Total Restore is a dietary supplement that was designed with the intention to improve intestinal health. It does this by improving the stability of the mucosal membrane within the intestines.

The health of your intestinal lining is essential to overall health, and users of this supplement have claimed that it can reduce food cravings, abdominal discomfort, and even help them to lose weight. 

This supplement has developed by Dr. Steven Gundry, and it’s part of a range of nutrition and wellness products available from Gundry MD. 

Total Restore aims to repair the lining of the intestines, thus repairing gut permeability or “leaky gut” as it’s commonly known.

“Leaky gut” is not recognized as a medical term, but it describes a condition where the intestines are unable to effectively filter out toxins and stop them from entering the bloodstream.

This condition is believed to have an influence on one’s ability to maintain a healthy weight, and it could have an impact on the effectiveness of the immune system. 

How Does It Work?

In order to better understand how Total Restore works to help improve gut health, we must first understand how the gut absorbs nutrients. 

A simple analogy for the mucosal lining of the intestines is a moat protecting the castle which, in this case, is your bloodstream.

Your intestines have biochemical defenses to stop toxins and other nasties from entering your blood and causing you harm.

But of course, your intestinal lining doesn’t block out everything, it has to let in the nutrients from what you eat. This is why your intestinal tract has little pathways known as “tight junctions”. These pathways could be compared to the drawbridge of the castle.

They only let the good nutrients pass into the bloodstream whilst keeping all the bad stuff out.  

Sometimes though, these pathways in the intestinal walls are compromised and can let bacteria and endotoxins pass through into the bloodstream. This is where Total Restore comes in.

Total Restore reinforces your intestinal defenses by strengthening your gut’s mucosal lining and protecting the tight junctions within your gut. The aim of this is to keep out toxins and bacteria from entering through your tight junctions.

Certain proteins like lectins can destabilize these tight junctions, and Total Restore helps protect your gut against these sorts of attacks. 

This supplement influences the microbiome of your gut without directly inputting probiotics or “good bacteria” into your digestive system.

The influence Total Restore has on your gut’s microbiome has a broad range of knock-on effects on other aspects of your health and wellbeing. 

Two of the main ingredients contained in Total Restore supplements are zinc and magnesium. Studies have shown that these minerals and vitamins are essential for maintaining a microbial balance in the gut.

If you have a deficiency in magnesium or zinc, this can impact other bodily systems and even affect your mental state, potentially leading to depression.  

Another key ingredient in Total Restore is a compound called L-glucosamine, which helps to bolster your gut lining. Additionally, this ingredient has been used historically for the treatment of joint pain, particularly for people who are elderly.

What Exactly Is “Intestinal Permeability”?

Intestinal permeability or, as it’s more colloquially known as, “leaky gut” is a condition where little gaps can appear within the digestive tract that allows the passing of harmful substances into the bloodstream. 

It is theorized that once these harmful substances pass into the bloodstream intact, they can cause an undesirable immune response. This can lead to symptoms such as skin problems and fatigue. Additionally, it is linked to certain food sensitivities and issues with digestion. 

According to Dr. Gundry, the man behind Total Restore, intestinal permeability is caused by eating foods that contain lectins. This is the hypothesis behind one of his popular books, and why he recommends Total Restore to maintain a healthy gut. 

What Are The Ingredients In Total Restore?

We’ve briefly discussed some of the main ingredients in Total Restore, but let’s now look at the complete list of what is contained in Total Restore supplements. We’ll then look into a few of these ingredients in further detail. 

Ingredients:

• Magnesium
• Zinc
• L-glutamine 
• N-acetyl-D-glucosamine
• Magnesium beta-hydroxybutyrate
• Grape seed extract 
• Licorice root and rhizomes powder
• Wormwood
• Cinnamon bark powder 
• Maitake mushroom extract
• Organic berries (blueberry, raspberry, cherry, elderberry, and cranberry) 
• Cloves
• Black pepper fruit extract 
• Grapefruit seed extract 
• Marshmallow root powder
• Zinc L-carnosine 
• Berberine 
• Microcrystalline cellulose 
• Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose 
• Silicone dioxide 
• Magnesium stearate 

L-Glutamine 

Total Restore has 213 mg of L-glutamine, which is an amino acid. This amino acid is used by intestinal cells to help maintain their integrity. Additionally, it aids in decreasing inflammation in the gut, and it helps to keep microbes within the gut where they should be. 

