Post by Tim Wescott on Apr 27, 2004 20:59:16 GMT -5
Amino Acid Guide:
Amino acids are the "building blocks" of the body. When protein is broken down by digestion, the result is 22 known amino acids. Eight are essential and cannot be manufactured by the body. The rest are non-essential and are manufactured by the body with proper nutrition.
Besides building cells and repairing tissue, amino acids form antibodies to combat invading bacteria and viruses. They are also part of the enzyme and hormonal system and build RNA and DNA.
Essential Amino Acids:
ISOLEUCINE:
L-Isoleucine is a branched chain amino acid found in high concentrations in muscle tissues. It's used in the body to produce biochemical compounds that help in energy production. Isoleucine is found in most food sources and is particularly high in many meats, fish, and cheeses. Branched chain amino acids have been used as supplements for body building.
LEUCINE:
Leucine is essential for growth because it stimulates protein synthesis in muscle tissue. Like the other branched chain amino acids, it can also be metabolized for the production of energy during periods of fasting. Leucine is readily available from an poultry, dairy products and red meats. It can also be found in wheat germ and oats. A deficiency of Leucine can cause hypoglycemia in infants.
LYSINE:
Lysine is concentrated in muscle tissue and helps insure the adequate absorption of calcium from the intestinal tract. It also helps promote bone growth and the formation of collagen which makes up bone cartilage and connective tissues. Recent studies have shown that Lysine may be effective against herpes by improving the balance of nutrients that reduce viral growth. It can be found in fish, meats, dairy products and wheat germ. A deficiency may result in reduced growth and immunity along with an increase in urinary calcium.
METHIONINE:
Methionine is one of the sulfur containing amino acids and is important for many bodily functions. Because of it's sulfur content, it helps prevent disorders of the hair, skin and nails Acting as a lipotropic agent, it helps lower cholesterol levels by increasing the liver's production of lecithin and reduces fat buildup in the liver and body. Methionine can be helpful in preventing or relieving fatigue and also functions as an antioxidant. Although Methionine is present in most foods, it is the least abundant essential amino acid compared to the others.
PHENYLALAINE:
Phenylalanine is essential to many bodily functions and is one of the few amino acids that can directly affect the brain chemistry by crossing the blood-brain barrier. Phenylalanine is used to produce Norepinephrine, a chemical that transmits signals between nerve cells and the brain and is important for memory, learning and alertness. The metabolism of phenylalanine requires vitamins B3, B6 and C along with copper and iron. It can be found in most food sources including meats and milk products.
THREONINE:
Threonine is important part of many body proteins and is necessary for the formation of collagen, elastin, and tooth enamel. As a lipotropic agent it helps prevents fat build-up in the liver. It stimulates the immune system and promotes thymus growth and activity. Although found in high concentrations in newborns, the bodily requirements seem to decrease with age but increase with stress. Most meats contain good amounts of threonine and moderate amounts in wheat germ, nuts, seeds and beans.
TRYPTOPHAN:
Tryptophan is very important in the body. A precursor to the vital neurotransmitter, serotonin, tryptophan levels in the body regulate moods and sleep. Low levels of tryptophan have been found in people with dementia and manic depression. A natural relaxant, tryptophan has helped alleviate insomnia in many people. Vitamin B6, C, folic acid and magnesium are needed to metabolize tryptophan. Although not particularly high in any food, typtophan can be found in meat, eggs, dairy products and some nuts and seeds.
VALINE:
Like isoleucine and leucine, valine is a branched chain amino acid with similar metabolic functions. It can be metabolized to produce energy, therby saving glucose. Supplementing with valine may be helpful in muscle building programs along with isoleucine and leucine. Other functions of valine are not really known yet. Valine can be found in most foods and is essential to many proteins.
Non-Essential Amino Acids:
ARGININE:
Arginine is used in several important body functions. It serves to transport the nitrogen used in muscle metabolism and metabolize ammonia from the breakdown of proteins. It is also one of the body-building amino acids and influences several hormonal functions including the stimulation of the pituitary gland to secrete human growth hormones. Arginine also promotes wound healing and regeneration of the liver possibly by aiding collagen formation. Nuts, grains and chocolate all contain high levels of arginine.
