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Amino Acids (Protein)

Protein (Greek - ‘First Things’)

Every cell in the body requires amino acids. The digestive system breaks down the protein in foodstuffs into separate constitute parts known as amino acids, these are then recombined to create the various specific proteins the body requires to maintain itself.

Classification of Amino Acids:

Essential Amino Acids - unable to be manufactured by the body, therefore are needed to be supplied to the body through the diet
Non Essential Amino Acids - this does not mean that the body doesn't require them, it’s because the body is able to manufacture them (in some cases they may have to be supplemented.)
Other Amino Acids - can be manufactured from other amino acids - some are not an amino acid but are classified as such due to their close structural sameness.

Amino acids maintain and repair:

Glands.
Hair.
Ligaments.
Muscle.
Nails
Organs.
Skin.
Tendons.

Amino acids are involved in the production of:

Enzymes.
Hormones.
Neurotransmitters.
Various body fluids.

A poor diet, especially one with a low protein content, will result in amino acid deficiency. Other causes can be:

Age.
Chemical imbalance.
Infection.
Medication.
Stress.
Trauma.

Notes

Amino acids are very powerful medicines and should not be supplemented without obtaining professional advice. High doses of certain amino acids can cause, vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea.

Those with kidney or liver disease especially, should not consume high intakes of amino acids without first consulting their clinician, large dose supplementation of amino acids may cause neurological problems.

There are 20 amino acids that are relevant to the make-up of mammalian proteins. Other amino acids are found in the body these perform specialised functions. Some of the amino acids found in proteins also serve functions distinct from the formation of peptides and proteins

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), refer to amino acids having aliphatic side-chains that are non-linear. They are leucine, isoleucine and valine. The combination of these three essential amino acids make up approximately 1/3 of skeletal muscle in the human body, and play an important role in protein synthesis.

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