Amino Acids

Amino Acids

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins needed to build every cell in the body, from red blood cells to the cells in your skin, organs and bones. Proteins consist of 22 amino acids altogether, 8 of which are essential: L-arginine, L-histidine, L-leucine and L-isoleucine, L-lysine, L-methionine, L-phenylalanine, L-threonine, L-tryptophan and L-valine.  Essential amino acids cannot be made in the body and must be taken from the diet. 

Non-essential amino acids are formed by essential amino acids, they include L-carnitine, L-cysteine, L-glutamine, L-taurine and L-tyrosine. Amino acids play an important role in many aspects of health e.g. helping with fatigue, anemia, nausea, immune system function, memory, depression and the metabolism of fat.