DGL Licorice
- Almost everyone is familiar with the discomfort of an upset
Features & Benefits of Nature’s Life DGL Licorice
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- How Does Licorice Work?
- Licorice, or Glycyrrhiza glabra, has been used for over 3,000 years, making it one of the most widely used medicinal herbs in history.* Licorice naturally contains 10 triterpenes and 22 different flavonoids, which are believed to be responsible for its benefits.*1
- Licorice has been used as a highly effective alternative to antacids and acid-blocking drugs. By comparison, licorice works not by inhibiting acid production, but rather through supporting and stimulating the stomach’s natural protective mechanisms.*2 Stomach discomfort is usually attributed to an imbalance between acid secretion and the stomach’s ability to protect itself against the irritation caused by acid. The presence of harmful bacteria can also be a factor. The stomach’s primary defense against corrosive gastric acid is a fine layer of mucin, secreted by millions of mucosal cells that line the stomach wall. Licorice has been shown to stimulate both the secretion of mucin and the formation of new mucosal cells, probably through its ability to increase blood flow to mucosal tissue.*2 In addition to supporting a normal chemical balance, licorice has also been shown to help inhibit the growth of potentially harmful intestinal bacteria, such as Helicobacter pylori.*3
A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial reported that 16 people with significant stomach discomfort showed an average improvement of 78% when given 360 mg of DGL thrice daily, compared to 34% in the placebo group.*4 Other trials have compared DGL to prescription drugs showing that 760 mg DGL 3 times daily is as effective as the popular prescription drug cimetidine.*5
What Exactly Does ‘DGL’ Mean?
DGL stands for De-Glycyrrhizinated Licorice. Licorice contains a naturally occurring substance known as glycyrrhizin. When consumed, glycyrrhizin has been shown to increase blood pressure and water retention.6 Since the glycyrrhizin is removed, Nature’s Life Chewable DGL tablets do not cause these potentially harmful side effects.
Should I Take Them Like Regular Antacids? DGL works best when chewed and swallowed twenty minutes before each meal, and before bedtime. Though the serving size is one tablet, some may wish to chew two for increased benefit. NOTE: In order to be effective DGL must be mixed with saliva; therefore, it is important that the tablets are chewed thoroughly before swallowing.* |
References
- Snow J. Monograph: Glycirrhiza glabra Leguminacae The Protocol Journal of Botanical Medicine 1996;Winter:9-14.
- van Marle J, Aarsen PN, Lind A, et al. Deglycyrrhizinised liquorice (DGL) and the renewal of rat stomach epithelium. Eur J Pharmacol 1981;72:219-25.
- Beil W, Birkholz C, Sewing KF. Effects of flavonoids on parietal cell acid secretion, gastric mucosal prostaglandin production and Heliobacter pylori growth. Arzneim Forsch 1995;45:697-700.
- Turpie AGG, Runcie J, Thomson TJ. Clinical trials of deglycyrrhizinated liquorice in gastric ulcer. Gut 1969;10:299-302.
- Morgan AG, McAdam WA, Pacsoo C, et al. Comparison between cimetidine and caved-s in the treatment of gastric ulceration, and subsequent maintenance therapy. Gut 1982;23:545-51.
- Stormer FC, Reistad R, Alexander J. Glycyrrhizic acid in liquorice- evaluation of a health hazard. Fd Chem Toxic 1993;31:303-12.
Stomach Discomfortstomach. Most of us have indulged in our favorite foods, only to pay for it later during a sleepless night. Over-the-counter antacid tablets help, but recent research has revealed some concerns for those who consume them on a regular basis. Most prescription medications used to treat stomach discomfort do so by inhibiting or blocking acid secretion. Though temporarily effective, these medications often come with unpleasant side effects. Nature’s Life Chewable DGL tablets offer a safe, effective way to relieve stomach discomfort naturally.
