Amino Acid – the most vital biological molecules

Protein rich foods are the sources of amino acid

All life depends on nitrogen sources for survival. Humans get their nitrogen from amino acids, which are the building blocks for proteins. Plants can synthesise all the amino acids needed for its survival, but human cannot do so. Human make certain amino acids but others come from the foods they eat.
There are a total of 20 amino acids that we need for cellular functions. Among them, 10 amino acids are called essential amino acids that body cannot synthesise; those are supplied by our diets. The rest 10 amino acids are called non-essential amino acids -- those are synthesised inside the body. More importantly, amino acid is crucial for protein synthesis that builds our muscle.
Deficiency of essential amino acids can drastically interrupt the ways our body work. As all the protein-like enzyme, antibody, hormone, hemoglobin, neuropeptides etc. are made by amino acids. These are the basic bio-molecules, which regulate our body to keep well. So having those amino acids at right proportion in our diet is an important factor.
In this regard, balanced diet is necessary; merely vegetable for strict vegetarian is not the best solution for weight reduction. This is partly due to the "thin is beautiful" mindset that causes people (mostly women) to take in lesser amount of protein.
Vegetables are also good amino acid sources (especially, soy, nuts and beans), but most of them do not usually contain all of ten. Vegetarians are most especially prone to amino acid deficiencies. We need complete proteins that come from meat, fish, eggs and dairy as well.
Unlike fats and carbohydrates, body does not tend to store excess supply of amino acids for later use. It should be taken at everyday basis. These days, essential amino acid deficiencies are common; people consume insufficient amount of protein. Thus supplementation of amino acids has become increasingly necessary. Amino acid supplements are very important as they counter the deficiency and offer therapeutic benefits to our body.
Amino acid metabolism is vital for our body because an insufficient amount of any one of the amino acids can lead to illness. Considering this, amino acid supplements should be rendered important as well.

The writer works is a National Sales Manager of Aristopharma Ltd. Email: [email protected]