According to this study, there is some evidence to suggest that supplementing with L-glutamine orally can help increase the number of microbes in the gut that contribute to maintaining healthy body weight. 

Although L-glutamine is produced naturally in the body, sometimes supplementation is necessary in times of intense physical stress or injury. 

N-Acetyl D-Glucosamine 

142 mg of N-acetyl D-glucosamine is incorporated into Total Restore. This compound can be found in connective tissue and cartilage within the body.

It is essential for good joint health. In terms of its role within the intestinal tract, it can function as a barrier between the microbes within the gut and the intestinal wall.

It has also been shown to block certain kinds of lectins, which is why it is believed to help aid against intestinal permeability. 

Magnesium Beta-Hydroxybutyrate

There is 86 mg of magnesium beta-hydroxybutyrate in Total Restore. This compound is a ketone that is believed to aid in increasing levels of energy.

Some animal studies have suggested that it can be used to increase lifespan, however, more evaluation is required to make this claim that it can increase a human’s lifespan.

An additional study has shown that it may improve cognitive function in adults who have impaired memory.

Zinc-L-Carnosine

This combination of the amino acid carnosine and zinc is included in Total Restore. 10 mg of the compound is used. This compound has been found to aid in the restoration of the gastric lining.

Thanks to its strong anti-inflammatory properties, it is helpful for healing the digestive tract. Zinc alone is commonly used to treat Crohn’s disease, as it can help lower intestinal permeability. 

Seed Extracts, Plant + Root Powders

Several extracts from plants, roots, seeds are included in Total Restore as they provide compounds that have anti-inflammatory properties and many antioxidants.  

Grape Seed Extract 

58 mg of grape seed extract is included in Total Restore. Based on this animal study, grape seed extract may be helpful for the improvement of intestinal integrity. 

Licorice Root Extract 

There is 58 mg of the licorice root extract in Total Restore. This extract has both anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that are helpful for maintaining gut health.

Additionally, this study from 2012 suggests that it can be used for treating the symptoms of stomach pain and acid reflux.

Wormwood

50 mg of wormwood is added to Total Restore. Wormwood is a herb that has traditionally been used in medicines and it’s also commonly used to make particular types of alcohol. 

This study shows the multitude of potential benefits that this herb has which is thanks to its antioxidant activity. It also aids in the stimulation of excreting digestive enzymes in the gut.

Cinnamon Bark Powder

50 mg of cinnamon bark powder is contained in Total Restore. This aromatic herb has been included as it can inhibit particular digestive enzymes which result in lower blood sugar levels and therefore an improved insulin response after eating meals.  

Maitake Mushrooms

34 mg of this Japanese mushroom is included in Total Restore. It has been traditionally used for its medicinal properties for many centuries.

They have adaptogenic properties, meaning they aid to reduce the physiological effects of stress. Despite the fact that they’re commonly used in Japanese culture and have been for a considerable time, new research about the potential health benefits is still ongoing. 

Organic Berry Blend

There is 22 mg of this blend of organic berries in Total Restore. Each of these berries is rich in antioxidants. These also have anti-inflammatory properties and help protect the gut biome.  

Clove Bud Powder

17 mg of this fragrant spice is included in Total Restore. The benefits of this spice are due to its antioxidant properties.

They also may protect against gastric ulcers according to this study. Additionally, they are also shown to inhibit the growth of certain types of bacteria within the digestive tract.

Black Pepper Fruit Powder

17 mg of this common seasoning is included in Total Rescue. According to this study, black pepper can help with the absorption of nutrients and it can also support the general health of your gut’s microbiome.  

Grapefruit Seed Extract

There is 17 mg of grapefruit seed extract in Total Restore.  This study shows that grapefruit seeds have anti-microbial properties. Additionally, they are also rich in naringenin, which is an antioxidant.

Marshmallow Root Powder

10 mg of this herbal remedy are included in Total Restore. It has a multitude of potential health benefits, but in relation to digestion, this study suggests that marshmallow root aids in protecting against gastric ulcers. 

Berberine Bark Powder

Just 3 mg of this yellow plant is included in Total Restore. This powder has, according to this study, benefits relating to metabolic dysfunction.

More Information on Dr. Gundry and Total Restore

Dr. Gundry was a cardiothoracic surgeon for three decades. During his time as a surgeon, he became a pioneer specializing in infant heart surgery. Following his time as a surgeon, he switched his focus onto the role of nutrition in his patients’ health.

