22 Amino Acids (Proteogenic Amino Acids)

• What Are Amino Acids?
• List of Amino Acids

What Are Amino Acids?

Amino Acids are the building blocks of proteins and most of the organs in the body, building cells and repairing tissue. Amino acids form antibodies to combat invading viruses and bacteria. They are necessary for the enzyme and hormonal systems, build nucleoproteins (RNA & DNA), abd carry oxygen through the body and are required for muscle activity. Amino acids are divided to essential and non-essential:

• Essential Amino Acids - 8 of 22 amino acids NOT produced by the body, thus making is essential that we get them from our diet
• Non-essential Amino Acids - 14 of the 22 amino acids are produced by the body, making it non-essential in our diets

List of Amino Acids

Essential Amino Acids:

• Isoleucine - stimulates the brain to produce alertness
• Leucine - stimulates protein production and storage, helps produce energy and healthy brain function
• Lysine - helps in absorbtion of calcium, formation of collagen that makes up bone cartilage and connective tissues
• Methionine - helps lower cholesterol and helps prevent disorders of hair, skin and nails. Methionine also plays an important role in urinary tract health
• Phenylalanine - found in protein foods is understood to perform as a pain reliever because it produces Norepinephrine which transmits signals between nerve cells and the brain, keeps maintain alertness and reduces hunger
• Threonine - prevents fat buildup and elimination by assisting digestive tract functon. Threonine is the most difficult amino acid to find
• Tryptophan - helps brain function in relieving headaches and aiding proper sleep; helps reduce anxiety and depression; helps lower cholesterol
• Valine - hels with nervous system and mental function

Non-Essential Amino Acids

• Alanine - helps metabolize sugars, muscle tissue building block, needed for brain and central nervous system function, and the immune system
• Arginine - helps in tissue repair, wound healing and cell regeneraton, immune system funtion in fighting tumors, viruses and bacteria. Bone and muscle regeneration, and aids in general human development
• Asparagine - helps in metabolism of sugars, healthy brain and nervous system function and works in the formation of proteins, muscles, neurotransmitters, antibodies and brain receptors
• Aspartic acid - important in expulsion of toxins like ammonia that can be harmful to the central nervous system. May also aspartic acid might also help increase endurance
• Cysteine - works to protect cells from numerous sources of damage
• Cystine - antioxidant that helps slow the aging process and works to protect against radiation and pollution by fighting free radicals and carthinogens. Cystine is also important to skin health
• Glutamine - helps brain function and gives energy to the body
• Glutamic acid - helps brain functon and increases mental capacity; helps maintain digestive tract health; helps weight loss in decreasing cravings
• Glycine - essential for a healthy immune system and cell development
• Histidine - helps bone development, the immune system and maintenance of a health digestive tract
• Hydroxyproline - works to create healthy skin, ligaments, tendons, bones, cartilage and is Vitamin D assimilation, necessary for vitamin C absorbtion
• Proline - essential for bone and circulatory health
• Tyrosine - helps the nervous system and brain neurotransmitters like epinephine, norepinephrine, and dopamine and overall healthy brain function. Helps maintain good mood, memory, alertness, and hormone release.
• Serine - helps the immune system and has a number of digestive benefits