Total Restore
$69.95
Cons
- Ingredients are largely useless
- Most ingredients are herb powders
- Product is extremely expensive for what you get
- No ingredient has been shown to heal the gut lining in healthy humans
- Leaky gut syndrome isn't real anyway!
Total Restore Review Summary
Total Restore from Gundry MD is one of the most popular gut health supplements on the market right now. It is not a probiotic; rather, it claims to deliver a combination of ingredients which promote digestive health and cure “leaky gut syndrome”. After doing a detailed review, I have no idea how Gundry Total Restore has become so popular. There is no such thing as leaky gut syndrome; it is not a recognized medical condition. Consuming cloves and cinnamon isn’t going to fix any digestive issues, and you don’t need to pay Gundry “MD” $69.99 for the priviledge! For long-term gut health, use a combined prebiotic and probiotic stack!
What is Total Restore?
Total Restore is a supplement made by Gundry MD. Dr. Gundry is the archetypal shill; he has appeared on every self-improvement podcast and YouTube channel to deliver his unique blend of pseudo-science and insinuation to sell his supplements. He sells other popular gut supplements, such as Bio Complete 3, which doesn’t work either!
Total Restore is not like other gut health supplements in that it is designed to promote a healthy gut lining, rather than redressing an imbalance in gut bacteria (like probiotics and prebiotics).
According to the Gundry MD website, Total Restore can:
- Reduce gas and bloating
- Increase energy and focus
- Improve mood
- Help combat food cravings
- Support “comfortable” joints
That is quite an impressive range of benefits for what is a fairly targeted supplement. That said, we know that your gut affects every aspect of health and performance directly, so these claims do make sense.
The question is, does Gundry MD Total Restore really work? Is it an effective gut health supplement? Is it safe? What even is leaky gut syndrome? Read our full Total Restore review below and find out.
What is Leaky Gut Syndrome?
“Leaky gut syndrome” is not actually a medical syndrome at all – it is a “proposed” syndrome, which means that some people are claiming it exists.
The proponents of leaky gut syndrome state that a wide range of health conditions are caused by toxins, germs, and irritants “leaking” into the bloodstream through a bowel that has become porous or overly-permeable.
Some conditions are partly caused by a “leaky” gut; rarely, a person might have increased gut permeability or a reduced mucosal membrane. This causes problems as unwanted substances (usually dealt with or passed through the gut) enter the body in large quantities.
However, there is currently no evidence that leaky gut syndrome is widespread, that it is caused by common food products, or that it is the root cause of systemic conditions as claimed by Gundry.
The bowel lining can be chronically damaged, but this tends to be the symptom of another condition like norovirus, celiac disease or Crohn’s disease.
Now that that’s out the way, let’s look at Gundry MD Total Restore’s ingredients.
Total Restore Ingredients
What are the ingredients in Total Restore?
Here is the Total Restore ingredients list as you will find it on the bottle. This image was posted on social media, and is therefore fine to reproduce here:
Here is a list of the ingredients in case that image fails to load:
- Magnesium – 7mg
- Zinc – 7mg
- L-Glutamine – 213mg
- N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine – 142mg
- Magnesium Beta-Hydroxybutyrate – 86mg
- Grape Seed Extract – 58mg
- Licorice Powder – 54mg
- Wormwood Powder – 50mg
- Cinnamon Powder – 50mg
- Maitake Mushroom Extract – 34mg
- Organic Berry Mix – 22mg
- Cloves Powder – 17mg
- Black Pepper Powder – 17mg
- Grapefruit Extract – 17mg
- Marshmallow Powder – 10mg
- Zinc L-Carnosine – 10mg
- Berberine – 3mg
As you can see, Gundry Total restore is not a probiotic, nor is it really a prebiotic. Instead it is a supplement supposedly designed for the sole purpose of promoting a healthy gut lining, based on Dr. Gundry’s (basless) idea of a “leaky gut”. There are no vitamins in Total Restore, although there are some minerals, including two different forms of zinc and magnesium. Most of the Total Restore ingredients are herbal extracts and fruit powders. So, does it work as advertised?
Our Thoughts On The Total Restore Formula
Can the Total Restore ingredients deliver on all the promises made by Gundry MD? Will Total Restore “restore” your gut to full health and functionality?
We highly doubt it.
We were genuinely shocked when we saw the Total Restore formula. Although we were aware that this was an unusual gut health supplement, we were still expecting some familiar ingredients: some prebiotic fiber, perhaps some digestive enzymes, and some potent anti-inflammatory substances.
But instead, what we get from Total Restore is a cocktail of plant powders, most of which you probably have in your spice rack right now!