ALANINE:
Alanine is an important part of human muscle tissue. It can be converted into glucose in the muscles or liver when energy is needed. Alanine also strengthens the immune system by simulating producing of lymphocytes. Deficiencies can cause hypoglycemia. Alanine can be found in protein foods including meats, cheese, yogurt, avacados and wheat germ.
ASPARTIC ACID:
Aspartic acid is found in high levels throughout the body, especially in the brain. It's functions include the formation and removal of ammonia and urea, assisting in the production of RNA and DNA, aiding energy production from carbohydrate metabolism and transporting minerals through the intestinal walls to the bloodstream. Recent studies have shown that aspartic acid may increase resistance to fatigue and increase endurance. It is readily available in protein foods.
CYSTINE and CYSTEINE:
Cystine and Cysteine are sulfur containing amino acids that synthesized in the liver. They are helpful as an antioxidant and as a cofactor for many enzymes that protect against radiation and pollution. They also stabilize cell membranes and neutralize the aldehydes produced in the liver by the metabolism of fats, alcohol and toxins. It is necessary for the formation of the skin, which aids in the recovery from burns and surgical operations. Hair and skin are made up 10-14% Cystine.
CARNITINE:
Carnitine is stored mainly in the heart and skeletal muscles but is also concetrated in the brain and sperm cells. It's function in the muscles is to transform fatty acids into energy, and elsewhere, to transport fatty acids across the mitochondrial barrier in the cells for energy production. It also serves to increase the rate at which the liver oxidizes fat. Carnitine is made in the liver and kidneys but is also found mainly in red meats.
CITRULLINE:
Citrulline can be made in the body by the addition of carbon dioxide and ammonia to ornithine, also citrulline can be converted to arginine if needed. The body uses citulline to detoxify ammonia (nitrogen) in the bloodstream and supplementation may be helpful in problems of fatigue.
GLUTAMIC ACID:
Glutamic acid or glutamate can be synthesized in the body from arginine, ornithine and proline and is found in high concetration in the brain. In the body it is converted to glutamine and is the only amino acid metabolized by the brain. Some people consider glutamic acid as "brain food" because it is important to normal brain functions and is a precursor to gamma-aminobutyric acid, an important neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Research has shown that glutamine can be helpful in reducing the cravings for alcohol, sugar and carbohydrates. It can be found in both animal and vegetable proteins.
Amino acids are the "building blocks" of the body. When protein is broken down by digestion, the result is 22 known amino acids. Eight are essential and cannot be manufactured by the body. The rest are non-essential and are manufactured by the body with proper nutrition.
Besides building cells and repairing tissue, amino acids form antibodies to combat invading bacteria and viruses. They are also part of the enzyme and hormonal system and build RNA and DNA.
Essential Amino Acids:
ISOLEUCINE:
L-Isoleucine is a branched chain amino acid found in high concentrations in muscle tissues. It's used in the body to produce biochemical compounds that help in energy production. Isoleucine is found in most food sources and is particularly high in many meats, fish, and cheeses. Branched chain amino acids have been used as supplements for body building.
LEUCINE:
Leucine is essential for growth because it stimulates protein synthesis in muscle tissue. Like the other branched chain amino acids, it can also be metabolized for the production of energy during periods of fasting. Leucine is readily available from an poultry, dairy products and red meats. It can also be found in wheat germ and oats. A deficiency of Leucine can cause hypoglycemia in infants.
LYSINE:
Lysine is concentrated in muscle tissue and helps insure the adequate absorption of calcium from the intestinal tract. It also helps promote bone growth and the formation of collagen which makes up bone cartilage and connective tissues. Recent studies have shown that Lysine may be effective against herpes by improving the balance of nutrients that reduce viral growth. It can be found in fish, meats, dairy products and wheat germ. A deficiency may result in reduced growth and immunity along with an increase in urinary calcium.
METHIONINE:
Methionine is one of the sulfur containing amino acids and is important for many bodily functions. Because of it's sulfur content, it helps prevent disorders of the hair, skin and nails Acting as a lipotropic agent, it helps lower cholesterol levels by increasing the liver's production of lecithin and reduces fat buildup in the liver and body. Methionine can be helpful in preventing or relieving fatigue and also functions as an antioxidant. Although Methionine is present in most foods, it is the least abundant essential amino acid compared to the others.
