When protein is broken down by digestion the result is 22 known amino acids. They are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream (in a healthy gut) and thus beneficial reactions can be gauged almost immediately.

Amino Acids are nitrogen-containing acids that constitute the building-blocks from which plant and animal tissue are made. Besides building cells and repairing tissue, they form antibodies to combat invading bacteria & viruses; they are part of the enzyme & hormonal system; they build nucleoproteins (RNA & DNA); they carry oxygen throughout the body and participate in muscle activity.

Meat, fish, eggs and milk (animal products) and soybeans contain all the essential amino acids and thus are called complete proteins.

Non-animal food sources tend to be incomplete proteins. That is a food group may be low in some amino acids. For example eating legumes and grains together, e.g.beans with rice, will give you a complete range of amino acids or complete protein. This is of importance to vegans who need to pay particular attention to their complete protein intake.

Essential Amino Acids

Essential Amino Acids cannot be manufactured by the body and so must be eaten in the diet. The absence of this essential amino acids in the diet can very detrimental to your health.

• IsoLeucine - for building muscle tissue, maintaining mental health and a strong detoxification agent.
• Leucine - helps in the prevention of muscle breakdown, assists in tissue rebuilding and repair, wound healing.
• Lysine - for growth, antibodies, enzymes and tissue repair.
• Methionine - helps the liver to burn fat, helps to promote the growth of skin, hair and nails and is also a detoxifying agent.
• Phenylalanine - helps to stimulate the nervous system of the brain, increases mental alertness and memory functions.
• Threonine - aids digestion, reduces fat in the liver and helps the absorption of nutrients.
• Tryptophan - helps to calm the nervous system.
• Valine - used for muscle co-ordination, positive mental vigour and can even help to calm emotions.

Semi-Essential Amino Acids

Under certain circumstances cannot be made in the body and therefore needed in the diet.

• Arginine - helps to promote growth in cells, growth and development, weight loss, improving the immune system and is involved in the production of normal sperm levels in adult males.
• Histidine - an essential amino acid for children, it is important for the growth and repair of tissue.

Non-Essential Amino Acids

Non-Essential Amino Acids can be manufactured by the body with proper nutrition and absorption.

• Alanine - helps to lower cholesterol and also aids in the regulation of blood sugar levels.
• Aspartic Acid – is needed for stamina, brain and neural health; assists the liver; aids the conversion of carbohydrates to glucose.
• Cystine - helps to stimulate the immune system; can be converted to glutathione which is an anti-oxidant.
• Glutamic Acid - for the utilisation of fats and sugars, energy.
• Glycine - required to build protein and DNA in the body; maintenance of muscles; nervous system function
• Proline - helps to promote healing and reduce soft tissue strains; it also promotes muscular energy and is beneficial to sagging associated with aging.
• Serine - is known to be an essential nutrient of the brain.
• Taurine - needed for fat digestion, absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, control of cholesterol levels; for maintaining cell membrane integrity; thought to be helpful with anxiety, hyperactivity, poor brain function.
• Tyrosine - for helping mental alertness, stress and depression and the regulation of blood pressure.