None of the ingredients in Gundry MD Total Restore have been shown to have a positive effect on gut lining.
Not one clinically-proven ingredient!
All we get from Total Restore are common herbs, plant powders, and a couple of minerals that have no meaningful effect on gut health.
Worse still, Total Restore actually contains an ingredient known to cause significant issues for people with celiac disease: L-Glutamine.
Celiac disease is a severe intolerance to gluten. Lots of people with celiac’s disease report feeling terrible while taking glutamine supplements for the purposes of promoting healing (source).
We don’t see why Dr. Gundry MD, in his infinite wisdom, would include a potentially side effect-causing ingredient when there is no solid, clinical evidence that it offers benefits for people with a leaky gut.
All-in-all, we’re less than impressed with Gundry MD Total Restore. It is a complete waste of money. If you want to spend good money on cinnamon and licorice powder, visit your local supermarket and go to the baking aisle!
If you’re serious about promoting your gut health, then use a high-spec product with clinically-proven ingredients.
Is Total Restore good for constipation?
No, taking Gundry MD Total Restore regularly will not help to reduce constipation. Gundry MD claims that Total Restore is reduced gas, constipation, and abdominal pain. However, there is no proof that any Total Restore ingredients help with constipation.
If you are struggling with constipation, then the best way to deal with it naturally is to consume more fiber. Eating more fiber on a daily basis will make sure you never experience constipation. High-quality prebiotics can help speed this process up. Total Restore offers no help with constipation or bloating whatsoever.
Will Total Restore help you lose weight?
Many people believe that taking Total Restore will help them lose weight. Part of the reason they think this is Gundry’s claims about how “leaky gut syndrome” is the underlying cause of all metabolic illnesses, such as diabetes, obesity, etc. However, there is absolutely no reason why the ingredients in Total Restore would help you lose weight. None of the ingredients in this supplement have ever been found to promote weight loss or help with weight management. We don’t think Total Restore really helps tighten up your gut lining either, so even that link to weight loss (as weak as it is) doesn’t stand.
How long should I take Total Restore?
How long you should take Total Restore really depends on you. If you are seeing good results from Total Restore and you believe it is helping fix your leaky gut, then Gundry recommends continuing to take the supplement long-term on a daily basis. Of course, we find it highly unlikely that many users will be seeing major benefits while taking Total Restore. Our advice is to take Total Restore daily for 4 weeks and, if you are seeing no major improvement in bowel movement regularity, bloating, indigestion or appetite control, stop using it entirely.
Gundry Total Restore Side Effects: Is it safe?
Is Total Restore safe to take?
This is one of the most commonly asked questions about this gut supplement from Gundry MD. Unfortunately, we think Gundry Total Restore is potentially unsafe for some users due to the presence of glutamine.
Glutamine is an extremely common amino acid; it is nearly ubiquitous in the human diet. However, some people with celiac disease find that taking glutamine worsens their symptoms (source). In theory, glutamine should promote healing of the gut, but in practice, celiac sufferers seem to experience something different (just as glutamine should, in theory, cause no issues in humans).
We also wouldn’t advise taking a stack with so many different herbal extracts when there is no discernible benefit in doing so. In the case of Total Restore, the risk:reward ratio is heavily lopsided – it’s all risk, no potential reward! Just look at glutamine: 213mg of glutamine will not benefit anybody in any way (you get 5g from a bowl of pasta), but it might cause issues if it exaccerbates your celiac disease.
So what are the side effects of Total Restore?
The likely side effects of Total Restore include:
- Bloating
- Cramps
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Gas
Some Total Restore users have reported feeling tired, having digestive problems, and experiencing joint pain while taking the supplement. It is unclear whether these side effects are actually linked to Total Restore or not since we don’t have information about the user’s diet or lifestyle.
Gundry MD Total Restore is not an effective cure for any disease or condition of the digestive system. If you think you have a chronic gut issue, talk to your general practitioner asap.
Price: Is Gundry MD Total Restore worth the money?
How much does Total Restore cost?
Gundry MD Total Restore is currently priced at an outrageous $69.95 a bottle.
We don’t need to tell you what an outrageous price tag that is for such a basic, low-spec supplement!
Total Restore is not the profesisonal, high-spec gut supplement it makes itself out to be; quite the opposite.
It is simple a collection of herb powders – licorice, cinnamon, black pepper – and a few minerals. The Total Restore ingredients list reads more like a recipe than a supplement designed to fix a “leaky” gut.
As such, the almost $70 price is completely unjustifiable.
By contrast, you can get our current top-rated gut health supplement, Probiology Gut+, for half that price.
Total Restore Alternative: What should you take for a “leaky gut”?
