Amino acids

Amino acids are the chemical units or building blocks as they are popularly called, that make up proteins.

What makes amino acids different from sugars and fatty acids is their nitrogen constitution. Proteins are a necessary part of every living cell in the body. Next to water, protein makes up the greatest portion of our body weight. In the human body, protein substances make up the muscles, ligaments, tendons, organs, gland, nails, hair, and many vital body fluids, and are essential for the growth of bones.

The enzymes and hormones that catalyze and regulate all bodily processes are proteins.

Proteins help to regulate the body’s water balance and maintain the proper internal pH.

They assist in the exchange of nutrients between the intercellular fluids and the tissues blood and lymph.

A deficiency of protein can upset the body’s fluid balance, causing edema.

Proteins form the structural basis of chromosomes, through which genetic information is passed from parents to offspring– The genetic code

Proteins are chains of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds.

Amino acids are—Essential and Non-essential

The Non-essential are those that human body can synthesize on own, whereas our diet should supply us with essential amino acids.

The process of assembling amino acids to make proteins, and of breaking down proteins into individual amino acids for our body’s use is a continuous one. When we need more enzyme proteins or cell proteins, our body responds.

A balanced nutrition may not provide screen against amino acids deficiencies. Impaired absorption, infection, trauma, stress, drug use, age, and imbalances of other nutrients can result in amino acids deficiencies. Insufficient intake of vitamins, and minerals, especially, vitamin C, can interfere with the absorption of amino acids in the lower part of intestines. Vitamin B6 is required for the transport of amino acids in your body.

Excess protein puts undue stress on the kidneys and the liver, which are faced with processing the waste products of protein metabolism. Nearly half of amino acids in dietary protein are transformed into glucose by the liver and utilized to provide needed energy to the cells. This process results in a waste product, ammonia. Ammonia is toxic to the body. So the body protects itself by having the liver turn the ammonia to urea, which is then carried through the bloodstream, filtered out by the kidneys, and excreted.

Vegetarians, especially vegans need to take amino acids supplements to ensure that their protein requirements are met.

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