Accomplishing the unachievable feat of a good night’s sleep, is rewarding in itself. This rare luxury is essential for our survival. A poll obtained by The National Sleep Foundation, dating back to 1999, shows that over 50% of Americans experience problems associated with sleeping at least a few days a week.
In attempts to avoid medications for considerable treatment, a more holistic approach includes intake of an amino acid, referred known as glycine. This amino acid is naturally occurring and an option for individuals who are prone to walking during the sleepwalking, according to the website Holistic Primary Care. It also helps prevents sleep fragmentation, without any sedative effects. This is due to the reduction of body temperature, which allows the body to spend longer periods of deep slow-wave sleep.
According to the website The Sleep Doctor, the following benefits of glycine are mentioned, which enable potential sleep-promoting work.
Glycine’s sleep benefits
Glycine has properties that can help you with a more restful sleep. Here are some ways you glycine helps you sleep better:
- Helps you fall asleep more quickly
- Increases sleep efficiency
- Reduces symptoms of insomnia
- Improves your quality of sleep and promotes a more restful sleep
Glycine helps lower body temperature
It increases blood flow to the extremities, reducing core body temperature. When the body’s temperature is constantly fluctuating, it affect’s an individual’s sleep-wake cycles. A drop in body temperature is progression to a deep sleep. By taking this supplement, your body spends more time in REM sleep, according to the website Cleveland Clinic. This enables proper brain and body restfulness.
Glycine increases serotonin levels
Serotonin is required to make the sleep hormone melatonin, and increasing it’s levels reduces symptoms of insomnia and improves sleep quality. After a prolonged period of disturbed and restless sleep, glycine helps one to bounce back to healthy, deep sleep cycles.
Cognitive and memory enhancement
Supplemental glycine helps people score higher on daytime cognition tests. It is also shown to improve both memory and attention in young adults. It is actively being researched as to whether or not glycine is affective for individuals who suffer from neurodegenerative disorders.
Cardiovascular health:
Glycine keeps our inflammation in check, offering protection to our cardiovascular function and health. Higher levels of glycine help protect against high blood pressure, which can combat the negative effects it can have on sleeping.
Dosage recommendations
The website The Sleep Doctor provides the following dosages if considering to take this sleep enhancing supplement:
- For sleep: A range of 3-5 grams of glycine taken orally before bed has been used effectively to help sleep in scientific studies.
- For blood sugar: A range of 3-5 grams of glycine taken orally at meals has been used effectively to reduce blood sugar in scientific studies.
Please consult with your physician before attempting to take the mentioned supplement. Confirm that the dosages are appropriate for your body’s measurements and health.
Sources:
https://www.holisticprimarycare.net/topics/topics-o-z/vitamins-a-supplements/1249-a-new-approach-to-promoting-healthy-sleep-.html
https://thesleepdoctor.com/2018/07/23/understanding-glycine/
