Total Restore Review: A Good Option for Restoring Gut Health

If you’re dealing with unexplained digestive symptoms, fatigue, brain fog, or other issues, the promises of a supplement like Total Restore could significantly improve your life.

This product is designed to help with a condition known as “leaky gut,” which could contribute to all of these symptoms.

Leaky gut refers to a weakened gut lining that allows the contents of your digestive tract to leak out into other parts of the body. Though a fairly recent discovery, this condition is the subject of lots of ongoing research.

In this Total Restore review, we’ll discuss the research to support the product claims, the safety of the product, and how it compares to alternatives so you can make a more informed purchasing decision.

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What Is Total Restore?

GundryMD Total Restore is a dietary supplement that was developed to help improve leaky gut symptoms, like digestive issues and fatigue. It may also support overall health.

This digestive health supplement was developed by Dr. Steven Gundry, a heart surgeon turned integrative medicine doctor specializing in a concept known as “holobiotics.”

Holobiotics, according to Dr. Gundry, is the relationship between your cells and the countless healthy bacteria cells that live in and on your body.

To understand Total Restore, we first need to understand Dr. Gundry’s approaches to diet and health.

Dr. Gundry is the creator of the Plant Paradox Diet and the best-selling book of the same name. This diet limits lectins, which are a group of proteins found in plants.

A study on mice showed lectins may damage the lining of the gut and other body cells and tissues. (1)

According to Dr. Gundry, lectins are a major contributor to leaky gut syndrome, which happens when the lining of your digestive tract is damaged.

This allows partially digested materials, bacteria and their byproducts, and digestive juices to leak out of your digestive tract and into other parts of your body. (2)

It’s important to understand that, currently, leaky gut syndrome is not a recognized medical condition, although it is widely acknowledged among functional and integrative medicine doctors.

The condition is sometimes referred to as “intestinal permeability.” (3)

Researchers have linked leaky gut to a number of autoimmune disorders, where your immune system launches an attack against its own healthy cells.

Additionally, leaky gut syndrome is a sign that you may not have a healthy balance of bacteria in your digestive tract.

These imbalances may be accompanied by digestive symptoms like bloating, gas, constipation, or diarrhea.

Additionally, an imbalanced gut microbiome has also been linked to poorer immune health and increased inflammation. (4, 5)

However, Total Restore is specifically for leaky gut.

It is also claimed to offer other health benefits, like helping to reduce gas and bloating, improve energy and focus, boost mood, reduce food cravings, and support your joints.

Regardless, customer reviews on the product are very mixed. Some people say it has made a big difference for them, while others claim they didn’t feel any different after taking it for a few weeks.

Let’s take a look at what the research says about Total Restore and its ingredients.

Does Total Restore Work? Evaluation of Claimed Benefits

Total Restore contains 16 ingredients, including many antioxidants and specific ingredients that target a healthy gut.

The four most important key ingredients in Total Restore, according to the GundryMD website, are:

• Zinc-L-Carnosine
• Licorice Root Extract
• N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine
• L-Glutamine

As we review the research, we are going to focus on these four natural ingredients.

Supports Gut Integrity and Improves Digestive Symptoms

The key purpose of Total Restore is to reduce intestinal permeability or leaky gut.

Improving the integrity of the gut will limit how much material is able to leak out of the digestive tract and into the body, which may help improve digestive symptoms.

This may be helpful for people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or other gastrointestinal health issues.

There’s not any single specific ingredient in Total Restore that improves digestive issues like gas, bloating, stomach pain, or constipation.

Several of the ingredients are antioxidants that may promote better cellular function and reduce inflammation, which can help to resolve some of these issues.

Additionally, these problems may resolve naturally as your gut lining becomes stronger and less permeable.

Zinc-L-Carnosine

Zinc-L-carnosine, a combination of the essential mineral zinc and the dipeptide (protein building block) carnosine, has been shown to prevent the development of ulcers and lesions in the digestive tract at 150 mg per day, suggesting it can protect against leaky gut. (6)

Other studies have supported a minimum dose of 50 mg twice daily to improve leaky gut.(7, 8)

However, Total Restore only contains 10 mg of Zinc-L-carnosine.

