Amino Acids,
The Building Blocks Of Life
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Amino acids are so
important for every function of life. They are the actual building blocks of
life and in every protein known to humans. There are approximately 29 of them,
each as important as another. They make up the proteins and enzymes. Every
living animal depends on them to live. Amino acids that are linked together
will form more than 50,000 proteins and 20,000 enzymes as we know today. Each
amino acid has a specific purpose and they cannot change and contain approx. 16
percent nitrogen. This is what distinguishes them from carbohydrates and fat in
the body. We need nitrogen to function as well and water.
The function of Amino
Acids is to incorporate the vitamins, minerals, enzymes and proteins into the
body. The cycle of using, restoring and renewing of these is a continuous
function of enzymes and proteins used by the body It is easy to deplete the
body of certain amino acids and that is why it is so important to get back to
basics of knowing what your body needs and figure out what it is missing. It is
important for your health and life. It is so important that without all the
correct amino acids that central nervous system cannot function. They are
important for the brain to function and send messages properly to the rest of
the body.
The amino acids that your
body does produce are: alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, asparagine, glutamic
acid, glutamine, glycine, praline and aerine. Those that require you to eat your
food to get them are: arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine,
methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine. They will be
divided up into smaller blogs so that you don’t have to go looking at a long
blog to find a certain one.
The body will become
unbalanced if there is a deficiency of one or more amino acids. When this
happens it causes many diseases and afflictions to occur in the body. A few of
these are cancers, diabetes, heart disease, blood disorders, mood disorders, to
improper wound healing, depression and proper cell, muscle and tissue growth.
If the body becomes deficient in any one of these no matter what kind or how
many vitamins and minerals you take they just will not be incorporated into the
body. They all need one or several of these amino acids to work properly for
your body to function at an optimal level.
Some Amino Acids are
made by our own bodies and some you have to get from food sources. You just
have to eat your food to get these most needed building blocks of life. No way
around it. Most Amino Acid supplements come from eggs, yeast or animal protein.
The crystal forms are from various grains. Brown Rice, Milk and cold-pressed
yeast are good sources of these. Vegetarians need to be watchful of this
because they may not be getting the proper levels of certain important amino
acids their body needs to function properly.
When taking these
supplements individually always take them on an empty stomach. They will go
directly to the brain so that it can incorporate it into the body and send them
where the body needs them. These nutrients tend to compete with each other and
that is why it is best to take them individually.
Amino Acids A - C
L-Alanine: This aids in the metabolism of glucose. This is a very important amino acid to have for those with diabetes.
L-Arginine: hinders cancers and tumors. It helps in the
detoxification of the liver and helps the body release important hormones. It’s
other functions include: detoxifies ammonia in the blood, increases sperm
count, increases muscle mass and reduces body fat, helps the body through
trauma and helps with kidney disorders. It is highly present in scar tissue,
and is needed for protein synthesis.
One precaution: not good if you are pregnant or breast feeding.
One precaution: not good if you are pregnant or breast feeding.
L-Asparagine: Keeps your central nervous system in check
so you are not too nervous or calm.
L-Aspartic Acid: This is a very important amino acid because
it helps in cell formation and your DNA/RNA. This amino acid increases energy
and a deficiency of this could be the cause of Chronic Fatigue. As with the
previous Amino Acid this one also protects the liver. It binds with other amino
acids to rid the body of toxins.
L- Carnitine: prevents fat buildup, helps in weight loss,
lessens the risk for heart disease and helps improve energy and stamina. This
amino acid naturally occurs in the body but if there is a lack of lysine,
Vitamins B1, B6 and Iron it will hinder it’s manufacturing of this nutrient the
body needs. It is good to take this amino acid with Vitamin C and E.
L- Citrulline: works with L-Arginine to detoxify the liver
of anomia and stimulates the immune system.
L-Cysteine: protects cells from radiation, smoking and
alcohol and is high in sulfur. When taken with selenium and Vitamin E it is the
most powerful anti-oxidant ridding the body of free radicals. For this amino
acid to do the job properly Vitamin B6 needs to be in the blood. It also helps
with rheumatoid arthritis.
L-Cystine: this amino acid is also high in sulfur. It
regulates copper in the body, helps in wound healing from burns and
post-surgery. It is an important amino acid as it aids in skin formation. It is
good for respiratory diseases such as Bronchitis and aids in the health of the
body’s white blood cells. Diabetics would benefit from taking this as it helps
the supply of insulin the pancreas produces.
Amino Acids D - I
Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid or GABA prevents cells from over firing and can be taken as a tranquilizer such as valium, Librium and other tranquilizers without the fear of becoming addicted to them. All it takes is 750 milligrams for this to lull you off into dreamland. Taken with Niacinamide and inositol it produces a calming effect and lessens neuron activity in the central nervous system.
L-Glutamic Acid or
Glutamate does the
opposite of GABA. It helps to metabolize sugars and fats and also like the many
other amino acids, detoxifies ammonia which is harmful for living cells. For
this to occur it is best taken with L-glutamine. This is the only amino acid
that is used for brain fuel and helps correct personality disorders by
regulating brain cell activity.
L-Glutamine: An excellent amino acid to help stop the
craving for sweets as with alcoholism, It is also helpful in aiding the body of
mental illness, tiredness, impotence, epilepsy, senility, schizophrenia, and
maintains a health digestive system. It increases the use of GABA that is
needed by the brain and very important for cerebral function. When taking this
DO NOT substitute Glutamic Acid with Glutamine, it will not be as effective in
the treatment of alcoholism.
