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What Are Nutritional Aminos?

Twenty amino acids make up the basic organic compound within human proteins. Every cell in the human body contains protein and, in most cells, protein makes up nearly 50 percent of the cells' dry weight. After the protein is digested, the amino acids remain where they play critical roles in growth, cellular repair and the break down of foods.

  1. Amino Acids

    • Molecules containing hydrogen, an amino group, a carboxyl group and a side chain create amino acids. Long chains of bonded amino acids make proteins and give them their necklace-like appearance when viewed under a microscope. It is the amino acid's side chain that decides the characteristics of a protein. With only 20 amino acids, in thousands of different combinations, the body creates all the proteins in the human body.

    Essential Amino Acids

    • Of the 20 amino acids that protein is made of, the human body is only capable of producing 10. Critical to good health, the body cannot produce essential amino acids, but must get them from food according to the University of Arizona. Essential amino acids include lysine, histidine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, valine and arginine for children. Because the human body does not store amino acids, foods containing the essential amino acids should be eaten daily.

    Non-Essential Amino Acids and Conditional Amino Acids

    • Non-essential amino acids are created from essential amino acids or when proteins break down so the body does not need to obtain them through food. Non-essential amino acids include glutamine, alanine, glycine, asparagine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, proline, cysteine, serine and tyrosine. Conditional amino acids (glutamine, cysteine, tyrosine, proline, glycine, serine, and ornithine) are non-essential amino acids that have become essential during illness or high stress.

    Food Sources

    • High in animal products, the American diet consists of many foods rich in all the amino acids, like eggs, chicken, beef, pork, fish and dairy products. Plant sources, like peas, soy, seeds and beans (black, red, white or kidney) also contain protein but may not include all the essential amino acids. However, when carefully layered with nuts, legumes, and whole grains, it is possible to achieve the necessary balance

      of amino acids.

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