What are Amino Acids?
Understanding the importance of taking enough essential amino acids (EAA) requires knowing about amino acids. These compounds are the building blocks of proteins. There are 20 to 22 amino acids combined to make a protein molecule. Some sources say there are 20 amino acids, while others say 21 or 22. No matter how many amino acids there are, your body needs them to stay healthy.
Science characterizes amino acids by NH2, an amino group and COOH, a carboxyl group, in their molecular structure. Included is the R group, a unique side chain distinguishing one amino acid from another.
Amino acids are crucial in many biological processes within your body, such as regulating metabolism, the function and structure of proteins, and the transmission of signals within the cellular framework. These components in the body have a vital responsibility as precursors for producing other biomolecules, including hormones, nucleotides and neurotransmitters.
Certain amino acids are essential because your body cannot produce them. They come from outside sources, such as food or supplements. The other 11 amino acids are non-essential because your body can make them from other compounds.
What are Essential Amino Acids?
EAA is a group of nine amino acids the body cannot manufacture on its own and must get from outside sources in the diet. The essential amino acids are:
- Isoleucine
- Histidine
- Lysine
- Leucine
- Methionine
- Threonine
- Phenylalanine
- Valine
- Tryptophan
Histidine is essential for babies but not for adults. Isoleucine, valine and leucine are Branched Changed Amino Acids (BCAAS). BCAAS have a unique structure and help repair and build 60% of the muscle tissue. They are fast-acting because they metabolize in the muscle not the liver. (x, x).
EAA is crucial in keeping your body healthy. They build and repair tissues, generate enzymes and hormones and support the immune system. Staying fit includes consuming a balanced diet with enough essential amnio acids to support excellent health. Foods that comprise all nine essential amino acids are complete proteins.
Essential Amino Acids Food Sources
Ideally, you consume EAA naturally from food, but that is only sometimes workable. So EAA capsules can help ensure you’re daily intact of EAA. Foods that contain essential amino acids are:
- Soy protein
- Quinoa
- Eggs
- Fish
- Black beans
- Nuts
- Poultry
- Seeds
- Whole grains
- Cottage cheese
Benefits of Essential Amino Acids
Your body uses EAA for the various functions necessary to live a healthy life. Protein and amino acids comprise a fifth of your body — building blocks to sustain the body. They are organic compounds that are necessary structural elements of the tissues in your body. Let’s break down the key benefits of EAA to understand better their vital role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Build and Repair Tissues
EAA builds and repairs tissues in your body, such as muscles, skin, nails and hair. They produce and repair tissues because they are building blocks of protein. Protein is the major component of the tissues of the body. Consuming food containing EAA, your body uses them to produce new proteins, which it uses to repair injured tissues.
When you exercise or undergo an injury, the muscle tissue becomes damaged. The body produces new protein modules to replenish damaged ones and repair muscle tissue. The EAA you consume through food or supplements has the building blocks for this process. It helps to rebuild and strengthen muscle tissue damaged through exercise or injury.
Research shows that muscle tissue rebuilds within hours and days after training. Consuming small amounts of protein ensures positive protein balance. Taking just 6 grams of essential amino acids ingested right before or soon after training helps muscles repair (x).
Promotes Metabolism
Essential amino acids support the metabolic processes in your body, such as the production of hormones, energy and neurotransmitters. Essential amino acids take part in various metabolic activities in the body, resulting in energy production and utilization.
As mentioned before, EAA in the body builds and repairs muscle tissue. The body also converts them into glucose, a sugar used as an energy source. The process helps maintain a healthy metabolism, ensuring your body has a steady energy supply. That way, the body has enough energy to sustain its various functions.
Some EAA, such as leucine, stimulate insulin production. A hormone that regulates blood sugar levels, helping the body store and use energy successfully.
Essential amnio acids can influence your body’s metabolism by controlling the levels of specific hormones and neurotransmitters, such as growth hormone and serotonin. Having adequate levels of EAA in your diet increases the release of the growth hormone, which supports muscle growth and improves metabolism.
Essential amino acids significantly support your body’s metabolism by promoting energy production and utilization. EAA also regulates hormone levels and other metabolic functions. Ensure you consume enough EAA, so your body has the support it needs for a healthy metabolic process (x, x).
Take with your healthcare provider when first before starting a new supplement.
Supports Immune Function
Essential amino acids help your body produce cytokines, antibodies and other immune system components. Cytokines are small proteins that work as messengers between cells. They regulate your body’s response to infection and disease while mediating normal cellular processes (x).
EAA is necessary for the production of antibodies. Antibodies are proteins that identify and neutralize microorganisms, bacteria and viruses that cause diseases. Science Direct reports that the increase in drug-resistant bacteria amino acids shows promise in antimicrobial activity (x).
T-cells and B-cells are immune cells, and they combat infections. EAA supports these cells, giving them the power for growth and division.