If Total Restore doesn’t work, what is the best supplement to take if you think you have a “leaky gut”?
The answer to this really depends on what it is you are looking to get out of Total Restore. But if your ultimate goal is a more robust and altogether “healthier” gut lining, then the best supplement you can take is a combined probiotic and prebiotic. For that reason, we think the best alternative to Total Restore is Probiology Gut+.
As a combined prebiotic/probiotic stack, Probiology nourishes the healthy bacteria that are already native to your gut while actively rebalancing and replensihing your healthy bactria stock. This is in contrast to simple probiotics, which work by flooding your digestive system with enormous quantities of foreign bacteria species. Instead, Probiology slowly rebalance your gut bacteria by selectively feeding the species most beneficial to health while allowing harmful species to starve.
The benefits of taking Probiology Gut+ every day include:
- Better overall digestive health
- Improved weight management
- Reduced appetite and food cravings
- More sustained energy levels
- Better immune system function
- Supports a healthy gut lining over the long-term
If you are looking for a supplement that will enhance your overall health as well as providing long-term digestive health support, we think a high quality prebiotic is a much better option than Total Restore. The reason for this is that high quality probiotics and prebiotics are scientifically proven to improve digestive health, immune system function, weight control, and energy levels while licorice, strawberry powder and grapeseed powder HAS NOT!
Total Restore Review Conclusion: Should you buy it?
Does Total restoe from Gundry MD really work?
No, we don’t think so.
Total Restore does not have strong evidence to support its efficacy, and none of the ingredients have ever been proven to improve digestive health or the integrity of your gut lining. Total Restore is a collection of cheap fruit and herb leaves that do not work to improve digestion or gut microbiome health.
This is not a high quality gut supplement by any stretch of the imagination.
We have no idea how Gundry MD can claim that Total Restore can heal the lining of the gut with a straight face. Not only is “leaky gut” a completely fabricated condition, but there is nothing in this supplement capable of signifciantly strengthening the mucosal membrane which prevents your gut becoming too permeable.
For $69.95, you get a collection of common herbs and spices – in raw powder form – combined with a ubiquitous amino acid and some minerals. Hardly revolutionary stuff for double the usual gut supplement price!
We usually refrain from being too harsh on a product, but Gundry MD Total Restore looks like a complete joke to us. It is definitely a rip-off, and potentially an outright scam.
If you’re serious about optimizing your gut health and fixing any digestive issues you might have, the we strongly recommend staying away from gimmicky products stuffed full of unproven, cheap ingredients like Total Restore.
There are some superb supplements on sale capable of rectifying many digestive issues and promoting optimal gut health over the long-term.
So What Is The Best Supplement For Digestive Health?
If your goal is to optimize overall digestive health and enjoy all of the benefits that come with it, then the best supplement for you is always going to be a combined prebiotic/probiotic stack which uses a range of probiotic bacteria and a high quality prebiotic fiber such as FOS or Inulin.
Ideally, the probiotic supplement you use will exclusively contain bacteria species that have been proven to improve digestive health, promote immunity, control appetite and improve skin quality in several clinical trials. Bacteria strains you want to look out for include Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus paracasei, and Lactobacillus plantarum. These bacteria species are highly beneficial to health and performance.
The type of prebiotic fiber is also important. Not all fibers are the same; some are better than others at feeding healthy bacteria. So it is vital that the best gut health uses prebiotic fiber that is most effective at selectively feeding the healthy bacteria it is introducing to your gut in the first place. This brings us to the most important aspect of a good probiotic - without some prebiotic fiber, taking a probiotic is practically pointless!
The benefits of taking a combined probiotic and prebiotic stack include:
- Lasting changes to gut microbiome
- Better digestion, less bloating, no cramps
- Improved ability to digest dairy
- Enhance immune system function
- Higher energy levels all day long
- Bealthier skin, hair and nails
So what is the best probiotic/prebiotic supplement on the market right now?
After reviewing dozens of popular probiotics and prebiotics, we think there is one clear winner: Probiology Gut+.
Johan Theorin is an author, editor, and competitive cyclist. He is the author of most of the content on this website, and he is the site editor. Johan has spent years researching joint health, sports performance and recovery. He is a leading biohacking expert and an experienced physiotherapist.
Chicory is listed as high FODMAP in guidelines is there an alternative for those sensitive? Or is this form of chicory not high FODMAP?
Interesting. You have talked badly about someone s product. Then you are trying to sell something else.
Hey Matt, thanks for commenting. We don’t sell anything. We review products and recommend better alternatives. We don’t need a financial incentive to come to the conclusion that Gundry is a quack out to make a fast buck and that Total Restore is garbage.
