Gundry MD Total Restore

Gundry MD Total Restore Review - Does It Work As Advertised?

By Anthony Dugarte, M.D., C.S.C.S

Updated on: May 14, 2020

What is Total Restore?

Total Restore from Gundry MD is a supplement that will allegedly help you fight leaky gut through a blend of natural ingredients.

The term “leaky gut” refers to a process in which the lining of your digestive tract is more absorbent than it should be. This increases the risk of harmful toxins to seep out of your intestines and into areas of your body where they may cause harm.

According to Gundry MD, this can result in signs and symptoms like bloating, digestive irregularity, gas, fatigue, excess body weight, and even food cravings.

There are a number of causes for these symptoms, and just as many potential remedies. Total Restore from Gundry MD allegedly offers a natural option. In fact, according to the product page, you can expect the following by taking 3 capsules daily with the largest meal of your day:

• Better digestion
• Improved gas, constipation, and irregularity
• Less bloating and a flatter stomach
• Reduced cravings
• A healthier body weight
• More mobility and decreased joint pain and stiffness
• Increased energy
• Improved mood

As you may notice, many of these claims are seemingly unrelated to digestive health. While these benefits are obviously desirable, it seems like this is a lot to accomplish for a single dietary supplement.

In this article, we’ll help you sort through these claims and evaluate their merit by reviewing the available research for Total Restore’s key ingredients.

Total Restore Ingredients: Does Science Back Them Up?

Total Restore from Gundry MD is a dietary supplement that is designed to fight leaky gut through a blend of natural ingredients.

While increased permeability of the intestinal lining may allow harmful toxins into areas of the body they shouldn’t be, the link to this process and chronic disease outside of the gastrointestinal tract is uncertain. Therefore, leaky gut is not a widely accepted medical diagnosis.

Currently, there does not seem to be any interventions that are effective in improving the function of this barrier or altering the course of any associated diseases.

Nonetheless, Total Restore may be able to address other issues.

Each 3-capsule serving contains the following ingredients:

• L-Glutamine - 213mg
• N-Acetyl- D-Glucosamine (NAG) - 142mg
• Magnesium Beta-Hydroxybutyrate (MBH)- 86mg
• Grape Seed Extract - 58mg
• Licorice Roots Powder - 54mg
• Wormwood Powder - 50mg
• Cinnamon Bark Powder - 50mg
• Maitake Mushroom Extract - 34mg
• Organic Strawberry, Organic Raspberry, Organic Blueberry, Organic Tart Cherry, Organic Elderberry, and Organic Cranberry - 22mg total
• Cloves Buds Powder - 17mg
• Black Pepper Seeds Power - 17mg
• Grapefruit Seeds Extract - 17mg
• Marshmallow Roots Powder - 10mg
• Zinc L-Carnosine - 10mg
• Berberine Bark Powder - 3mg

We’ll highlight the available research for some of the key ingredients here.

L-Glutamine

Glutamine is an amino acid. It’s commonly included in dietary supplements that claim to boost immune function, support digestive health, and support brain function.

It may be included in Total Restore for its suspected ability to enhance mental function, though 2,000mg doses negatively affected the ability of individuals to complete reaction time tasks. Even at large doses, this ingredient does not seem to be effective for these purposes.

NAG

NAG is derived from shellfish and is proposed to protect your digestive tract from the harmful effects of gluten.

In a laboratory model, NAG was effective in limiting the harmful effects of rye, barley, and oat glutens in small intestinal cells obtained from 26 children with gluten intolerance.

Data supporting the use of NAG is lacking outside of this study is lacking, however.

MBH

Beta-hydroxybutyrate is an exogenous ketone, one that is created outside your body. Like other Gundry MD products, it is probably included in Total Restore as ketones may be used as a source of energy.

However, your body preferentially burns carbohydrates for energy - if you follow a regular diet, fats will not be used for this purpose. Therefore, the suspected ability to boost energy and promote brain function is only possible when carbs are not present.

Zinc

Zinc is an essential mineral that has a role in many biochemical reactions. Thus, a deficiency can lead to a variety of unwanted effects.

