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What is Amino Acid?

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and muscle tissue, protein molecules are made up of them, and every type of protein is made up of amino acids. We can compare amino acids to bricks in a house wall.

Every cell in the body contains amino acids—hormones, enzymes, antibodies, etc. Like, there are hundreds of different types of protein in the body. There are 23 amino acids. It is stated that some of these are more important for sports. Each amino acid has a ‘nitrogen’ and a ‘carbon skeleton.’ The nitrogen part is the same in all amino acids. But carbon, the carbon part is different in each.

Amino acids are divided into two groups: essential and non-essential amino acids. ‘Essential’ in English, ‘main, basic; or is a word that means “necessary.” As can be understood from this definition, essential amino acids are amino acids that must be taken from outside through foods. In other words, they are not produced by the body. Non-essentials do not need to be taken from outside through diet because the body can produce them. Isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine are essential amino acids. These must be taken with diet. The body can produce others. In addition, it is emphasized that glutamine and taurine are especially important for those who exercise in bodybuilding.

What is Amino Acid?

In addition, protein sources can be divided into complete and incomplete proteins. Whole proteins such as milk and meat fish are nutrients containing essential amino acids. In addition, they are nutrients containing some essential amino acids. In addition, although they contain some essential amino acids, food sources such as grains and vegetables that do not contain all are incomplete protein sources.

When a protein-containing food or food supplement is taken, the proteins are broken down by exposure to an enzyme called pepsin in the stomach. This cleavage continues in the small intestine, resulting in long chains of amino acids split into single amino acids and groups of two or three amino acids. Single amino acids enter the blood and go to the liver. From here on, the following can occur: Amino acids can be mixed back into the blood and distributed throughout the body; it transforms into another amino acid, or they can be divided into other metabolites to be used in metabolism. Of course, not all amino acids taken from the protein ingested participate in the body’s protein structure. The excess protein is broken down completely, and the nitrogen part is converted into urea and excreted through urine, while the carbon part is stored as oil.

Author

  • Sophie Hayward

    Sophie Hayward is a registered dietitian nutritionist with a Bachelor's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Florida and a Master's degree in Public Health Nutrition from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. With over 5 years of experience in the nutrition field, Sophie is an expert in weight management, chronic disease prevention, and overall health and wellness. As an author at FitGAG, she shares her knowledge and expertise on a variety of topics, including nutrition plans, healthy recipes, and overall health and wellness tips. Sophie believes that a balanced approach to nutrition is essential for overall health and well-being, and she strives to inspire her readers to make sustainable lifestyle changes that promote optimal health. Through her articles, Sophie aims to empower her readers to achieve their nutrition goals, overcome challenges, and enhance their overall quality of life.

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