Amino Acids Info

The 20 amino-acids are alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, and valine. More than 100 lesser ones also occur in biological systems, particularly in plants.

Every amino except glycine can occur as either of two optically active stereoisomers, D or L; the more common isomer in nature is the L-form.

(When choosing an amino acid supplement, you want the L-form, NOT the D-form.)

Aminos are released in the intestinal tract by the digestion of food proteins and are then carried in the bloodstream to the body cells, where they're used for growth, maintenance, and of course repair.

As the human body needs constant maintenance and repair, the need for aminos is self-evident. Aminos are classified into two categories -- essential and nonessential.

Many of the aminos necessary in metabolism can be synthesized in the body when needed -- these are called nonessential. Others cannot be synthesized in sufficient quantities -- these are termed essential as they must be provided through diet or supplementation.

Benefits of Amino-Acids

Without aminos, we could not live as it is critical in numerous bodily functions. As mentioned, it assists in the repair and maintenance of the body. Aminos are the building blocks of protein and protein is the main element in muscle, ligaments, skin, nails, hair, organs, glands, etc.

If there is a deficiency of any amino acid, the result is disease or malfunction of some kind.

Even if you're perfectly healthy, or if you want to increase your health or athletic response, increasing your intake of Aminos through nutritional supplements is advised. L-Arginine was a popular Amino Acid supplement, for example, of bodybuilders and athletes well before it hit the mainstream consciousness.

L-Arginine increases the body's production of human growth hormone (HGH), which is critical to increasing muscle mass. Additionally, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) boosts the body's production of antioxidants and antioxidants neutralize free radicals.

Free radicals in the system are reactive substances that damage cellular material, leading to various diseases and premature aging. Another example of the importance of Aminos to health is lysine. Once lysine is incorporated into protein, its basic side chain often provides a positive electrical charge to the protein, thereby aiding its solubility in water.

Its side chain has also been implicated in the binding of several coenzymes (pyridoxal phosphate, lipoic acid, and biotin) to enzymes and as we all know, enzymes and coenzymes are critical to numerous bodily processes for enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and Amino-Acids all work together interdependently in various metabolic functions.

Choosing Quality Amino Acid Supplements

Based on our over 24 years of experience, we feel we can offer you some simple yet effective tips when choosing quality Amino Acid supplements. Clearly, it's vitally important to your health that you choose amino acid supplements that are properly assimilated by the body. With that said, here are the key reasons I suggest when choosing an amino acid supplement.

1. Product Development and Nutrient Reactions: The supplement should be rigorously tested and its creation process overseen by certified professionals. Amino Acid supplements should be scientifically formulated and certified with each batch (see point #2).

2. Manufacturing Procedures: These should utilize pharmaceutical blending not paddle/ribbon blender-type mixers. In addition, contact the company to ask if they have a Certificate of Analysis (COA) on file, confirming the potency of each batch. If the company ignores you or hesitates, that's not a good sign. Lastly, you should select a vitamin supplement maker that adheres to pharmaceutical GMP compliance -- the highest standard possible.

3. Product Quality & Freshness: The ingredients should be made in smaller batches with the manufacturing process NOT outsourced out to other manufacturers. Remember, most vitamin and mineral supplement makers, as well as herbal product manufacturers are unregulated by the FDA. Click here for more information. While this has its pros and cons, a vast majority of amino acid supplements don't even insert the claimed ingredients into the supplement AND contamination is a legitimate threat (again, this is why you want pharmaceutical GMP compliance).

4. AminoAcids supplements come in D-form or L-form . You want the L form, the more common isomer in nature, as they approximate composition to the aminos found in your food.

A Complete Amino Acid Supplement Product

In my search, I finally came across a company whose products actually meet all 10 of the aforementioned factors. This company is headquartered in New Zealand whose manufacture of nutritional supplements adheres to even more rigid standards than the U.S. FDA.

Their flagship vitamin product is a complete supplement containing vitamins, minerals, nutrition-dense herbal extracts, aminos, and other specialty trace nutrients. If you're looking for a full-featured vitamin, mineral, and Amino Acids supplement, you've found it.

I've been taking this excellent Amino Acid supplement for the past four years and can personally attest to their fantastic results.

Yours in health,
Nutritional Supplement Bible.com