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Health, Longevity & Biohacking

Nutritionist Claims 95% of Adults Chronically Deficient in Critical Amino Acid

Dr Eric Berg · The Best Anti-Aging Advice I Wish I Knew · May 15, 2026
Nutritionist Claims 95% of Adults Chronically Deficient in Critical Amino Acid
Dr Eric Berg
Dr Eric Berg
The Best Anti-Aging Advice I Wish I Knew
"95% of adults are running on a shortage of this amino acid chronically. Our body makes 3 grams. In our diet, most people get between 1.5 and 2 grams, and that leaves us in the red or in the hole by 10 grams of this nutrient every single day."
The speaker argues that glycine, classified as non-essential, is actually critically deficient in nearly all adults at a shortfall of 10 grams daily. The deficiency stems from modern diets abandoning nose-to-tail eating, which provided collagen—the primary source of glycine—while standard meat, eggs, and fish provide minimal amounts.

About this episode

In this health-focused monologue, the speaker delivers a detailed argument that glycine—an amino acid officially classified as non-essential—is chronically deficient in 95% of adults, causing widespread health problems ranging from inflammation to premature aging. The speaker, identifying as 61 years old, frames glycine deficiency as a hidden epidemic stemming from modern dietary shifts away from nose-to-tail animal consumption. While the body produces 3 grams of glycine daily and diets provide 1.5-2 grams, the speaker claims humans require 15 grams per day, creating a 10-gram daily deficit. The episode systematically explains how the body triages glycine, prioritizing red blood cells, DNA, RNA, and bile salts while starving lower-priority functions like immune regulation, skin integrity, cartilage repair, and arterial health. The speaker cites Dr. Alan Jackson of the University of Southampton, who reportedly argues glycine should not be classified as non-essential. Personal testimony includes severe arthritis at 28, chronic bone fractures, and sleep problems attributed to glycine deficiency from a junk food diet lacking collagen. The speaker controversially claims even carnivore dieters can be glycine-deficient if consuming only tender steaks rather than collagen-rich nose-to-tail eating. The episode concludes with a recommendation for collagen powder supplementation paired with vitamin C, and promotes the speaker's own supplement line and a quiz to identify metabolic dysfunction.

Key takeaways

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