EAA regulates hormone production, such as cortisol, leptin and ghrelin, which regulates immune response. Journal of Endocrinology reports that ingesting essential amino acids enhances endocrine reactions, helping to boost growth hormones. That way, the catabolic and anabolic hormones can function better, influencing the immune system (x, x).
That EAA produces energy in your body helps the immune cells to function proactively. It’s all because immune cells relate to the protein cells (x).
Hormone Production
EAA helps your body produce hormones, particularly the human growth hormone, to support the growth and development of the body.
As discussed earlier, EAA stimulates the production of hormones in the body. Hormones signal molecules that regulate functions in the body, such as growth and development, immune system and metabolism. These EAA help with hormone production:
- Tyrosine precedes the thyroxine hormone produced by the thyroid gland to regulate metabolism. Tyrosine is even a precursor to the adrenaline hormone and the neurotransmitter dopamine.
- Tryptophan is a precursor to the serotonin hormone that regulates sleep, mood and appetite.
- Phenylalanine is a forerunner to the neurotransmitter, norepinephrine and epinephrine (adrenaline) hormones. Each simulates the “fight or flight” response.
- Histidine is a precursor to histamine hormone that regulates inflammatory response.
- Arginine paves the way for nitric oxide hormone, regulating blood flow and immune function.
The endocrine system and the production of hormones seem complex because of the interaction of multiple hormones and signal pathways. Exercise, a balanced diet and essential amino acids will help ensure proper health and hormone production.
Eating various foods rich in protein can ensure you get enough essential amino acids. If you’re unsure if you need to take EAA supplements, talk with your physician.
How Do Essential Amino Acids Work?
If your EAA intake is low, your body cannot generate the proteins it needs. The lack of these amino acids leads to a serious deficiency.
When you eat food that has protein, the body breaks it down into single amino acids. Your body harnesses these amino acids to build new proteins. Your body constantly stimulates the need for essential amino acids but during intense training, sports competition or endurance exercise, particularly power and strength exercises.
After exercising, your body rests and breaks down muscle protein instead of building it up, which is called catabolism. While exercising, the body builds up its protein, known as anabolism (x). Several studies support EAA supplements trigger muscle growth and repair, especially when you exercise or play a sport (x).
Why Take Essential Amino Acid Capsules?
Your body needs EAAs for proper protein production. Since the body needs outside sources to supply, taking essential amino acid capsules will ensure you have enough for a healthy body.
Now that you know EAAs are “essential,” let’s look at signs of deficiency in essential amino acids:
- Isoleucine: muscle weakness, poor coordination and fatigue
- Histidine: joint pain, skin irritation and anemia
- Lysine: fatigue, cold sores, hair loss
- Leucine: poor wound healing, skin lesions and stunted growth
- Methionine: brittle nails, gray hair and skin rashes
- Threonine: stunted growth, muscle weakness and liver problems
- Phenylalanine: depression, skin rashes and difficulty concentrating
- Tryptophan: insomnia, depression and decrease in appetite
- Valine: muscle weakness, fatigue and poor coordination
Talk with your healthcare provider if you believe you are deficient in EAAs. A well-balanced diet with plenty of protein-rich foods can combat deficiency in most vitamins and minerals.
Where to Buy Essential Amino Acid Capsules?
You can purchase Essential Amino Acid Capsules at BulkSupplements.com. The company is an industry-leading manufacturer and distributor of pure dietary supplements.
BulkSupplements.com is not just a consumer brand. It also supplies pure ingredients to other brands that distribute food and other supplement products. All products at BulkSupplements.com are manufactured and tested according to current and proper manufacturing practices.
Are you interested in trying essential amino acids as a dietary capsule supplement for their potential to support your muscles and other tissues, wound healing, immune system and balanced hormone function? Contact BulkSupplements.com to place an order today.
Potential Essential Amino Acids Side Effects
Most people can take EAAs with no difficulties when taken in regular doses. Take with your doctor first, ensuring there are no side effects or pre-existing conditions:
- Alcoholism
- Liver damage
- Diabetes
- Osteoporosis
The Bottom Line
Essential amnio acids are compounds the are the foundation of building a healthy body. There are 20 to 22 amino acids collectively that make a protein molecule. Some say there are 20 amino acids, while some say 21 or 22.
Amino acids regulate metabolism, the function and structure of proteins, and the transmission of signals within the cellular framework. They are responsible for the production of other biomolecules that include hormones, nucleotides and neurotransmitters.
Certain amino acids are essential because the body cannot produce them. They come from outside sources, such as food or supplements. The other 11 amino acids are non-essential because your body can make them from other compounds.
If your EAA intake is low, the body will not generate the needed proteins. The absence of these amino acids leads to severe deficiency. Fatigue, muscle weakness, insomnia and poor coordination are the most common signs of essential amnio acid deficiency.
Your body continually stimulates the need for essential amino acids, especially during intense training, sports competition or endurance exercise, particularly power and strength exercises.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Check out our previous articles and support articles:
https://community.bulksupplements.com/essential-amino-acid-supplements/
https://aminoacidstudies.org/what-are-essential-amino-acids/
