Blog The Importance of Essential Vitamins and Amino Acids.
Amino acids have the reputation of being the ‘building blocks of proteins. The compounds play an important role in your body’s functions. In this article, we are going to explore the importance of essential vitamins and amino acids.
What is so Important about Essential Vitamins and Amino Acids?
Your body requires essential vitamins and amino acids to successfully build proteins plus synthesize hormones and assist the body’s neurotransmitters. Please remember, those essential vitamins are termed ‘essential’ because they are what the body needs.
Amino acids are made up of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen which are all organic compounds.
The Nine Essential Vitamins
Your body requires 20 different amino acids to function correctly and nine have the distinction of being essential.
The nine essential amino acids:
- Valine: A three branched-chained amino acid, it could chain branch from the side of its own molecular structure. Valine will also stimulate your body’s muscle regeneration and growth. It ultimately helps produce energy
- Leucine: Leucine is like valine in the fact that it is a branched-chain amino acid. Your body must have it for protein synthesis and to successfully repair its muscles. In addition, it helps regulate your blood glucose levels. Also, the amino acid assists your body in hormone production and is critical for wound healing.
- Lysine: Lysine is not only used for photosynthesis, enzyme, and hormone production but also for the body’s absorption of calcium. Your body also needs it for collection and elastin.
- Phenylalanine: it places an important part in the function and structure of proteins and helps with the production of amino acids. The neurotransmitters epinephrine, tyrosine, norepinephrine, and dopamine depend on phenylalanine.
- Tryptophan: After a turkey meal you might start to feel sleepy. The drowsiness results from the excessive tryptophan found in the turkey meat. Tryptophan helps your body maintain its nitrogen balance and acts as a precursor to serotonin which is a critical neurotransmitter that works to regulate your mood, sleep, and appetite.
- Histidine: Histidine helps the body manufacture histamine which is a vital neurotransmitter needed for your body’s sleep/wake cycles, immune response, sexual function, and digestion. It is crucial for the healthy production of myelin which acts as a protective barrier around your nerve cells.
- Isoleucine: A three-branched amino acid, it is used for muscle metabolism and is found predominately in the muscle tissue. However, it does help with immune function, energy regulation, and hemoglobin production
- Threonine: Your body depends on threonine for its collagen and elastin production which are crucial components needed by your skin and the skin’s connective tissue. It also helps metabolize fat and promotes immune function.
- Methionine: Methionine is needed for healthy metabolism plus detoxification. It also helps with tissue broth and assists in the absorption
Where are Essential Amino Acids Found?
Essential amino acids are found in animal proteins such as poultry, eggs, and meats. They help build strong muscles and promote immune function. Eating a balanced diet helps to ensure you are getting a correct balance because essential amino acids are found in a variety of foods.
Conditional Essential Amino Acids
There are nonessential amino acids that are referred to as conditionally essential. They are needed by the body during special periods such as when sick or undergoing stress.
Why Supplement with Essential Amino Acids?
Dietary supplements have become immensely popular because they are easy to take and help guarantee that your body is receiving exactly what it needs daily to function well. Yes, essential amino acids are available in many foods, taking a supplement form has many health benefits and helps ensure that you are getting the correct percentage that your body needs. This is especially beneficial if you do not maintain a well-rounded diet or you are vegan/vegetarian.
Benefits of supplementing with essential amino acids:
Improves Sleep and Mood – Tryptophan is required by the body to produce the neurotransmitter serotonin which regulates your behaviors, emotions, mood, and sleep. If your tryptophan levels plummet then you can suffer from sleep disorders, depression, and severe mood swings. In one study, it was found that taking a single gram of tryptophan every day improved energy and happiness.
Enhanced Exercise Ability –Three branched-chain essential amino acids are needed to relieve physical fatigue and boost exercise performance. In addition, they help stimulate muscle repair and recovery. Supplementing with four grams of leucine every day for 12 weeks as been known to help increase the strength of performance.
Muscle Loss – Any time you suffer from a prolonged illness and you are bed-ridden then you will start experiencing muscle loss, especially if you are over 65. Taking an essential amino acid supplement helps you preserve lean body mass and prevent muscle loss. If you are elderly, then you might want to perceive your lean body mass by taking amino acid supplements.
Helps with Weight Loss – Branched-chain amino acids could effectively stimulate fat loss. One study found that it decreased body fat when used in strength-trained men.
Food Sources for Essential Vitamins and Amino Acids
If supplements are not for you, then you can try to increase your consumption of certain foods to gain your essential vitamins and amino acids.
Foods that contain essential vitamins and amino acids:
- Poultry
- Dairy products
- Meat
- Eggs
- Seafood
- Plant-based food such as buckwheat, soy, or quinoa
If you would like to learn more about supplementing with essential vitamins and amino acids, please contact Complete Diet Solutions. Check out our Wellness Products at www.completedietsolutions.org.
