Amino Acids are, simply put, the organic molecular building blocks of the body and are at the root of all metabolic functions. Amino acids are released in the intestinal tract by the digestion of food proteins and are then carried in the bloodstream to the body cells, where they are used for growth, maintenance, and repair.

Amino acids are basically broken down into two categories: Essential and non-essential:

Essential Amino Acids are those that must be consumed as part of our regular diets. Since dietary amino acids come from digested proteins, foods like meat, eggs, nuts, seeds and cereals to name just a few, there is a wide variety of choices. However, since the body is constantly depleting stores of amino acids, many athletes and dieters supplement their intakes with amino acid instead of eating more food. Of the 17 major amino acids contained in this products, seven are considered essential amino acids.

Non-Essential Amino Acids are those that the body can synthesize when the ingested essential amino acids are broken down and absorbed by the body when needed. They too provide vital functionality to the metabolism and their levels are dependent on the consumption of the essential amino acids.

Besides stabilizing the metabolism, providing for the body’s cellular structure, and repairing tissue, amino acids form the necessary antibodies to combat invading bacteria and viruses. They are part of the enzyme and hormonal system and transport oxygen and other nutrients throughout the body. they are also involved in proper muscle contractions.

When protein is broken down by digestion the resulting 20 amino acids are either released or synthesized. the eight amino acids that are considered essential are leucine, isoleucine, valine, threonine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and lysine.

Many athletes and fitness enthusiasts fortify their protein supplementation with various forms of amino acid products. This is because they know that surpluses of amino acids during every phase of exercise is responsible for energy, proper muscle growth, and repair and recovery.