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Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and are utilized
by every cell in the body for a variety of crucial functions.
Normally we obtain amino acids from our food sources, particularly
those high in protein; the body breaks these proteins down into
their constituent parts and our cells use these to build the
specific types of protein each of them needs.
Amino acids
are critical to our body's proper functioning. Their role includes
repairing muscles, organs, nails, hair, skin, ligaments, and glands.
A deficiency in even one of them will severely compromise one's
health. Deficient people, however, are not the only ones who choose
to supplement with amino acids; some people opt to increase their
intake simply for therapeutic benefits.
The most common
essential amino acids include:
Meats
and other animal products (eggs, cheese, milk) are excellent natural
sources of amino acids.
Amino acids may be helpful when
used in connection with the following conditions:
- Alcohol withdrawal (DLPA, glutamine, tyrosine)
- Alzheimer’s disease (acetyl-L-carnitine, tyrosine)
- Angina (arginine, carnitine)
- Athletic support (BCAA, carnitine, creatine, isoleucine,
leucine, ornithine, ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate, valine, whey
protein)
- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (alanine, glutamic acid, glycine)
- Bronchitis (cysteine, N-acetyl cysteine)
- Cancer risk reduction (soy)
- Chemotherapy support (cysteine, N-acetyl cysteine)
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (carnitine)
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (cysteine, N-acetyl
cysteine)
- Congestive Heart Failure (arginine, carnitine, taurine)
- Depression (DLPA, L-phenylalanine, tyrosine)
- Diabetes (carnitine, taurine)
- Emphysema (cysteine, N-acetyl cysteine)
- Epilepsy (taurine)
- Hepatitis (thymus proteins)
- Herpes simplex (lysine)
- High blood pressure (taurine)
- High cholesterol (carnitine, soy)
- High triglycerides (carnitine)
- HIV support (cysteine, glutamine, N-acetyl cysteine)
- Hormone replacement therapy (soy)
- Infertility (male) (arginine, carnitine)
- Intermittent claudication (carnitine)
- Liver support (methionine, taurine)
- Menopause (soy)
- Osteoarthritis (DLPA)
- Pain (DLPA)
- Parkinson’s Disease (L-phenylalanine)
- Peptic ulcer (glutamine)
- Phenylketonuria (leucine, tyrosine)
- Postsurgery recovery (BCAAs, creatine)
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (DLPA, histidine)
- Ulcerative Colitis (glutamine)
- Vitiligo (L-phenylalanine)
- Wound Healing (ornithine, ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate)
Recommended dosage: Proteins should account for
approximately 15% of the daily diet. Athletes generally need more.
Before supplementing, check with a health professional to see which
specific proteins are necessary.
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