Amino acids are chemical units, or "building blocks," that make up proteins. They are also the final products of protein digestion, known as hydrolysis. Amino acids have a nitrogen content of around 16 percent. This is what distinguishes them from the other two primary nutrients: sugars and fatty oils, which do not contain nitrogen chemically.
Amino acids are vital for life because they help form proteins, which make up the structure of all living organisms. Proteins play a role in essential chemical processes that sustain life.
Proteins are an essential component of every living cell in the body. Protein is the largest component of our body weight next to water. Protein compounds make up muscles, ligaments, tendons, organs, glands, nails, hair, and numerous vital bodily fluids in the human body and are required for bone growth.
Proteins are the chemicals and enzymes that control all bodily functions. Proteins assist in maintaining a proper internal pH level and regulating hydration in the body. They aid in the transfer of nutrients between intercellular fluids, tissues, blood, and lymph. A lack of protein might lead to edema due to a disruption of the body's fluid equilibrium.
Proteins make up the structural framework of chromosomes, which carry hereditary information from parents to offspring. The genetic "coder" in each cell's DNA is actually a recipe for protein production.
Proteins are linked together by peptide bonds in long chains. Each kind of protein has a unique set of amino acids arranged in a specific way. It is the particular amino acids that are present and how they are connected together in sequence that give proteins their various roles and appearances.
Each protein in the body is designed to meet a certain need; proteins are not interchangeable. The proteins that make up human bodies are not obtained directly from food. Rather, dietary protein is deconstructed into its component amino acids, which are then utilized to create the appropriate proteins by the body. As a result, it's the amino acids rather than the protein that are vital nutrients.
Other amino acids that are not involved in protein synthesis also play important roles in metabolism. These include citrulline, glutathione, ornithine, and taurine. Some of these amino acids can be similar to (or by-products of) the protein-building amino acids. Others act as neurotransmitters or precursors of neurotransmitters—chemicals that carry information from one nerve cell to another.
The brain requires a variety of amino acids to receive and transmit messages. Unlike many other chemicals, neurotransmitters are able to travel via the blood-brain barrier. This is a form of protective barrier that protects the brain from hazardous chemicals and outside intruders.
The wall cells of the capillaries in the brain are more tightly mesh together than those of other parts of the body's circulation system. This keeps a variety of chemicals, particularly water-based ones, from diffusing into brain tissue through the capillary walls. Certain amino acids may flow through this barrier, allowing them to be utilized by nerve cells in other areas of the body to communicate with one another.
Amino acids enable vitamins and minerals to perform their jobs properly. Even if vitamins and minerals are absorbed by the body, they cannot be effective unless the necessary amino acids are present. For example, low levels of the amino acid tyrosine may lead to iron deficiency.
Research suggests that allergies and autoimmune disorders are linked to deficiencies in the amino acids methionine and taurine. Elderly people often suffer from depression or neurological problems, which may be associated with a lack of tyrosine, tryptophan, phenylalanine, histidine, and also of the branched-chain amino acids--valine, isoleucine,and leucine.
Branched-chain amino acids can be used to provide energy directly to muscle tissue. People who are unable to metabolize these acids may suffer from trauma or infection.
There are about twenty-eight essential amino acids, each with its own unique chemical formula, that are combined in a variety of ways to create the hundreds of different types of proteins found in all living things. The liver produces around 80 percent of the necessary amino acids in the human body. The remaining 20% must be obtained from food.
The essential amino acids histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine must be obtained through diet. Although infants require histidine from their diets, most adult bodies can manufacture enough.
The nonessentials include alanine, arginine, asparagine , aspartic acid, citrullinea ornithineserina taurinetyrosinate areoproline These may all be produced from other amino acids in the body by means of a chemical process known as hydrolysis.
Although they are known as "nonessential", this does not imply that they are unnecessary; rather, it implies that the body can create them as needed.
It's certainly possible that some nonessentials can become crucial under specific circumstances. The nonessential amino acids cysteine and tyrosine are made from methionine and phenylalanine, which are both essential. If adequate quantities of methionine and phenylalanine are not available, cysteine and tyrosine will become necessary in the diet.
Arginine and glutamine are both "conditionally essential" during times of stress, such as when fighting an illness. In fact, hospitalized patients have received amino acid supplements of each to help improve their immune system function. Arginine is also popular with body builders because it allegedly makes them feel a rush of blood flow, which allows them to lift heavier weights.
The body's continual processes of combining amino acids to form proteins and breaking down proteins into individual amino acids for use by the cells, are known as protein synthesis (assembly) and protein breakdown (disintegration). When we require more enzyme proteins, our bodies produce extra enzymes; when we require more cells, our bodies create extra proteins.
Proteins are produced in response to the body's needs. If we become depleted of any essential amino acids, our bodies cannot produce the proteins that require those amino acids. A lack of even one essential amino acid can prevent us from producing necessary proteins.
When the body excretes more nitrogen than it takes in, this results in negative nitrogen balance--an unhealthy condition. Furthermore, all essential amino acids must be present at the same time for any other amino acids to be used. Otherwise, the body will stay in negative nitrogen balance.
A lack of vital proteins in the body can cause problems, including indigestion and depression. How could such a situation occur? Many factors can contribute to deficiencies of essential amino acids, even if you eat enough protein. Impaired absorption, infection, trauma, stress, drug use, age and imbalances of other nutrients can all affect the availability of amino acids in the body.
Without consuming enough vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin C, your body cannot absorb amino acids properly. Vitamin B is also essential for transporting amino acids throughout the body. If you don't have a balanced diet– meaning it doesn't supply enough of the necessary amino acids – sooner or later this will cause some type of physical disorder.
When the brain lacks any of the essential amino acids, it immediately sends signals to the muscles to release some of their tissue. Human muscle is rich in these essential amino acids, so it can support vital organs like the liver and heart during times when dietary intake is poor. Sometimes cachexia, a widespread loss of muscle tissue, will occur in cancer patients who are unable to eat.
This is a condition that can be treated with food, but it takes time. This does not mean, however, that eating a diet high in protein is the solution. In fact, eating a diet low in protein or high in protein is unhealthy. The kidneys and liver are taxed when there is an excess of protein in the body.
The liver transforms almost half of the amino acids from dietary protein into glucose, which is then used to provide energy for the cells. However, this process results in a waste product: ammonia. Ammonia is toxic for the body, so our natural protection mechanism is to have the liver convert it into urea instead. Urea can be carried through bloodstream and filtered out by kidneys before being excreted.
Too much ammonia in the body can be harmful, but this is usually only a problem if there is already an issue with too much protein consumption or liver function.
Excessive exercising can lead to a buildup of ammonia, which in turn may result in encephalopathy or hepatic coma. If urea levels are also high, this can cause kidney inflammation or back pain.
You can get amino acids through food and supplementation. If you're a vegetarian - especially a vegan- it's important to take a supplement that has all the Essential Amino Acids (EAA) to make sure you're getting enough protein every day.
The herb Moringa is a great source of all essential amino acids, which is why it's such an important part of a healthy diet. It's especially beneficial for people who are trying to build muscle or lose weight, as it can help them to maintain their protein levels.
Source: Balch, Phyllis A. “Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Fifth Edition.” A Practical a-To-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs and Food Supplements, Penguin Books, 2010.
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