Why Everyone Should Consider Increasing Their Intake of Amino Acids

by | Nov 11, 2016 | Nutrition, Supplements

The role of amino acids within the human body and brain is often overlooked by many. Often times people who supplement in addition to their diet, focus mostly on protein as well as specific vitamins and minerals. Without completely realizing it, people often forget that amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and they are needed in order to keep the body in an anabolic state versus a catabolic state. One could also argue that not only are vitamins and minerals a critical part of daily consumption, but amino acids are just as important for consumption in order to up keep optimal health. Amino acids are the basis of all life and they interact in crucial processes such as metabolism, transportation of nutrients, and storage of various nutrients as well, such as vitamins, minerals, fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. While it is fully known that amino acids are either classified as essential or non-essential, the real role of amino acids is to help the body maintain a state of homeostasis. Amino acids are needed to build and repair muscles, ligaments, tendons, hair, skin, and nails. So whether you’re looking to build lean muscle mass or just help your body overall with repair, you can likely benefit from some form of amino acid supplementation. So what are the essential amino acids? The essential amino acids are those whose carbon skeletons are not synthesized by animal cells and, therefore, must be provided from the diet. Meanwhile non-essential amino acids are those AA that are synthesized de novo in a species-dependent manner (3, 4). It was tactically assumed, without much evidence, that animals or humans...