise for some time, however lately went viral on social media thanks to an infomercial focused in direction of “glycine girlies,” a distinct segment group of younger women obsessive about the up-and-coming complement. But it’s sparked a dialog, with loads of individuals questioning what precisely it’s—and whether or not or not it’s value taking.
To assist reply these questions, we spoke with certainly one of our registered dietitians Katherine Basbaum to dig into the science.
What is glycine?
Glycine is among the amino acids, that are the building blocks of protein in your body. “It is considered a non-essential amino acid since the body can produce glycine, as opposed to essential amino acids, which can only be obtained from dietary sources,” Basbaum explains.
That stated, the quantity of glycine your body produces typically isn’t sufficient to meet your day by day wants. While you should buy glycine dietary supplements, the amino acid can be naturally found in protein-rich foods like meat, poultry, fish and legumes.
The potential advantages
“Glycine’s main function is to assist promote the expansion and health of cells within the body,” Basbaum explains. However, research has proven there could also be extra advantages to consuming the amino acid, which embrace:
How a lot glycine do you want for these advantages? Well, there’s no official Dietary Reference Intake for it (or any of the non-essential amino acids, for that matter). However, some studies recommend an consumption of 1.5 to 3 grams per day. Basbaum says the typical grownup at the moment consumes about 2 grams per day.
How to incorporate glycine into your food plan
If you need to up your glycine consumption, Basbaum recommends prioritizing protein in your food plan. “A good way to ensure adequate amino acid intake is through dietary protein such as meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, dairy, soy products, beans and legumes,” she says. You can monitor your protein consumption by the MyFitnessPal app to get a good suggestion of your present consumption stage.
And as for these stylish glycine dietary supplements you may see throughout TikTook, Basbaum advises in opposition to them for now. Instead, stick to actual food. “Not only can you typically get all the nutrients your body needs through a balanced diet, but it is often a safer bet as dietary supplements are not regulated as rigorously by the FDA,” she cautions.
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