Amino acids are very important in nutrition. They are the basic structural building units of proteins. Just as the letters of the alphabet can be combined to form an almost endless variety of words, amino acids can be linked in varying sequences to form a vast variety of proteins.
Proteins are defined by their unique sequence of amino acid residues. Twenty-two standard amino acids are used by cells in protein biosynthesis, and these are specified by the general genetic code. These twenty-two amino acids are biosynthesized from other molecules, but organisms differ in which ones they can synthesize and which ones must be provided in their diet. The ones that cannot be synthesized by an organism are called essential amino acids.
When taken up into the body in the diet, the twenty-two standard amino acids are either used to synthesize proteins and other biomolecules or oxidized to urea and carbon dioxide as a source of energy. Of the twenty-two standard amino acids, eight are called essential amino acids because the human body cannot synthesize them from other compounds at the level needed for normal growth, so they must be obtained from food.
The amounts required depend on the age and health of the individual, so it is hard to make general statements about the dietary requirement for some amino acids.
Essential - Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Tryptophan, Valine.
Nonessential - Alanine, Asparagine, Aspartate, Cysteine, Glutamate, Glutamine, Glycine, Proline, Serine, Tyrosine, Arginine, Histidine.
However, not all of the functions of other abundant non-standard amino acids are known, for example taurine is a major amino acid in muscle and brain tissues, but although many functions have been proposed, its precise role in the body has not been determined.
So... if you spend time in the gym take some extra amino, your body needs it. Amino acids are essential for bodybuilders and athletes as they help in recovery, energy production, repair, growth, and development of muscle tissue. Amino acids are not only responsible for the production of all the body's enzymes (including digestive enzymes), but they also play a key role in normalizing moods, concentration, aggression, attention, sleep, and sex drive.