L-Glutathione: This one also helps protect the body from
cigarette smoking and radiation damage. This is good for those going through
chemotherapy and x-rays. It also aids in alcohol poisoning and detoxifies the
body of metals and aids in the treatment of disorders associated with the liver
and blood.
L-Glycine: Supplies creatine, which inhibits
degeneration of muscles, and is important for a healthy prostrate, prevents
epilepsy and is used in the treatment of Bi-Polar disorder. It is needed for
proper synthesis of other amino acids. The proper amount of this amino acid
produces more energy while too much will cause problems with glucose levels and
produce fatigue.
L-Histidine: Histamine is the most popular name of this
amino acid but it is only formed from this. Both of these can be used to rid
excessive copper from the body. Its main functions are in the digestive system.
It is important for the growth and reparation of tissue, hyperacidity, stomach
ulcers regulation of gastric juices and aids in digestion. Other than treatment
for allergies it is also used for Rheumatoid Arthritis, anemia and also
produces red and white blood cells.
L-Isoleucine: Stabilizes the blood sugar, energy and is
used for hemoglobin and is metabolized in the muscles. It is best if taken with
leucine and valine. Symptoms of a lack of this amino acid appear similarly to
hypoglycemia.
Amino Acids J - Z
L-Leucine: Lowers blood sugar and must be taken with the amino acids isoleucine and valine. It helps in the healing of bones, skin and muscles. Leucine needs to be taken in MODERATION because if you take too much you will develop hypoglycemia.
L-Lysine: Important for growth in children and for their proper bone development. In adults it is good for the absorption of calcium and nitrogen. This amino acid has many functions that include; healing of cold sores and herpes virus, helps the body in producing antibodies, enzymes, hormones, and the formation of collagen to repair damaged tissue. It also helps rebuild muscle tissue due to sports injuries and those recovering from surgery. It also helps in lowering high serum triglycerides. A deficiency of this amino acid causes fatigue, inability to focus, bloodshot eyes, loss of hair, anemia, slowed growth and reproduction problems.
L-Methionine: This amino acid must be obtained from food sources or suppliments such as choline or lecithin. It is not manufactured in the body. It is important for sulfur, among the things that this amino acid is important for are; treating Rheumatic fever, toxemia and prevents buildup of harmful fats in the liver and the arteries. It aids the digestive system, detoxifies harmful substances out of the body with the help of other nutrients, helps muscle weakness, and helps to prevent brittle hair. It also helps in chemical sensitivities and osteoporosis. L- Methionine may need the help of L-Cysteine and L-Taurine to function properly.
L-Ornithine: Be very careful when giving this to
children. Please ask your pediatrician before doing this as it can mess up
their growth hormones. For adults it metabolizes excess fat when it is used
with L-Arginine and L-Carnitine. It is important for the function of the liver
and the immune system and aids in healing and detoxifies ammonia.
L-Phenylalanine: Although this amino acid is good for
depression, memory loss and is used by the brain to make neurotransmitters. It
cannot be used by pregnant women, those with PKU or those who have had
pigmented melanoma (a type of cancer). It elevates moods, helps learning and
obesity and decreases pain due to migraines, menstruation and arthritis. It
also helps those suffering from depression to overcome this condition.
DL-Phenylalanine: Another one with a warning. Do not use if
you are pregnant, diabetic or have High Blood Pressure. Its uses are decreasing
pain in arthritic patients, increases mental alertness; suppress the appetite,
making this a good one to take if you are losing weight. It also aids in
Parkinson’s Disease.
L-Proline: This is a good one for aging skin as it
builds collagen heals cartilage, makes joints the tendons as well as heart
muscle stronger.
L-Serine: is needed for overall health and helps to produce
immunohemoglobin and antibodies.
L-Taurine: This building block of all other amino acids
is found plentiful in the heart muscle and skeletal muscle as well as white
blood cells and the central nervous system. It is largely present in the bile.
It promotes digestions of fats, aids in heart problems, hypoglycemia,
atherosclerosis, hypertension and edema. It is needed for digesting fats,
incorporating fat soluble vitamins and controls serum cholesterol levels. A
deficiency of this amino acid causes epilepsy, anxiety, hyperactivity and poor
brain function. This amino acid is not found in animal proteins so it is
important the body has this. It may come from cysteine and require vitamin B6
to metabolize correctly.
L-Threonine: This amino acid is important for the liver
and lipotropic function when taken with aspartic acid and methionine. It helps
to control Epileptic seizures. It is found in the heart and skeletal muscles
and in the central nervous system.
L-Tryptophan: This amino acid has been banned by the FDA
since 1989. If you need information on this amino acid please talk to your
physician. The FDA claims that a condition named EMS (eosinophilia-myalgia
syndrome) had happened to many people using L-tryptophan and some had died from
the condition.
L-Tyrosine: Treats those with mental health problems
such as anxiety, depression, and mood disorders and has been used for the
withdrawal from drugs. It also aids in the treatment of allergies, insomnia,
hypothyroidism, suppresses the appetite, reduces body fat. A deficiency of this
triggers a lack of release of norepinephrine which causes depression and mood
disorders. It metabolizes dopamine and epinephrine in the body.
L-Valine: When taken with leucine and isoleucine it
has a stimulant effect and aids in better muscle metabolism, nitrogen balance
and tissue repair.
