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Amino Acids
What Are They? How Do They Work?
Amino acids are the "building blocks", as they are
popularly called, that make up proteins. Protein could not exist without the
proper combination of amino acids. To understand how vital amino acids are, you
must understand how essential proteins are to life. It is protein that provides
the structure for all living things. Each organism from the largest animal to
the tiniest microbe is composed of protein. It is protein that participates in
the vital chemical processes that enable us to sustain life.
In the human body, protein substances make up the muscles,
ligaments, tendons, organs, glands, nails, hair, and body fluids (except for
bile and urine). Proteins are essential for the growth of bones. Enzymes,
hormones, and genes are also comprised of various proteins. Next to water,
protein makes up the greatest portion of our body weight. Consequently, it is
easy to see why meeting our body's protein requirements is so important to good
health.
In order for a protein to be complete, it must contain all
of its particular amino acids. Amino acids may be linked together almost
indefinitely to form more than 50,000 different proteins and 20,000 known
enzymes. Because each type of protein is composed of different amino acids, each
being tailored for a specific need, they are not interchangeable. Amino acids
contain about 16 percent nitrogen. This distinguishes them from carbohydrates
and fats in the body.
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