This Sugar Substitute May Extend Your Life

Want to know what's the best sweetener in the world? Glycine might be a contender, and its sweetness is only part of the story. Welcome back to Lifespan. Today, Matt and I explore a simple amino acid that helps build collagen, supports our antioxidant defenses, and has extended lifespan in some mouse experiments.

I spent years studying this amino acid during my PhD. It was about 30 years ago, I admit. I never imagined that I'd come back to it as a longevity researcher or that the story would lead to NASA and microbes that survive in extreme environments. I consume glycine a lot. Pretty much every morning I'm putting it into my drinks just for sweetener, and I do find that I sleep better at least.