Amino acids are compounds that combine to form proteins,the building blocks of the body. There are two kinds of amino acids: essential and non-essential. Essential amino acids are those that can't be produced in the body, so you get these from foods or supplements.
When proteins are digested or broken down, amino acids are left. The human body needs a number of amino acids to:
- Break down food
- Grow
- Repair body tissue
- Perform many other body functions
The eight essential amino acids include:
- Isoleucine
- Leucine
- Lysine
- Methionine
- Phenylalanine
- Threonine
- Tryptophan
- Valine
- Serine
Non-essential amino acids are those that are produced within the human body. These include:
- Alanine
- Asparagine
- Aspartic Acid
- Cysteine
- Glutamin Acid
- Glutamine
- Glycine
- Proline