About Amino Acids
Amino Acids are the building blocks of protein. Our daily protein requirement is really a need for Amino Acids. Dietary Amino Acids are classified as “essential” or “non-essential”. Essential Amino Acids (Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Tryptophan and Valine) cannot be manufactured by the body and must be supplied in the diet or ill-health results. The non-essential Amino Acids are also essential for health, but can be synthesised in the body from the essential Amino Acids. Both the essential and non-essential Amino Acids are reassembled as hormones, enzymes, neurotransmitters (chemical messengers), antibodies and nutrient carriers.
The term “non-essential” may be misleading. Although Histidine was once considered an essential Amino Acid for infants only, subsequent research has determined that Histidine may also be essential for adults. Arginine, Ornithine, Cysteine, Cystine, Taurine and Tyrosine are classified as non-essential Amino Acids but may be essential for individuals with certain diseases or nutritional concerns. A suboptimal intake of the essential Amino Acids increases the body’s need for the non-essential Amino Acids.
