The significance of protein in a healthy diet is well-known to nutritional scientists, and extensively understood by the general population. In fact, protein directly or indirectly plays very important roles in the body’s different systems and functions. For instance, protein supports the structural development of cells, helps ensure the integrity of tissue, aids digestion, carries hormones, and strengthens the immune system [i]. In recent years however, people had been somewhat forced to increase their consumption of high protein foods on account of the popularity of such carbohydrate-free and low-carbohydrate diets, like the Atkins™ Diet, South Beach Diet™ and Isometric Diet™. Because of these popular diet programs, millions of individuals at the moment are zealously scanning the food labels, and asking relevant questions every time they eat out. You can add to this rising number of protein-conscious consumers, the millions of athletes, weightlifters, and bodybuilders who have exhibited for hundreds of years the inimitable value of protein in building and sustaining muscles. As impressive and galvanizing as it is to see that more people than ever before are “protein-conscious”, there’s still more useful protein information to learn. It’s high time that we increase this understanding of protein with even more data, this time about amino acids. Understandably, many individuals don’t understand that amino acids are not actually acids per se. They are the molecular units that make up protein. They are, quite simply, the very building blocks of protein. Amino acids are organic compounds that comprise two groups of molecules: amino (-NH2) and carboxyl (-COOH). There are 19 amino acids in all which comprise the human diet: 11 of these are non-essential, while the remaining 8 are essential. It is this critically vital fact – that there are 2 kinds of amino acids — that ought to be properly understood and acted upon by eaters everywhere. If the term “amino acid” doesn’t readily suggest the link to protein, the terms “non-essential” amino acids and “essential” amino acids can be sources of even greater confusion. The nutritional world is fond of the word “essential”, and uses it often to describe something that is important, or critical, or irreplaceable. For instance, a nutritionist could tell her patient that consuming 50 grams of protein every day is essential; the intended meaning here is “very important”. This particular meaning applies to the terms “essential” and “non essential” amino acids. Non-essential amino acids are those that the body can produce on its own. This doesn’t mean, in fact, that the body can create these non-essential amino acids out of nothing. Instead, it implies that the body can manufacture these 11 non-essential amino acids out of raw materials in its own internal laboratory. This is the main motive why these 11 amino acids are termed as non-essential; it doesn’t have anything to do with being “important” or “unimportant”. In alphabetical order, the 11 non-essential amino acids are:[ii] {- Alanine} {- Arginine} {- Asparagine} {- Aspartic Acid} {- Cysteine} {- Glutamic Acid} {- Glutamine} {- Glycine} {- Histidine} {- Proline} {- Tyrosine} The remaining 8 amino acids are called essential; and this refers to the fact that they cannot be synthesized. We can only receive them from dietary food sources. These essential amino acids include, in alphabetical order: [iii] {- Isoleucine} {- Leucine} {- Lysine} {- Methionine} {- Phenylalanine} {- Serine} {- Threonine} {- Tryptophan} {- Valine} Knowing the value of amino acids is crucial, since the failure to eat foods that carry these important amino acids can result in deficiency and poor health effects. These ill effects may include, however are not restricted to, fatigue, allergies, memory loss, and even heart disease [iv]. If you think about the anguish and pain that accompany these four adverse conditions and the various illnesses that may come after, it becomes clear that you need to be armed with at least a basic knowledge of amino acids, significantly “essential” amino acids. While there has been some movement on the part of nutritional supplement companies to supply eaters with convenient and palatable sources of protein, many have put their advertising needs first and ignored amino acids altogether. As a result, some individuals have been exposed to an excessive amount of incomplete protein. It’s because their diet may not be providing them with the complete, essential protein needed. The only complete proteins on the planet are derived from dairy, meat, fish, poultry, and soy, and these foods aren’t present in our most common foods. Fortunately, there are some select protein supplements which offer proteins together with a whole array of amino acids. The answer is actually straightforward and easily attainable. Eaters should simply choose to eat foods and nutritional supplements that supply a “complete” source of protein. Which signifies that it ought to include all the 19 amino acids together with the eight “essential’ amino acids that the body can’t produce on its own. Even though there are only a few of them presently operating, however there are actually some corporations that manufacture nutritional supplements which are guaranteed to have all amino acids present. It is notable that these companies don’t necessarily have to do this, since neither the Food and Drug Administration nor many consumers are demanding this from their food labeling; at least, not yet. This is all the more reason to laud these corporations that are putting people and nutrition first, and advertising a distant second. REFERENCES [i] Source: “Amino Acids. Diet-and-health-net. http://www.diet-and-health.net/Nutrients/AminoAcids.html [ii] Source: “Amino Acids”. About.com. http://exercise.about.com/library/Glossary/bldef-amino_acids.htm [iii] Ibid. [iv] Source: “What are Amino Acids?”. Vanderbilt University. http://vanderbiltowc.wellsource.com/dh/content.asp?ID=759
↑ Back to Top