L-Glutamine

High-quality evidence suggests that glutamine, an amino acid, can help reduce gut permeability in critically ill, hospitalized people receiving IV nutrition. (9, 10)

Additionally, there’s a great deal of weaker evidence to suggest that glutamine can improve leaky gut in other, less extreme circumstances as well. (11)

Licorice Root Extract

Licorice root, which is used to make licorice candies, also has a long history of use in herbal medicine. It may help to rebuild the gut mucosa or the inner lining of the digestive tract.

This could help protect against intestinal permeability and reduce the associated digestive symptoms. However, more high-quality research in humans is needed, particularly on the relationship between licorice root and leaky gut. (12)

Total Restore contains 54 mg of licorice root.

N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine

Finally, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (NAG) also helps to protect the gut mucosa. Studies have noted that it can help prevent disease-causing bacteria from attaching to the intestinal lining. (13)

In addition, NAG has been used to improve symptoms of irritable bowel disease, which is linked to increased intestinal permeability. (13)

A small study involving 34 people with irritable bowel disease reported NAG significantly decreased symptoms, including pain and diarrhea. The dose used was 6 grams per day for four weeks. (14)

Total Restore contains 142 mg (1.42) grams of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, which is less than what has been used in studies.

Boosts Energy

L-Glutamine in Total Restore may also boost energy levels. It is commonly used as a sports supplement to help prevent fatigue during heavy physical exercise.

One small, high-quality trial of wildland firefighters found that glutamine supplementation reduced reported fatigue and perceived exertion (how hard the study participants felt they were working) during simulated firefighting exercises in the heat. (15)

Another high-quality study found that 20 grams of glutamine paired with carbs during intense exercise helped reduce perceived exertion. (16)

However, I couldn’t find any studies on glutamine and energy in healthy, non-athletic adults, so these results may not apply to most people. Also, Total Restore contains 213 mg of glutamine, much less than what was used in this study.

Reduces Food Cravings

Total Restore is claimed to help reduce food cravings thanks to its glutamine content.

Some older studies on animals suggest that glutamine can help reduce food cravings, but we can’t place too much importance on this data because it came from animals and not humans. (17)

Additionally, glutamine supplementation may help promote weight loss in humans, but there have been no high-quality trials on glutamine and body weight yet. (18)

Promotes Joint Health

N-acetyl-D-glucosamine in Total Restore may also promote joint and muscle health. It has been investigated as a potential treatment for osteoarthritis, a condition characterized by “wear and tear” joint pain.

One small, high-quality trial found that 100 mg of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, when paired with the supplement chondroitin, significantly reduced knee pain and improved knee function in older adults. (19)

Total Restore contains 142 mg of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine.

In people who don’t have knee pain, it may help improve cartilage turnover resulting in stronger joints. However, higher doses of 500–1000 mg per day were suggested for this. (20)

Total Restore, therefore, may not contain enough to provide these benefits.

Side Effects and Safety

Total Restore is third-party tested. This means that the product has been analyzed by an independent lab for quality and purity.

Since supplements aren’t individually assessed by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) before going to market, third-party testing is a good sign that the supplement company is trustworthy.

Additionally, for most people, Total Restore should be safe to take. However, some reviewers have reported that the product made them constipated.

Total Restore contains ingredients that are sourced from crab and other shellfish, so it should not be taken if you have a shellfish allergy.

You should also speak to your healthcare provider before starting Total Restore if you are taking any prescription medications.

Total Restore contains grapefruit seed extract, and grapefruit is known to interfere with many different types of drugs. It’s not clear if grapefruit seed extract has the same effect, but it’s best to be cautious.

Likewise, it’s a good idea to speak to your healthcare provider before starting Total Restore if you are pregnant, nursing, or if you have any underlying medical conditions, like diabetes.

Supplement Facts, Dosage, and How to Take

One serving of Total Restore is 3 capsules, and it’s recommended that you take all 3 with your largest meal of the day. If you prefer, you can also take one capsule with each meal three times a day.

