What Are Amino Acids? Types
of Amino Acids

In this article, we’ll break down exactly what amino acids are and identify the two main types of amino acids.

Amino acids are considered to be the building blocks of human structure. They are obtained from animal or plant protein that is broken down (when digested) and is used to feed our growing muscles and cells, thereby creating proteins (muscles or cells). They are a major component and required for muscle, skin, blood as well as your internal organs. Amino acids are absolutely necessary for growth and repair.

There are two main classifications of amino acids, essential and non-essential amino acids. Essential amino acids consist of leucine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanain, theronine, tryptophan and valine. These amino acids are considered essential because the human body cannot manufacture them on its own, and they must, therefore, be derived from food sources such as proteins from animal products.

Non-essential amino acids, including alanine, arginine, asparagines, aspartic acid, cysteine, cystine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, ornathine, proline, serine, taurine and tyrosine, are also required in order for cellular growth and repair to take place. However, the body can manufacture these on its own. Despite this, feeding these non-essential amino’s to your body means your body will not have to undergo the process of utilizing other amino acids to manufacture these.

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