The general populace as well as nutritionists all have an understanding on the weight protein plays in a healthy eating plan. Indeed, every bodily system is directly or indirectly supported by protein. For example, protein supports the structural growth of cells, helps guarantee the integrity of tissue, aids digestion, carries hormones, and fortifies the immune system[i].
The Atkins™ Diet, South Beach Diet™ and Isometric Diet™ are all examples of diets that gear people to choose protein rich foods by stressing carb-free and carb-reduced diet plans. With each of those diet plans, scores of individuals are vigilantly reading food labels, and asking pertinent health questions when dining in restaurants. Added to this growing number of protein-aware individuals are, of course, the countless bodybuilders, powerlifters and athletes who have shown for centuries the exceptional worth of protein in growing and maintaining strong muscles.
As amazing and galvanizing as it is to understand that more individuals than ever before are “protein-aware”, there's still more useful protein information to learn. It is well past time to also add a knowledge of amino acids to this protein data base.
Many people – understandably -- don't acknowledge that amino acids are not acids as they're conventionally understood. Rather, they are the molecular units that comprise protein. They're, basically the very foundation of protein.
Amino acids are organic compounds which are made up of two groups of molecules: amino (-NH2) and carboxyl (-COOH). In total 19 amino acids in the human diet, of which 11 are non-essential, and the other 8 are essential. It is this vitally necessary reality – that there are two kinds of amino acids -- that needs to be well understood and acted upon by people trying to lose weight everywhere.
If the term “amino acid” will not quickly suggest the link to protein, the terms "non-essential" amino acids and “essential” amino acids will be reasons for even larger. The nutritional realm is fond of the word “essential”, and uses it usually to describe something that's vital, or vital, or unique. For instance, a nutritionist could sensibly inform her patient that eating 50 grams of protein each day is important; and by this she means that “terribly important”.
This same application of the term will now, but, flow to the “essential” and “non essential” amino acid vocabulary.
Non-essential amino acids are those that the body is able to synthesize itself. This does not mean, however, that the body will create these non-essential amino acids out of thin air. Rather, it suggests that the body’s own internal laboratory can produce} these 11 non-essential amino acids from raw materials. It's for this reason that these eleven amino acids are referred to as non-essential; it has nothing to do with the term “necessary” or “unimportant”. These eleven non-essential amino acids include, in alphabetical order:[ii]
- Alanine
- Arginine
- Asparagine
- Aspartic Acid
- Cysteine
- Glutamic Acid
- Glutamine
- Glycine
- Histidine
- Proline
- Tyrosine
The other eight amino acids are called essential; and this refers to the actual fact that they can't be created. The body will only receive them exogenously (eg. through food). These essential amino acids include, in alphabetical order:[iii]
- Isoleucine
- Leucine
- Lysine
- Methionine
- Phenylalanine
- Serine
- Threonine
- Tryptophan
- Valine
Realizing the importance of amino acids is essential, as a failure to consume foods that contain these essential amino acids will cause a deficiency and adverse health effects. These effects can include – but aren't restricted to -- low energy, allergies, loss of memory, and even heart disease[iv]. When one considers the pain and distress caused by any of those four ill health effects, and also the myriad of subsequent ailments that they will provoke, it becomes readily apparent that a knowledge of amino acids, and particularly “essential” amino acids, must be a part of an intelligent eater’s data base.
While there has been some movement on the part of nutritional supplement corporations to provide dieters with convenient and tasty sources of protein, several of them have put their marketing needs first and ignored amino acids entirely. As a result of this omission, some eaters are literally suffering from an “overdose” of incomplete protein. This is often as a result of what they are consuming does not provide them with the whole, essential protein that they need. The only complete proteins on the planet are derived from dairy, meat, fish, poultry and soy, and these foods are not present in our most typical foods. There are, however, protein supplements that also supply proteins with the total spectrum of amino acids.
The solution here is uncomplicated and straightforward. People trying to lose weight must merely decide to eat foods and nutritional supplements that offer a “complete” supply of protein. This means that all 19 essential amino acids must be present including, of course, the “essential eight” amino acids that the body can't synthesize.
There are a few corporations – though still clearly within the minority – that create nutritional supplements that rigorously guarantee that each one of the amino acids are present. It's significant that these companies do not necessarily have to do this, as neither the Food and Drug Administration nor many shoppers are requiring this from their food labeling; at least, as of this moment. This can be all the more reason to laud those corporations that are putting individuals and nutrition first, and promoting a distant second.
[iv] Source: “What are Amino Acids?”. Vanderbilt University.
http://vanderbiltowc.wellsource.com/dh/content.asp?ID=759
Author Resource:
About Protica Research
Founded in 2001, Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) is a nutritional research firm specializing in the development of capsulized foods (dense nutrition in compact liquid and food forms). Protica manufactures Profect (www.profect.com), IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and more than 100 other brands in its GMP-certified, 250,000 square foot facility. One area of specialty is the manufacturing of Medicare-approved, whey protein liquid for bariatric patients.
You can learn more about Protica at www.protica.com - Copyright - Protica Research
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/rss.jpg "XML Feed For RSS")