Amino acids, the building blocks of protein, are essential for muscle building, muscle recovery and repair, neurotransmitter and hormone synthesis, and immune and digestive system function. Our body can produce 11 of the 20 amino acids, making them non-essential. Nine are essential and should be taken through diet or supplements.
The nine essential amino acids are: leucine, isoleucine, histidine, lysine, methionine, threonine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and valine.
The non-essential amino acids are alanine, aspartic acid, asparagine, cysteine, glutamine, glutamic acid, proline, glycine, serine, and tyrosine. Without them, our bodies will struggle to produce the proteins required for repair, growth, and maintenance.
Conditionally-essential amino acids are not required to be taken through an external source but may become necessary during illness and stress. The six conditional amino acids are: cysteine, arginine, histidine, tyrosine, glutamine, ornithine, glycine, serine, and proline.
Difference Between Essential and Non-Essential Amino Acids
Essential amino acids help build and repair muscle tissues and form precursor molecules for neurotransmitter-formation in the brain. Non-essential amino acids help in toxin removal, brain function, and the synthesis of blood cells. Essential amino acid deficiency is common because of lack of proper diet and supplementation, starvation, and illness. Most people don’t eat enough protein or amino acids everyday to support optimal health. Essential amino acids must come from the diet, and animal-based proteins are the richest sources. Eggs, red meat, chicken, quinoa, and soya protein, are good sources of essential amino acids. On the other hand, non-essential amino acids do not need to be obtained from any food source because the body can synthesize them on its own.
Essential amino acids include Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs): leucine, isoleucine, and valine that stimulate protein synthesis, improve muscle performance, help repair tissues, and prevent muscle loss due to dieting, aging and stress. They may also boost mood and promote optimal cognitive function.
Steadfast Nutrition has the best amino acid supplements at the best price to help achieve these goals. PlayStead, Power Glutamine and Active BCAA are safe and effective amino acid supplements to opt for.
Active BCAA is among the best BCAA supplements for muscle growth and tissue repair. It works best as an intra workout supplement for strength and endurance athletes.
Advantages of Amino Acid Supplements:
Build Muscle:
Branched chain amino acids are essential for muscle growth and development. They contain leucine which is essential for muscle building. Leucine promotes muscle synthesis by decreasing muscle catabolism.
Reduce Fatigue:
Amino acids help reduce fatigue during intense workout sessions. They help replenish levels of tryptophan, a chemical that causes fatigue during workouts by converting to serotonin.
Helps in Tissue Repair:
Amino acids are the major component of cells and play a vital role in growing, developing, and repairing tissues. They promote healing after an injury, accident or due to tissue rupture during exercise or traumatic wounds/burns. Arginine, in particular, improves collagen synthesis, antimicrobial activity, and blood flow via nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, which increases the blood flow and oxygen to the worn-out tissues, causing collagen formation (Buy collagen) and reducing inflammation.
Burn Fat:
Amino acids can help you lose weight by improving metabolism. Combined with exercise, BCAAs increase the demand for energy, causing the body to use reserve fat, which may help in weight loss.
Reduces Muscle Soreness:
Amino acids help reduce delayed muscle soreness after a workout session. BCAAs, in particular, have been been shown to reduce muscle damage, which may help shorten and reduce the severity of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
Increased Endurance:
Amino acid supplements during a workout improves endurance. When glycogen stores are depleted, it reduces muscle fatigue and prevents muscle breakdown during long-duration activities.
Increases Lean Mass:
Branched Chain Amino Acids help increase metabolism, which promotes fat burning. When taken after a rigorous workout, BCAAs convert fat into energy, increasing lean muscle mass. Check Best BCAA Range.
Boost Immunity:
Threonine is an essential amino acid which plays a vital role in supporting immune function- the thymus gland uses the essential amino acid to form cells, which fight against foreign bodies and boost the functioning of the immune system. It is an antioxidant, which reduces inflammation, and supports the function of the white blood cells.
