Like cells are building blocks of our body, amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. You might not have heard of amino acids as they are not commonly spoken. This doesn’t mean they are not important. In layman terms, they are just taken as proteins for simplification. But the science behind them is a lot more complex than it seems. They are compounds that play a lot of critical roles. They are vital for your body in many aspects such as hormone synthesis and the building of neurotransmitters. But as all minerals are not created the same, similar amino acids are not created equal as well. Some are more beneficial than others like spirulina. That is why they have been categorized as essential, nonessential, conditionally essential. So if you are trying to reach a balanced protein diet, you should be more concerned about the consumption of essential amino acids. For that purpose, we have compiled this guide to shed light on these amazing nutrients and their lasting effects on your body!

Let us begin this nourishing journey with a solid and acidic introduction:

What Are They?

Amino acids are compounds which comprise of nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen, complemented by a variable side-chain. They are organic mineral which your body needs in different amounts. There are 20 different types, which help in the proper functioning and growth of your body. Even though all 20 of the amino acids are beneficial for health, only the essential ones are necessary. These are nine in number and consist of histidine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, phenylalanine, methionine, tryptophan, threonine and valine. These hold extremely significant values as they cannot be created by your body like nonessential amino acids. They can only be obtained through a certain diet. Thus it has become a must for physical and mental wellbeing to find sources that are rich in these essential amino acids. Some of these sources include meat, poultry, and eggs as they contain animal protein. There are plant-based sources as well, such as quinoa and buckwheat are for vegans. All in all these protein-rich sources act as superfoods, because their protein breaks down, giving rise to essential amino acids in your body. These are then used by your body in various ways for providing numerous benefits. Some of their lasting impacts on your body include the building of muscles, regulation of immune function, etc.

Let us now look in detail at the compounding effects of this Mother Nature’s acidic blessing

Their effect on your body

There are only nine essential amino acids, but the jobs they perform for your body are a lot more than nine. Not only is the number of the functions they perform astounding, but the role they play is equally important. That is why the effect they have on both your physical and mental health are vast, varying, and vital. There is a wide spectrum of benefits, but we have highlighted only the major ones as we cannot list them all.

1. Improve the enzymatic function:

Phenylalanine, one of the essential amino acids, is a precursor for the neurotransmitters. It affects your mental health by playing an integral role in forming the structure and managing the function of proteins and enzymes. It further improves your health by the production of other amino acids.

2. Stimulating muscle growth

While Valine and Leucine are the three branched-chain essential amino acids that lead to energy production and nutrient absorption. They are critical for protein synthesis and lead to the regeneration and growth of muscles. As per a study, it decreases muscle loss and preserves lean body mass as well. Moreover, it improves athletic performance as it alleviates fatigue and promotes recovery of muscles after exhaustive exercises. Not only that, but leucine also helps your body in regulating blood sugar levels, and stimulates muscle repair as well. It produces growth hormones that quicken wound healing!

3. Enhancing metabolism and immune system

Threonine and Methionine are major parts of structural proteins that play a vital role in the development of skin and connective tissues. Not only that, but they also affect your body by accelerating fat metabolism, detoxification and strengthening immune functions. This is because they absorb zinc, selenium, and other micronutrients that are vital to your body

4. Regulating appetite, mood, and sleep. 

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid helps in maintaining proper nitrogen balance in your body. As it is a precursor to serotonin, it does the work of regulation of your appetite, mood, and sleep. But high doses of it can negatively impact your body as well. This is because it can cause drowsiness.

5. Production of hormones, enzymes and calcium absorption.

Lysine is another amino acid recognized by your body for its role in muscle development as it is vital for protein synthesis. But it does much more than as it leads to the creation of hormone and enzyme. Not only that, but it also helps your body to absorb calcium. Furthermore, like other amino acids, it enhances body functioning by accelerating energy production and strengthening immune response by producing collagen and elastin

6. Protecting nervous, digestive and reproductive systems.

Histidine is the essential amino acid that benefits your body by producing histamine. This is a neurotransmitter which significantly improves your body’s immune functioning, digestion, sleep cycles, and sexual function. Moreover, it is also critical for the maintenance of the myelin sheath surrounds the nerve cells and protects them.

7. Producing hemoglobin and regulating energy

Like Valine and Leucine, Isoleucine is also a three branched-chain amino acid heavily involved in muscle metabolism. But it also affects your body’s immune function by producing hemoglobin production. This reduces iron deficiency and improves the defensive mechanism. Moreover, it also regulated energy and balances out body functioning.

Conclusion

The verdict is that all of the essential amino acids are beneficial for your body. They have varied roles and perform important processes in your body. From jobs such as energy production and nutrient absorption to major tissue growth, strengthening of the immune system, and neurotransmitters, they influence everything. Any deficiency can negatively impact all your systems. Be it nervous, immune, reproductive, or digestive as your body depends on them for so much more than just proteins. So as the effects are coming to light, you should start consuming them now in your diet. You should ensure that the foods that you eat are not only rich in essential amino acids but also provide all nine of them. You can either take them directly by sourcing them through the array of foods they are found in. Or you can take them via concentrated doses of complete protein supplements for easier and quicker consumptions. Both of the ways fulfill your body’s needs and are linked to several health benefits. Just remember to take them in the prescribed dosage, as both over and under consumption can be harmful.