Essential Amino Acids

Essential amino acids are amino acids that the human body requires, but does not produce.  Therefore, essential amino acids must be through the consumption of foods that contain them.  An amino acid is a small molecule that acts as the building block of any cell.  While carbohydrates provide cells with energy, amino acids provide cells with the building material they need to grow and maintain cellular structure.  The human body is constructed of 20 different amino acids (there are an estimated 100 naturally occurring amino acids in nature).  There are two types of amino acids: essential and non-essential. Non-essential amino acids can be created by the body from other available chemicals.

There are nine essential amino acids:  Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionin, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Tryptophan and Valine.  Protein in human diets comes from both animal and vegetable sources.  Most animal foods (meat, milk, eggs) provide "complete protein," which contain all of the essential amino acids.  Vegetable foods are usually low on or missing certain essential amino acids.  Some vegetable foods contain quite a bit of protein--foods like nuts, beans, soybeans, etc.  By combining them you can get complete coverage of all essential amino acids.  The digestive system breaks all proteins down into their amino acids so that they can enter the bloodstream. Cells then use the amino acids as building blocks.

Everyday Nutrient Nutraceuticals: Essential Seven

Everyday Nutrient Related Topics: Arteries, Blood Vessels, Cellular Health, Choline, DNA, Essential Amino Acids, Essential Seven, Folic Acid, Free Radicals, Healthy Cells, Heart Supplements, Immune System, Methionine, Methyl Donors, Methyl Groups, Vitamin B12