The Missing Piece in Modern Nutrition: Why Glycine Deserves Your Attention
There is a quiet gap in modern nutrition that few people are talking about. It is not about cutting carbs, increasing protein, chasing supplements or eliminating entire food groups. It is about balance — specifically, the balance of amino acids that underpin repair, resilience and long-term metabolic health.
At the centre of this conversation is one small, often overlooked amino acid: glycine.
It is officially labelled “non-essential” because the body can produce it. Yet in practice, many of the people I work with — those navigating stress, poor sleep, digestive discomfort, hormonal disruption, inflammatory skin issues or slow recovery — show clear signs that their demand far exceeds their supply.
The result is not dramatic or immediate. It is subtle. Gradual. Often mislabelled as “just ageing” or “just stress”.
But physiology rarely declines without reason.
A Modern Imbalance We Rarely Question
For most of human history, animals were eaten nose-to-tail. Skin, joints, connective tissue and bones were valued because they were nourishing and economical. Broths simmered for hours. Collagen-rich cuts were not wellness trends — they were staples.
Today, our plates look very different.
We prioritise lean muscle meat: chicken breast, trimmed steaks, low-fat mince. While these foods are rich in protein, they are disproportionately high in methionine and low in glycine. Traditionally, this was never an issue because collagen-rich parts of the animal balanced that intake naturally.
When that balance disappears, the body must work harder.
Methionine increases the need for detoxification and methylation support — processes that rely heavily on glycine. Without adequate glycine, the system compensates. Repair slows. Bile thickens. Sleep becomes lighter. Connective tissues recover less efficiently. Mood becomes more reactive.
These shifts are rarely dramatic enough to trigger alarm. Instead, they accumulate.
Persistent bloating after protein-heavy meals
Restless or unrefreshing sleep
Hormonal volatility
Slow skin healing or recurrent acne
Achy joints despite “doing everything right”
A constant sense of being wired yet tired
These are not random complaints. They are patterns.
And patterns are where functional nutrition begins.
Why Glycine Matters More Than We Realise
Glycine is involved in:
Collagen synthesis (skin, joints, fascia, gut lining, blood vessels)
Glutathione production (our primary internal antioxidant)
Bile acid conjugation (essential for fat digestion)
Creatine synthesis
Nervous system inhibition and sleep regulation
Blood sugar balance during fasting states
In sleep research, as little as 3 grams before bed has been shown to support deeper, more restorative sleep by lowering core body temperature and promoting parasympathetic activity.
In liver and metabolic research, glycine availability is closely tied to fat metabolism, inflammatory regulation and detoxification capacity.
In neurological research, glycine functions as a calming, inhibitory neurotransmitter — effectively acting as a brake within an overstimulated nervous system.
When I assess clients with chronic stress patterns, high sympathetic tone, sluggish digestion or inflammatory symptoms, glycine sufficiency is always part of the picture. Not in isolation, but as part of a broader metabolic story.
Because health is never about one nutrient.
It is about context.
The Physiology of “Wired but Tired”
Many people are not lacking willpower.
They are lacking raw materials.
A chronically stressed body burns through glycine faster than it can synthesise it. Modern diets often provide only small amounts — particularly when collagen-rich foods are absent.
When inhibitory tone drops, the nervous system becomes more reactive.
When bile flow slows, digestion becomes incomplete.
When glutathione production falters, oxidative stress accumulates.
When collagen turnover lags, recovery suffers.
This is not a character flaw.
It is biochemistry.
And biochemistry can be supported.
Practical Restoration: Bringing Balance Back
Restoring glycine balance does not require extremes. It requires strategy.
For most people, I recommend a combination of:
10–20 g daily of gelatin or collagen (providing structural amino acids including glycine, proline and hydroxyproline)
3 g glycine powder before bed to support sleep quality
Additional 1–3 g alongside larger protein meals if digestive strain is present
Regular inclusion of properly prepared bone broth made from joints, shanks, oxtail or chicken feet
A well-made broth that sets into a soft gel when chilled is not just comforting — it is physiologically meaningful.
But supplementation alone is rarely the whole answer.
The real work lies in understanding:
Why the demand is elevated
Where detoxification pathways are strained
How stress physiology is driving depletion
What dietary imbalances are compounding the issue
How hormones, thyroid function and blood sugar interplay with amino acid metabolism
This is where personalised guidance becomes essential.
Why This Matters for You
If you are doing “all the right things” yet still experiencing:
Poor sleep despite good habits
Digestive discomfort after protein-rich meals
Persistent low-grade inflammation
Hormonal irregularity
Slow recovery from training
A nervous system that struggles to settle
then the issue may not be effort.
It may be missing pieces.
My work focuses on identifying those missing pieces — not through fads or restrictive protocols, but through a structured understanding of physiology, metabolic demand and ancestral context applied to modern life.
Glycine is one example of how small imbalances can have wide systemic effects.
When we correct them properly, clients often notice subtle but powerful changes:
Deeper sleep
Calmer mood
Improved digestion
Stronger skin and connective tissue
More stable energy
Reduced inflammatory flares
Not because we chased symptoms.
But because we restored balance.
A Different Approach to Health
I do not believe in quick fixes.
I believe in understanding the system.
If this resonates — if you feel there is something deeper underlying your symptoms — I would be glad to work with you. Book in for a free chat here ; https://calendly.com/hello-charlotte
Together we can:
Analyse your metabolic stress load
Review dietary amino acid balance
Assess liver and detoxification support
Optimise sleep architecture
Stabilise nervous system tone
Build a nutrition strategy that supports repair, not just restriction
Health is not about perfection.
It is about alignment with physiology.
And sometimes, that begins with something as simple — and as powerful — as restoring the amino acids your body has quietly been missing.
Consider using this brand -
https://www.amritanutrition.co.uk/products/glycine-powder-250g
Use the discount code 8YMUS7
Add it to a cup of chamomile tea before your bedtime.