PHENYLALAINE:
Phenylalanine is essential to many bodily functions and is one of the few amino acids that can directly affect the brain chemistry by crossing the blood-brain barrier. Phenylalanine is used to produce Norepinephrine, a chemical that transmits signals between nerve cells and the brain and is important for memory, learning and alertness. The metabolism of phenylalanine requires vitamins B3, B6 and C along with copper and iron. It can be found in most food sources including meats and milk products.
THREONINE:
Threonine is important part of many body proteins and is necessary for the formation of collagen, elastin, and tooth enamel. As a lipotropic agent it helps prevents fat build-up in the liver. It stimulates the immune system and promotes thymus growth and activity. Although found in high concentrations in newborns, the bodily requirements seem to decrease with age but increase with stress. Most meats contain good amounts of threonine and moderate amounts in wheat germ, nuts, seeds and beans.
TRYPTOPHAN:
Tryptophan is very important in the body. A precursor to the vital neurotransmitter, serotonin, tryptophan levels in the body regulate moods and sleep. Low levels of tryptophan have been found in people with dementia and manic depression. A natural relaxant, tryptophan has helped alleviate insomnia in many people. Vitamin B6, C, folic acid and magnesium are needed to metabolize tryptophan. Although not particularly high in any food, typtophan can be found in meat, eggs, dairy products and some nuts and seeds.
VALINE:
Like isoleucine and leucine, valine is a branched chain amino acid with similar metabolic functions. It can be metabolized to produce energy, therby saving glucose. Supplementing with valine may be helpful in muscle building programs along with isoleucine and leucine. Other functions of valine are not really known yet. Valine can be found in most foods and is essential to many proteins.
Non-Essential Amino Acids:
ARGININE:
Arginine is used in several important body functions. It serves to transport the nitrogen used in muscle metabolism and metabolize ammonia from the breakdown of proteins. It is also one of the body-building amino acids and influences several hormonal functions including the stimulation of the pituitary gland to secrete human growth hormones. Arginine also promotes wound healing and regeneration of the liver possibly by aiding collagen formation. Nuts, grains and chocolate all contain high levels of arginine.
ALANINE:
Alanine is an important part of human muscle tissue. It can be converted into glucose in the muscles or liver when energy is needed. Alanine also strengthens the immune system by simulating producing of lymphocytes. Deficiencies can cause hypoglycemia. Alanine can be found in protein foods including meats, cheese, yogurt, avacados and wheat germ.
ASPARTIC ACID:
Aspartic acid is found in high levels throughout the body, especially in the brain. It's functions include the formation and removal of ammonia and urea, assisting in the production of RNA and DNA, aiding energy production from carbohydrate metabolism and transporting minerals through the intestinal walls to the bloodstream. Recent studies have shown that aspartic acid may increase resistance to fatigue and increase endurance. It is readily available in protein foods.
CYSTINE and CYSTEINE:
Cystine and Cysteine are sulfur containing amino acids that synthesized in the liver. They are helpful as an antioxidant and as a cofactor for many enzymes that protect against radiation and pollution. They also stabilize cell membranes and neutralize the aldehydes produced in the liver by the metabolism of fats, alcohol and toxins. It is necessary for the formation of the skin, which aids in the recovery from burns and surgical operations. Hair and skin are made up 10-14% Cystine.
CARNITINE:
Carnitine is stored mainly in the heart and skeletal muscles but is also concetrated in the brain and sperm cells. It's function in the muscles is to transform fatty acids into energy, and elsewhere, to transport fatty acids across the mitochondrial barrier in the cells for energy production. It also serves to increase the rate at which the liver oxidizes fat. Carnitine is made in the liver and kidneys but is also found mainly in red meats.
CITRULLINE:
Citrulline can be made in the body by the addition of carbon dioxide and ammonia to ornithine, also citrulline can be converted to arginine if needed. The body uses citulline to detoxify ammonia (nitrogen) in the bloodstream and supplementation may be helpful in problems of fatigue.
GLUTAMIC ACID:
Glutamic acid or glutamate can be synthesized in the body from arginine, ornithine and proline and is found in high concetration in the brain. In the body it is converted to glutamine and is the only amino acid metabolized by the brain. Some people consider glutamic acid as "brain food" because it is important to normal brain functions and is a precursor to gamma-aminobutyric acid, an important neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Research has shown that glutamine can be helpful in reducing the cravings for alcohol, sugar and carbohydrates. It can be found in both animal and vegetable proteins.