He has penned multiple books on the topic of health and nutrition, many of which have become bestsellers. He now runs his own clinic in Palm Springs, but, as you can imagine, it is expensive and there is a very long waitlist.  

Dr. Gundry went on to develop his own line of products including health supplements, health foods, and even skin and hair care items. This is all available from his company Gundry MD.

One of these products, of course, is Total Restore. All of the Gundry MD products focus on using natural ingredients. Their aim is to use these natural ingredients to have an influence on the users’ health from a proactive standpoint as opposed to a reactive standpoint.

By this, we men that Gundry MD’s products are designed to be preventative towards disease, but to also heal diseases when possible and necessary.  

Is Total Restore Safe?

Generally speaking, this supplement is very safe. All of the ingredients contained in Total Restore are from a natural source, and Gundry MD as a company values the stability and purity of all of its products.

They operate in line with the Good Manufacturing Practices in order to ensure this, however, with all supplements, you should first consult your own doctor before taking them. There are always some risks involved which should be thoroughly considered use.

There are a few ingredients in Total Restore and in the rest of the Gundry MD line of supplements that some users may be sensitive to or even have allergies to. In some cases, these ingredients are completely necessary to the product and cannot be dispensed with.

One ingredient that could pose problems to some users is N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. This is one of the primary ingredients that improves gut health in Total Restore, as it binds to lectins and stops them from damaging the tight junctions in your intestinal linings.

The reason why this ingredient could be potentially problematic is that it is derived from shellfish (shrimp and crabs). This means that Total Restore is unsuitable for those with shellfish allergies. Additionally, it means that this product is not vegetarian or vegan-friendly.

N-acetyl-glucosamine can be extracted from plant-based sources, however, so there may be other products available on the market that are suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Unfortunately, though, plant-based glucosamine can be up to two times more expensive than glucosamine derived from shellfish.  

In addition, Total Restore contains licorice root. In high doses, this ingredient can cause high blood pressure. It can also reduce potassium levels in the blood when taken to excess. However, the precise amount of licorice root needed to cause this reaction is unknown.

Grapefruit seed extract is another ingredient in Total Restore that must be avoided by people who are taking certain medications such as statins. 

Another key ingredient and the most abundant one included in Total Restore is L-glutamine. This ingredient is also the most essential one in regards to the improvement of the mucosal lining of the gut.

It is an amino acid that is non-essential, meaning that it is not created in our bodies. It can be found, however, in dairy products, meat, and an assortment of vegetables. 

Glutamine could also be a problematic ingredient for some users, as many people in the US have a sensitivity to it. For these people, glutamine can cause joint inflammation, headaches, and fatigue.

In severe cases of glutamine sensitivity, it can cause anaphylaxis. Some people may be unaware that glutamine is the cause of some of these problems, so taking a supplement containing L-glutamine like Total Restore could make these problems much worse.

If you experience any adverse reactions to Total Restore, you must cease taking the supplement and consult your doctor. 

How Do You Take Total Restore?

The recommended dose for Total Restore is three capsules to be taken each day. Dr. Gundry recommends that users take all three capsules with the biggest meal of the day, which usually is the evening meal.

You can, however, spread each of the capsules out, taking one with each meal if you prefer. 

According to some users, they start experiencing the positive effects of Total Restore within the first few days of taking the supplement.

For the majority of Total Restore users, however, they will begin feeling an increase in energy and/or better gastrointestinal comfort a few weeks after starting their Total Restore regimen. 

A Final Word on Total Restore

Total Restore is packed full of various ingredients that are shown to have certain health benefits relating to the gut biome and the guts’ mucosal lining.

Additionally, many of the ingredients are proven to be effective anti-inflammatories, which can be very beneficial for those who are suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases.  

Many of the ingredients in Total Restore have a lot of evidence that supports their effectiveness at supporting good gut health and increased energy in addition to good joint health.

It is likely to be a beneficial product for people who have problems relating to their digestion, such as bloating and fatigue.  

However, it must be noted that digestive problems can be caused by a vast range of things, and this product or any sort of supplement should not be regarded as a cure.

For serious conditions relating to the gastrointestinal tract, the underlying cause must first be identified and addressed by either medical treatment or dietary/lifestyle changes.  

Before taking Total Restore or any dietary supplement, you should first consult a professional physician.