Would total restore cause me to have irregular periods?
I’m not a follower of Dr. Gundry, however someone who graduated Yale and the Medical College of Georgia, is a cardiothoracic surgeon, and has been involved with medicine and nutrition research for 30+ years might have some insight into what he speaks of.
We all have a right to disagree, though where is the proof his protocol doesn’t work? Have double-blind studies been done to disprove his theories?
Hi Dee, thanks for commenting. You’d be surprised at how many qualified people are devoid of ethics, and place making money over scientific rigor. You’d also be surprised how domain specific competence is. By that I mean that a cardiac surgeon may be amazing at cutting open your chest, inserting stents and bypassing blocked arteries, but that doesn’t mean they know how the gut works. At all.
With regards to your “proof that it doesn’t work”, yes there is; a lack of proof that it works. That’s how scientific proof works. Gundry says his products (such as Total Restore) work, there’s no proof that they do, so we can assume that they don’t. It isn’t for us to show that Gundry is wrong, it’s for him to prove that he is right, which he hasn’t done. Not even close.
Thank you for this detailed review.
I have taken total restore for one month now and it is fabulous for my gut… I have so much more clear energy, no bloating or gas .. regular morning elimination with no loose stools. I highly recommend this product to everyone….
Hi Leslie. It’s great that Total Restore is working for you. How does Total Restore compare to, say, eating more fiber on a daily basis? Have you found Total Restore more effective than eating high fiber cereal and more vegetables?
It works for my husband as well Leslie. I recommend it 100%
I believe that something in Total Restore causes palpitations for me. After a few days of taking it (with mesls), I noticed that Mr heart was pounding after eating. Though I have no major food allergies, I decided to create a food journal for 10 days to be sure. I stopped the Total Restore, and I included all the food I could remember eating in the prior few days. Sure enough, nothing I ate caused the symptom, but as soon as I started taking Dr. Gudry’s Total Restore, The palpitations returned when I ate.
Bought this complete waste of money, it does not do a thing except lower my bank a/c , If you notice most reviews go back to Gudry website to sell sell sell , save your money everybody
I had incredible results. After two weeks of battling a pretty severe stomach issue I tried Total Restore. I should have gone to a doctor, but I’m stubborn. My wife almost took me to the ER think it was my appendix. During the two weeks I was at friends on a two week trip. He could tell I was in pain. He had a case of Total Restore and gave me a bottle. It worked.
I am a Veteran and I developed IBS and reflux after a dermatologist kept me on oral antifungals (Lamisil 250mg) for 28 weeks in lieu of the manufacturers 12 weeks. Traditional medical doctors ignored my concerns and told me to relax and complete my medication and reported to Veterans Affairs and in turn from them I was given entitlements for treatment for’
pancreatitis, IBS, pancreatic insufficiency, barrets oesaphagus, inguinal and umbilical hernias, insulin resistance etc. I will try the supplements as traditional medicine is just as suspect!
Over and over, click on the headline about hidden poison in foods, or 3 foods that will kill your pet, and after a lengthy video it turns out to be an ad for a product.
It’s like astrology and numerous health food supplements. Those who say it works could readily prove it. Quality statistical analysis would prove that astrology works if it does work, and would be highly beneficial to those who practice it.
At the price Gundry charges, he’s got the money for good, double blind clinical tests that would make him millions more if he got positive results.
You can put damn near anything in a capsule, lawn grass, rabbit poop, etc and as long as you are careful how you word benefit claims, it’s not illegal.
Put dead skin cells in a bottle, say what you want, just include: “This product has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.” and you are good to go.
Dr. Gundry had me endure a diatribe, and I got a sore gut listening. I must admit his, is an amazing speil that had me entranced – but for too long. Oscars should be awarded for such performances. Unfortunately, this “quick fix” of his, and the jingoism used to sell it makes me suspicious. I have decided instead to line up for the “Snake Oil” salesman of old as his speil comes with a horse and wagon background – and fresh poop to boot!.
I see Total Restore has wormwood in it. That can be pretty toxic, no? I’m surprised you did not comment on that.
I have taken Total Restore before and I do like it. I tried another brand because of the price and it did not work as well. Also, the off brand was 3 pills a day. I noticed the brand you are advertising is 3 pills twice a day! I could never do this on a regular basis. What I do like about Total Restore is 1 pill a day!
Get the other brands down in how much you are pumping in your bodyand I might consider trying. Total Restore has worked for me in the past and is easy maintenance with 1 pill a day. IF you do take these on a regular basis, 1 pill vs 3 or 6 a day is a huge difference. Especially if you are out and about quite often.
K Wasemiller, Oklahoma