Amino Acids

Amino acids are chemical compounds that constitute proteins, which in turn are the main building substance of the human body. The presence of amino acids is extremely important as they play many critical roles in your body. Apart from building the proteins, they are needed for the synthesis of hormones and neurotransmitters – chemical substances crucial for fundamental processes within the body. Three categories od amino acids can be differenciated : essential, conditionally essential or nonessential. Essential amino acids cannot be produced by the body, so they need to be supplied by food or, if you are not on a varied and diet rich in nutrients, they can also be supplemented. The are 9 essential amino acids: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. They are often found together in nutritional combinations that aid the body in proper functioning. Nonessential amino acids comprising: alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, proline, serine, and tyrosine compose a group of chemical compounds that are produced by the body irrespective of food supply. The third group of amino acids – the so called conditional amino acids include: arginine, cysteine, glutamine, tyrosine, glycine, ornithine, proline, and serine. They are not essential, but their production is activated in times of need, e.g. under stress, or in times of illness. Consuming essential and nonessential amino acids at every meal is not critical, but keeping a balance of them over the whole day is important. Reduction diets or inadequately composed ones may pose a risk of protein deficiencies, which may ultimately bring health hazards or disfuncions of some organs. Your body needs 20 different amino acids to grow and function properly. Though all 20 of these are important for your health, only nine amino acids are classified as essential. In this section you will find detailed information of supplements containing optimal doses of amino acids, for various needs.