Amino Acid Supplements

Amino acids have long been known as the building blocks of protein, and they are essential for gaining muscle mass. But amino acids play more roles than just building muscle in the human body. In addition to building muscle, amino acids are essential for:

• Breaking down foods
• Utilized to make hemoglobin
• Transmit messages within the brain
• Play a role in metabolic function
• Used to create antibodies

Amino acids are classified into three groups; essential, non-essential and conditionally essential.

Essential amino acids cannot be made in the body and must be acquired through food or supplements. The essential amino acids are; histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.

Non-essential amino acids can be manufactured in the human body. The non-essential amino acids include; alanine, asparagine, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid.

The conditionally-essential amino acids can be made within the human body; however under intense periods of stress such as illness or exercise, they cannot be made in sufficient quantities. The conditionally essential amino acids include; arginine, cysteine, glutamine, tyrosine, glycine, ornithine, proline, and serine.