The Building Blocks of the Body

Amino acids are known as the building blocks of the body. Their job is to build and repair tissue; they also form antibodies which in turn combat virus and bacteria. Amino acids are part of the enzyme and the hormonal system. They build the nucleoproteins which are RNA and DNA and carry oxygen through the body, participate in all muscle activity.

Protein is broken down in the digestion and the result is how we get our amino acids. Needless to say they are vital to our health. Next to water they compromise the greatest part of our body weight. They are in all of our body fluids which are necessary to every cell. Our organs, hair, nails, glands, muscles and ligaments all are composed of amino acids.

Their Function

There are over twenty different amino acids and they fall into two categories. They are the essential and the non essential amino acids. The human body cannot manufacture on its own the essential amino acids. So that means the diet must be adequate enough to supply them.

The non essential amino acids, there are eleven of them are made by the body but the body has to have the right combination of supporting nutrients and essential amino acids. Supplements to the diet may be necessary to maintain good health. Other amino acids such as carnitine are used by the body for other things than protein building and are often used therapeutically.

Those who are normally deficient are the vegetarian's especially if they are bodybuilders and the people who are constantly on diets. If you don't get enough calories you will not get enough amino acids. In this case, what happens is the body will break down the protein in the available muscle tissue and use whatever amino acids it can to meet the needs of the more important organs in the body and they will not build up more muscle even with additional exercise.

Amino acids are not only necessary to life but they effect us in every way, our well being and even how clearly we think, without them we cannot live. If you decide to take bodybuilding supplements most people take them in a combination, but it is good to know that L-Argentine is used to boost the immune system and this amino acid also repairs muscle while exercising. L-Tyrosine on the other hand will help with stress and is a mood elevator.