Amino acids

Amino acids

Amino acids are the basic building blocks of proteins. When we consume proteins, they are broken down into amino acids. Therefore, amino acids are the simpler, digested form of proteins. In human proteins, 20 amino acids are found. For the proper functioning of the body, the intake of all 20 amino acids is necessary.

Classification of amino acids:

• Essential amino acids are those that the body is not capable of synthesizing on its own, and they must be obtained through diet or supplementation (histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, valine)
• Conditionally essential amino acids can be produced by our body under normal circumstances, but in cases of high exertion (intense training), stress, illness, etc., the body cannot produce them in sufficient quantities (arginine, cysteine, glutamine, glycine, tyrosine)
• Non-essential amino acids can be synthesized by our body (alanine, asparagine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, ornithine, taurine)

Unlike fats or starch, the human body cannot store reserves of amino acids for later use, so the diet must contain all the necessary amino acids every day.