Zinc is included in Total Restore for its suspected role in promoting weight loss, energy, and mental function.

Low zinc levels were associated with obesity, elevated BMI, and larger waist circumference in premenopausal women.

In a randomized study, 30mg of zinc daily over 4-weeks reduced the BMI and body weight of obese individuals.

Lastly, in individuals 70-years or older, 150gm of zinc protected against cognitive decline when compared to placebo.

Cinnamon Bark

This spice is often included in dietary supplements for its suspected ability to offer antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and disease-fighting benefits.

While a review of 10 trials found 120mg/d - 6 g doses to effectively reduce fasting blood sugar over 4 to 18-weeks, digestion related benefits were not well supported.

Berberine

Berberine is a plant-based ammonium salt that may possess anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and diabetes-fighting properties.

In a randomized trial, individuals with metabolic syndrome that took 500mg three times daily over 3-months had remission of the syndrome, better insulin sensitivity, and improved waist circumference.

Black Pepper

Black pepper may offer antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and disease-fighting capabilities.

In Total Restore, black pepper may function as a prebiotic to help boost your friendly gut bacteria. In overweight subjects, 6mg of black pepper was also effective in decreasing BMI and body fat.

Is Total Restore Safe?

As many of the ingredients found in Total Restore are obtained naturally from a balanced diet, they are generally safe to consume in the quantities offered in this supplement.

Your biggest risk for harm may come from delaying appropriate medical attention for the symptoms you’re experiencing. Using a dietary supplement that doesn’t address the underlying cause can allow them to persist or even worsen.

Additionally, you should avoid Total Restore if you have an allergy as NAG is obtained from shellfish.

For these reasons, It is best to speak with your physician before trying to treat symptoms. The first step should always be to determine the underlying source. You can then work together to determine the safest plan of care.

Total Restore Cost

You can purchase Total Restore directly from Gundry MD’s website. There are a few pricing options, and all orders over $60 ship free.

For non-members, Total Restor pricing is as follows:

• $69.95 for one bottle
• $191.85 for three bottles
• $317.70 for six bottles

Also, you have the option to join the VIP program. This subscription plan includes automatic monthly shipments, as well as more savings and free shipping. You can cancel shipments at any time, and VIP pricing is as follows:

• $44.95 per month for one bottle
• $121.95 per month for three bottles
• $229.95 per month for six bottles

Gundry MD backs your purchases with a 90-day money-back guarantee. If you aren’t happy with Toral Restore, you can contact customer support at (800) 852-0477 to start the refund process.

What Are the Alternatives to Total Restore?

While Total Restore’s blend of ingredients is challenging to find offered in a single supplement, other supplements claim to address leaky gut.

Also from Gundry MD, Lectin Shield is a good example. It allegedly offers benefits that are identical to those that Total Restore is proposed to address, though the mechanism of action and ingredients list for these 2 supplements differ substantially.

Lectin Shield is purported to act by limiting the actions of lectin, a protein found in both animals and plants that may play a role in various digestive issues and chronic medical conditions. It offers twice as much NAD in addition to a number of other extracts.

Considering the cost of Total Restore, you’d save money with Lectin Shield; 1 and 6-bottle orders are $50 and $240, respectively.

Though the risk for harm is low, Lectin Shield is still quite pricey. Also, the research supporting the actions of the ingredients is limited, and the company claims it can address an issue that is not currently supported as a medical diagnosis.

Despite a favorable return policy, you should save your money and seek the guidance of your doctor if you’re experiencing digestive symptoms.

The Bottom Line

Total Restore’s blend of natural ingredients has varying support for their proposed actions. However, scientific support backing the main benefit of this supplement, addressing leaky gut, is lacking.

Despite a favorable return policy, Total Restore is still one of the pricier dietary supplements that we’ve reviewed at HighYa.

Though the risk for serious side effects is likely low, given the pricing and lack of strong evidence, it is probably best that you seek relief elsewhere.

If you’re experiencing digestive symptoms that are negatively impacting your quality of life, your first stop should be having a conversation with your doctor. While dietary supplements may be helpful, it is best to first understand the source of your symptoms.