The importance of protein in a healthy diet is well-known to nutritional scientists, and widely understood by the general population. In fact, protein directly or indirectly plays important roles in the body’s different systems and functions. To name a few: protein aids in the structural development of cells, ensures tissue integrity, helps in digestion, transports hormones, and boosts the immune system [i].
In recent years however, people were somewhat forced to increase their consumption of high protein foods because of the popularity of such carbohydrate-free and low-carbohydrate diets, like the Atkins Diet, South Beach Diet and Isometric Diet. Because of those popular diet programs, millions of individuals are now zealously scanning the food labels, and asking relevant questions every time they eat out. You can add to this increasing variety of protein-conscious consumers, the millions of athletes, weightlifters, and bodybuilders who have exhibited for hundreds of years the inimitable value of protein in building and maintaining muscles.
As impressive and inspiring as it is to see that more people than ever before are “protein-conscious”, there’s nonetheless more useful protein information to learn. It’s high time that we increase this understanding of protein with much more knowledge, this time about amino acids.
Understandably, many individuals don’t understand that amino acids are not really acids per se. They are the molecular units that make up protein. They are, quite simply, the very building blocks of protein.
Amino acids are natural compounds that include two groups of molecules: amino (-NH2) and carboxyl (-COOH). There are 19 amino acids in all which comprise the human diet: 11 of those are non-essential, while the remaining 8 are essential. This realization – that there are two types of amino acids – is very important and should be thought-about and operated on by eaters everywhere.
If the term “amino acid” does not readily suggest the link to protein, the terms “non-essential” amino acids and “essential” amino acids could be sources of even greater confusion. The nutritional world is fond of the word “essential”, and uses it typically to describe something that’s important, or critical, or irreplaceable. For example, a nutritionist could rationally inform her patient that eating 50 grams of protein per day is essential; and by this she means “very important”.
This same application of the term does now, however, flow to the “essential” and “non essential” amino acid vocabulary.
Non-essential amino acids are the ones that the body can produce on its own. This does not imply, in fact, that the body can create these non-essential amino acids out of nothing. Instead, it implies that the body can manufacture these 11 non-essential amino acids out of raw materials in its own internal laboratory. It is because of this that these 11 amino acids are called non-essential; it has nothing to do with the term “important” or “unimportant”. These 11 non-essential amino acids include, in alphabetical order: [ii]
– Alanine
– Arginine
– Asparagine
– Aspartic Acid
– Cysteine
– Glutamic Acid
– Glutamine
– Glycine
– Histidine
– Proline
– Tyrosine
The remaining 8 amino acids are termed as essential due to the fact that they cannot be manufactured on its own by the body. We can only receive them from dietary food sources. In alphabetical order, the essential amino acids are: [iii]
– Isoleucine
– Leucine
– Lysine
– Methionine
– Phenylalanine
– Serine
– Threonine
– Tryptophan
– Valine
Knowing the value of amino acids is crucial, because the failure to eat foods that carry these essential amino acids can result in deficiency and poor health effects. These results can include – however are not limited to — fatigue, allergies, loss of memory, and even heart disease [iv]. When one considers the pain and suffering caused by any of these four ill health results, and the myriad of subsequent ailments that they can provoke, it becomes readily apparent that a knowledge of amino acids, and particularly “essential” amino acids, should be part of an intelligent eater’s knowledge base.
While there has been some movement on the part of nutritional supplement companies to offer eaters with convenient and palatable sources of protein, many have put their advertising needs first and ignored amino acids altogether. As a consequence of this omission, some eaters are actually suffering from an “overdose” of incomplete protein. It’s because their diet may not be providing them with the complete, essential protein needed. The only complete proteins on the planet are derived from dairy, meat, fish, poultry, and soy, and these foods aren’t present in our most common foods. There are, nonetheless, protein supplements that also offer proteins with the full spectrum of amino acids.
The answer is actually simple and easily attainable. Eaters should simply choose to eat foods and nutritional supplements that provide a “complete” source of protein. This signifies that all 19 essential amino acids must be present including, of course, the “essential.
Even though there are only a few of them presently operating, but there are actually some companies that manufacture nutritional supplements which are guaranteed to have all amino acids present. It is notable that these corporations do not necessarily have to do this, since neither the Food and Drug Administration nor many consumers are demanding this from their food labeling; at least, not yet. This is all the more motive to laud those companies which are putting people and nutrition first, and advertising and marketing a distant second.
REFERENCES
[i] Source: “Amino Acids. Diet-and-health-net. http://www.diet-and-health.net/Nutrients/AminoAcids.html
[ii] Source: “Amino Acids”. About.com. http://exercise.about.com/library/Glossary/bldef-amino_acids.htm
[iii] Ibid.
[iv] Source: “What are Amino Acids?”. Vanderbilt University. http://vanderbiltowc.wellsource.com/dh/content.asp?ID=759
Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein supplements for diabetic patients. You can learn more at Protica Research – Copyright