Here’s what Total Restore contains:

• Magnesium: 7 mg
• Zinc: 2 mg
• L-Glutamine: 213 mg
• N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine: 142 mg
• Magnesium Beta-Hydroxybutyrate: 86 mg
• Grape Seed Extract: 58 mg
• Licorice Roots and Rhizomes Powder: 54 mg
• Wormwood: 50 mg
• Cinnamon Bark Powder: 50 mg
• Maitake Mushroom Extract: 34 mg
• VitaBerry (organic strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, tart cherry, elderberry, and cranberry): 22 mg
• Cloves: 17 mg
• Black Pepper: 17 mg
• Grapefruit Seed Extract: 17 mg
• Marshmallow Root Powder: 10 mg
• Zinc-L-Carnosine: 10 mg
• Berberine: 3 mg

Cost and Where to Buy

Total Restore costs:

• 1 Bottle (30-day supply): $49.95
• 3 Bottles (90-day supply): $134.85 ($44.95/bottle)
• 6 Bottles (180-day supply): $254.70 ($42.45/bottle)

Shipping is $4.95 for orders under $50. However, if you subscribe, you can save an additional 10% on your order and receive free shipping on all future orders as well.

Therefore, if you like the product, you can save the most money by purchasing in bulk and subscribing.

GundryMD products are backed by a 90-day money-back guarantee if you purchase through their website, even if they are opened or used. However, you will need to pay for return shipping.

With this fairly generous return policy, you can try a one-month supply with the assurance that you can get your money back if it doesn’t work for you.

The product is also available on Amazon, but the price may differ, and the 90-day guarantee won’t apply.

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Total Restore is a leaky gut supplement that may be worth trying if you are experiencing digestive system problems or other unexplained issues like fatigue or joint pain.

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How Total Restore Compares to Alternatives

There are a handful of other supplements for leaky gut available. Most of them contain L-glutamine or Zinc-L-carnosine as a key ingredient. Here are some products that are similar to Total Restore:

KaraMD Vital Restore

KaraMD Vital Restore is formulated for leaky gut and contains L-glutamine in addition to zinc, berberine, turmeric, and slippery elm.

Additionally, unlike Total Restore, Vital Restore does not contain shellfish and is, therefore, OK for people with shellfish allergies.

It is a more budget-friendly alternative to Total Restore, as it regularly costs $34.95 for a 30-day supply. You can buy up to four bottles at once to receive a 20% discount and free shipping, and KaraMD offers a 90-day money-back guarantee.

However, this product’s zinc comes from zinc oxide, which is less expensive but not as well-absorbed by the body as other forms of zinc. (21)

Amy Myers MD Leaky Gut Revive

Leaky Gut Revive contains a combination of ingredients that are meant to “soothe and repair your gut quickly.”

It contains L-glutamine, as well as a blend containing larch arabinogalactan, marshmallow root, licorice root, elm bark, and aloe vera.

This supplement comes in a powder form and can be mixed into any beverage.

A 30-day supply regularly costs $54.97, but you can subscribe to save 15% plus an additional 5% on every 3rd shipment. Shipping is free, and a 90-day money-back guarantee is available.

Ancient Nutrition Leaky Gut

Ancient Nutrition’s Leaky Gut supplement is made with zinc, marshmallow root, astragalus root, cardamom seed, licorice root, and L-glutamine.

Additionally, the product contains Lion’s Mane mushroom and the probiotic strain Bacillus coagulans.

Ancient Nutrition utilizes all organic ingredients in this product, and B. coagulans may help to improve leaky gut symptoms. (22)

A 30-day supply of Leaky Gut costs $29.95 regularly, but you can subscribe to save 15% and get free shipping. Ancient Nutrition offers a 60-day money-back guarantee.

Overview of How Total Restore Compares to Its Alternatives

The Bottom Line

Total Restore is a leaky gut supplement containing several ingredients that help reduce gut permeability, improve digestive symptoms, increase energy levels, and more.

Overall, I think the product may be worth trying if you are having symptoms of leaky gut, as long as you understand that it’s not a guaranteed fix.

There is strong evidence to support the ingredients in this supplement for improving gut integrity, but more research is needed to support its other claims of boosting energy and reducing food cravings.

Consumer reviews on Total Restore are pretty mixed, but you may find success with the supplement if you take it consistently alongside a healthy lifestyle.

Remember, you can get a refund if you’re unhappy with your purchase due to the company’s 90-day money-back guarantee.

To save the most money on ongoing purchases, you can subscribe and place a bulk order.

If you suspect leaky gut or have been told by a healthcare provider you may have leaky gut, then Total Restore may be a good option to help you find relief.

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