Supplement · Brain health technique
Glycine
Evidence grade: Context Dependent
A simple amino acid that serves as both a neurotransmitter and a precursor for glutathione and collagen. It has calming, thermoregulatory, and sleep-promoting effects.
- Practice
- Supplement
- Principle
- Nourishment
- Tactic
- Mood, Sleep & Stress Modulators
- Evidence grade
- Context Dependent
- Strength of evidence
- Medium
- Cost
- Medium
- Effort
- Low
- Time commitment
- Low
How to practice Glycine
Take 2-3 g 30–60 minutes before bed. Pairs well with magnesium or L-theanine. Can also be taken during the day for relaxation.
The evidence behind Glycine
Glycine lowers core body temperature and enhances slow-wave sleep when taken before bedtime. RCTs show modest improvements in sleep quality, next-day alertness, and mood. It also supports antioxidant synthesis and joint health. Mechanism: acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter and NMDA co-agonist. Very safe even at high doses.
More Supplement techniques
Take control of your brain health
BetterBrain gives you a personalized protocol of techniques like these, backed by science and tailored to you.