Amino Acids - Introduction

Introduction

Amino acids act as miniature chemical building blocks for proteins in the body and are essential to life. There are approximately twenty-eight commonly known amino acids and, through the creation of proteins, help provide the structure for all living creatures. Amino acids are found in all food sources that contain protein. The various proteins that make up the human body do not come directly from the diet. Dietary protein is broken down into amino acids that are then used to build necessary proteins.

As with water, proteins are an essential component of every cell in the body. Indeed, protein is second only to water in comprising the greatest portion of body weight. Proteins play a role in bone, muscle, organ, and gland structure and function. All hormones and enzymes that regulate and promote various body functions are proteins. Proteins also aid in regulating water balance which helps maintain proper pH levels in the body.

Some amino acids function as neurotransmitters, carrying information from one nerve cell to another, while others act as precursors to neurotransmitters. Other amino acids, such as L-glutamine and L-tryptophan, are needed for your brain to properly receive messages. These neurotransmitters are able to pass the blood-brain barrier, which helps defend and protect against foreign invaders and toxins that may be circulating in the blood stream. Those amino acids that clear this barrier are used by the brain to communicate with nerve cells elsewhere in the body.

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