How do amino acids work? Do we need them?
AMINO ACIDS are part of the body. Amino acids are involved in cell construction and tissue repair; they form antibodies to destroy bacteria and viruses that invade the body system; they are elements of the enzyme and hormone system; they participate in the construction of nucleoproteins (RNA and DNA); they transport oxygen throughout the body and participate in muscle activity. When proteins are broken down by digestion in the stomach, the end result is 22 amino acids.
Amino acids, which are essential to health, are also building blocks of protein. Amino acids (proteins) constitute the largest part of our body weight after water. Amino acids are a necessary part of every cell in the body, they are found in tendons, muscles and ligaments; organs and glands; hair and nails; important body fluids.
There are more than 20 amino acids, separated into two categories:
- essential
- non-essential
Amino acids that cannot be manufactured by the body are called essential and must be obtained from your diet. Amino acids that can be manufactured by the body are called non-essential, however, your body must have the right combination of essential amino acids and supporting nutrients to optimize the maintenance of healthy proteins, so supplementation may be desirable.
Building the various proteins used in the growth, repair and maintenance of body tissues requires 20 amino acids. Eleven of these amino acids can be manufactured by the body itself, as we have seen above, they are called non-essential amino acids. On the contrary, the other nine, which are called essential amino acids, must come from your diet.
The essential amino acids are:
- isoleucine
- leucine
- lysine
- methionine
- phenylalanine
- threonine
- tryptophan
- valine.
Histidine is considered semi-essential because the body does not always need it from food sources.
The non-essential amino acids are:
- arginine
- alanine
- asparagine
- aspartic acid
- cysteine
- glutamine
- glutamic acid
- glycine
- proline
- serine
- tyrosine.
Other amino acids, such as carnitine, are used by the body in ways other than building proteins and are often used therapeutically.
Who are people who may have an amino acid deficiency?
Dieters, some strict vegetarians, and anyone who consumes a reduced amount of calories can cause insufficient amino acid consumption. In these cases, the body breaks down the proteins in the muscle tissue itself and uses these amino acids to meet the needs of the most important organs, resulting in insufficient muscle mass despite increased exercise.
Amino acids can have a profound impact on our clarity of thought and well-being, as they are an integral part of life.
What Are The Benefits Of Amino Acids?
Amino acids play an important role in cell strengthening and tissue repair; they aid in wound healing; they increase athletic performance.
