What Are The Essential Amino Acids

There are 20 amino acids that the body uses, and some of these amino acids must be obtained through diet. Essential amino acids play important roles in the body, and they include building muscle tissue, producing enzymes and hormones, and boosting immunity. Consuming foods that contain all 20 of the essential amino acids is important for maintaining good health. Here's a look at the essential amino acids and what functions they perform in the body.

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein

Amino acids are truly fascinating – they are the building blocks that make up proteins, which are essential for our body to function properly. Amino acids come in all shapes and sizes, and are formed when a carboxyl group (-COOH) reacts with an amine group (-NH2). This combining of amino acids leads to the formation of peptides and eventually proteins necessary for cell metabolism, tissue repair and various tissues like muscles and ligaments. As special as they are, it's no surprise that amino acids have a wide variety of uses - from improving sports performance to fighting infections and cleaning the body out among others!

The 20 Amino Acids Your Body Needs

Have you ever heard of amino acids? We need these organic compounds in order to perform various functions, including energy production and muscle building. In fact, there are 20 different amino acids that are essential for our bodies to carry out vital processes. These amino acids provide the building blocks for making proteins, which are important components of bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood.

Plus, they can also be turned into hormones and neurotransmitters. Clearly, if we don’t have enough of them, our bodies will not be able to function properly! It's amazing how something so small could play such a huge role in keeping us healthy – it just goes to show the power of nature!

What Are Essential Amino Acids

Have you ever heard of essential amino acids? The amino acids that are considered essential are a little different than the rest. Amazingly, nine out of twenty amino acids cannot be created or produced by the human body - they must be obtained through sources like meat, eggs, soybeans, and quinoa. That’s why it is so important to ensure you are getting enough essential amino acids in your diet because it's easy for your body to become deficient in these. Healthy eating habits as well as adding a high quality amino acid supplement to your daily routine are extremely beneficial at providing those nine essential amino acids that the body cannot create on its own.

The 9 Essential Amino Acids

All the essential nutrients our bodies need come from food, and one of the most important categories of those nutrients are amino acids. Essential amino acids are nine particular substances that must be obtained from diet because our bodies can't make them on their own. These include:

• Histidine
• Isoleucine
• Leucine
• Lysine
• Methionine
• Phenylalanine
• Threonine
• Tryptophan
• Valine

Adding these to your diet will provide your body with the raw materials it needs to grow strong muscles and bones. Aiming to get sources of essential amino acid in each meal will ensure you're giving your body what it needs.

The Role Amino Acids Play In Your Body

Amino acids are like the building blocks of life! They form proteins to be used within our cells and tissues, playing an invaluable role when it comes to our muscle growth and repair, immune function, and more. Our body can't produce these important compounds on its own, so they must come from the foods we eat or by taking supplements.

It's a good idea to pay close attention to your diet and discuss potential supplementation with your doctor if you're unsure if you're getting enough of certain amino acids in your food. Taking care of ourselves starts with understanding the part these tiny molecules play for our health inside out!

Foods High In Essential Amino Acids

Eating a balanced diet doesn't have to be boring! When it comes to consuming all nine essential amino acids, many dietary options are available. If you enjoy meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products, you can easily check this important nutrient off your list. However, for those looking for plant-based proteins, there are delicious alternatives like quinoa and soybeans. So get creative with your meals — the variety of protein sources ensure that you can enjoy the foods that keep your body healthy and strong!

Why You Should Supplement With Amino Acids

There are many reasons why supplementing with amino acids can be beneficial. As mentioned earlier, our bodies cannot produce all the essential amino acids, so it is important to make sure we are getting enough of them from our diet or by taking supplements.

Additionally, if your body is unable to absorb the nutrients you consume due to a health condition like Celiac disease, a supplement can ensure you're getting enough essential amino acids. Furthermore, for people who exercise regularly, an increase in muscle mass requires additional protein and essential amino acids. Whether you choose to take a supplement or not is up to you, but speaking with your healthcare provider first is always recommended!

The Highest Quality Amino Acid Supplement

Regen Wellness Vitamins has the highest quality essential amino acid supplement available. Amino Acid Supreme™ provides all nine EAAs, including tryptophan, which is essential for the production of serotonin and melatonin.  You get your complete essential amino acid profile in just one scoop of delicious fruit punch flavored powder added to water.

This formula also contains the conditionally-essential amino acid, arginine, which plays an important role in wound healing, immune function, and cell division. This may be especially beneficial for individuals with a compromised digestive function, those recovering from physical trauma, and those with difficulty consuming adequate amounts of complete protein.

This formula contains optimal doses of the branched chain amino acid, leucine, considered the most anabolic amino acid (promoting growth and metabolic activity), which is particularly applicable for athletes and individuals looking to build lean muscle mass.* The formula also includes Alpha-Ketoglutarate a compound and key molecule in the Krebs cycle involved in the generation of energy inside cells. Providing this, along with the free-form essential amino acids in Amino Acid Supreme™, may help promote stamina and healthy energy levels.*

Additionally, Vitamin B6 is required for many reactions that convert amino acids into their end products, for example, tyrosine into dopamine. Synthesis of collagen — the main structural protein in the body — requires B6. Coffee and alcohol consumption may interfere with vitamin B6 metabolism, and many common medications may impair absorption of vitamin B6.

What Are Essential Amino Acids - Now You Know

It’s incredibly important to ensure your body is getting enough essential amino acids. The nine essential amino acids are found in a variety of foods, including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products, quinoa and soybeans. They play an invaluable role in muscle growth and repair, immune function, and more!

Supplementing with essential amino acids can be beneficial for those who may have difficulty absorbing nutrients, as well as those who exercise regularly and need extra protein. Be sure to speak with your healthcare provider before taking any supplements to ensure you’re getting the right amount of essential amino acids for optimal health!

To recap, amino acids are the building blocks of protein and there are 20 that the body needs to perform various functions. 9 of these amino acids cannot be produced by the body and must be obtained through diet. The essential amino acids are histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.

These amino acids play a role in muscle growth and repair, immune function, and more. Start feeling the difference adding Amino Acid Supreme™ to your daily supplement regimen can have on your health. Good luck on your journey to a healthier lifestyle!

Sources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557845/

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002222.htm

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4703346/