In these days, supplements are now essential for everyone. Protein is one of the most important nutrients, whether you take it from whey or from any other source. But do you know that protein is just incomplete if your body doesn’t get amino acids, the basic building blocks of the body? Like fats and carbohydrates, amino acids are also good sources of energy. Fats and carbohydrates don’t have nitrogen, whereas amino acids do. This is the main reason why amino acids are highly capable to form tissues, organs, muscles, skin and hair. The primary function of amino acids is to regulate the metabolic processes in the human body to keep it healthy. They provide proper nourishment and protection to your tissues, cells, enzymes and brain.
Whenever you take protein, it gets broken down into individual aminos inside your body. They’re, then, reordered and refolded. After that, your body turns them into whatever is needed at the time. Generally, amino acids are extremely versatile as they have different bodily functions. When it comes to body fitness, some amino acids are incredibly unique in the way they’re utilized by your body. Most of the body hormones consist of amino acids which transport nutrients and oxygen through the body. Also, they are available in the antibodies. A lack of amino acids can cause poor functioning of your immune system.
Now you must be wondering that if proteins are made up of amino acids and you’re getting them from all your protein, then why you should take amino acids supplement.
8 Most Common Benefits of Amino Acids
#1 Improving Muscle Growth
As the amino acids are the basic building blocks of the body, they are highly essential for muscle growth. Leucine, one of the essential branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), is helpful in regulating and improving the muscle protein synthesis right after your workout session. In addition, it provides your body muscles everything what they actually need to grow and prepares your body for your next workout in a better way.
#2 Enhance Immune Strength
Antibodies are highly essential for enhancing your immune strength. They help your body fight against severe disease-causing bacteria and viruses. Antibodies contain most of the essential amino acids, so they’re extremely capable to enhance your immune system.
#3 Developing Central Nervous System
Amino acids also play an important role in the development of your central nervous system. Glycine, a non-essential amino acid produced from serine and threonine, is highly necessary for the proper functioning of your central nervous system and a healthy prostate. This amino acid is used as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in your body in order to prevent epileptic seizures.
#4 Increasing Endurance
Reduction of glycogen is one of the major problems faced by many of the athletes as their regular exercise or workout can destroy glycogen supply. It can cause a sharp drop in your performance. Getting amino acids through supplements can simply change the way your body uses the primary fuel sources, i.e. fats and carbohydrates. Make sure your body gets all the essential BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids), so the glycogen can be protected.
#5 Fat Burning and Weight Loss
Amino acids are also very helpful in burning the body fat and reducing weight. If you take certain amino acids in a systematic manner, it helps you stimulate your body, so that enough fat-burning hormones can be produced. Somatotrpin (STH), a growth hormone, is an important fat-burning hormone produced when you sleep. Its main function is to stimulate the protein synthesis and boost the fat oxidation process. Methionine, Arginine, Glutamine and Carnitine are considered best amino acids for weight loss and fat burning.
#6 Reducing Fatigue
Though fatigue means tiredness, but sometimes it may cause severe issues like depression, anemia and any thyroid problem. Glycin, Theanine and L-Tyrosine are few essential amino acids which can be potential fixes for fatigue. Also, if you take amino acid l-ornithine which is found in meat, fish, eggs and dairy products, you can combat fatigue with ease and get your energy back.
#7 Muscle Sparing
Exercise can damage your body muscles, and this is a harsh truth. However, it’s natural and exactly what your body actually needs to rebuild the broken muscles and get stronger than before. Sometimes the damage goes too far, and results in broken muscles. This may put your body and overall health at high risk. Amino acids play a crucial role here by protecting your muscle fibers from having severe damage.
#8 Increasing Mental Focus
Consuming amino acid supplements can help you improve your short-term memory and processing abilities. If you do regular exercise or daily workout, it’s really important for you to be stay focused. Tryptophan, an α-amino acid, plays a key role in mental health and works as a natural mood booster. Depression, anxiety, ADHD, memory loss and many other mental problems can be improved by increasing the levels of tryptophan and serotonin.
Common Sources of Essential Amino Acids
As amino acids can’t be produced by the humans, the best way to get all the essential amino acids is to eat animal protein. The most common sources of amino acids are meat, eggs and dairy products. So if you’re a strict vegetarian, it can be difficult for you to get all the essential amino acids. The protein-rich vegetarian foods, such as: beans and seeds only contain a very low amount of essential amino acids. You can take soy products, such as: tofu and tempeh as they contain complete protein. A vegetarian person can add all such different sources of protein together, so that a complementary (complete) protein can be formed and he/she can get the essential benefits of amino acids.
The highest sources of amino acid are: watercress and spirulina (which even exceed meat), pumpkin, leafy green vegetables, hemp seeds, chia seeds, soybeans, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and sunflower butter, almonds, avocados, figs, raisins, quinoa and wheat.
Need of Amino Acids Supplement
If you’re a vegetarian and eat only plant-based proteins, your body fails to get the essential amino acids. Also, you can face a couple of protein deficiencies. In such situation, it would be better if you consult your doctor or a health expert. Or, you can just start taking amino acid supplement in order to fulfill the amino acids requirement.