What Are Amino Acids? Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. Proteins are needed throughout the human body for production of muscle, connective tissue, bones, enzymes, hormones, neurotransmitters, hemoglobin and more. Amino acids are essential for life as we know it.
Using the genetic blueprint, DNA orchestrates the synthesis of amino acids, which link together to form proteins. Every protein in the human body is made up of various sequences of just 20 genetically-encoded amino acids. Other amino acids are modified from these 20.
Excess calories are stored in the form of fat in the human body, but we can’t store amino acids. We require a steady supply of amino acids, particularly the eight essential amino acids that cannot be synthesized by the body. That is why dietary protein is so important. If the cells don’t have access to all the required amino acids, protein synthesis can’t occur.
Find out what's happening in Ramseyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Other Benefits of Amino Acids:
In addition to their role in protein production, some amino acids are powerful natural therapies when taken in supplement form. There are three amino acid supplements in particular, that you may want to consider taking.
Find out what's happening in Ramseyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Amino Acid GABA:
The amino acid gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) acts as a neurotransmitter, relaying information from one nerve cell to another. It is an “inhibitory” neurotransmitter, which is the opposite of an “excitatory” neurotransmitter. GABA is your central nervous system’s most abundant inhibitory neurotransmitter.
GABA is active throughout your brain, especially in the limbic system, which deals with emotions, such as pleasure, passion, love, hate, fear and aggression.
If there’s one area of your brain that needs to find a balance between excitement and inhibition, it’s the limbic system.
When the limbic system is hyper-excited and anxiety, fear, anger, panic, or other negative emotions get the upper hand, GABA restores balance by occupying the receptor sites that calm things down. It simply tones down the emotional alarm bells, by “taking the edge off”. Alcohol and tranquilizers such as Valium and Xanax, work by attaching to these same receptor sites. Those drugs are highly addictive and have a huge abuse potential. GABA supplements, on the other hand, are non-addictive, well tolerated, and have none of the drug side effects such as drowsiness, poor concentration and coordination, or a slowdown in reaction time.
GABA is available in capsule or powder form. GABA can be used for chronic or situational anxiety, or for insomnia.
The Amino Acid Glutamine:
Another therapeutic amino acid supplement is glutamine, the most abundant amino acid in your body. Glutamine is especially supportive of the gastrointestinal system and is an excellent therapy for intestinal ailments. This is because it serves as the primary fuel for the enterocytes, the rapidly dividing cells that line the intestinal tract.
Unfortunately, bad bacterial overgrowth, chronic stress, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and other medications may irritate and damage this lining, creating spaces between the cells that allow larger molecules such as bacteria, toxins and incompletely digested nutrients to pass through.
Known as intestinal permeability or leaky gut syndrome, this can set up a whole slew of problems, as well as further damage to the intestines, infections, allergies and autoimmune diseases.
Research has shown that glutamine supplements dramatically reduce infections and death rates in hospitalized patients. According to a meta-analysis conducted by Brazilian researchers, “Glutamine administration improves the prognosis of critically ill patients, presumably by maintaining the physiologic intestinal barrier and by reducing the frequency of infections.”
Glutamine supplements also help patients with irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and food allergies. Glutamine supplements also protect against damage caused by long-term use of NSAIDs.
The Amino Acid Arginine:
Arginine has multiple functions in the body, from muscle maintenance to immune system enhancement to wound healing. Its claim to fame, however, is its effect on the cardiovascular system: Arginine is the precursor to nitric oxide.
Nitric oxide, produced in the endothelial cells lining the arteries, is a signaling molecule that protects the arteries and fights cardiovascular disease on a surprisingly broad number of fronts. It relaxes the smooth muscle cells and causes the arteries to dilate, increasing blood flow and lowering blood pressure. It reduces inflammation, a primary cause of atherosclerosis, protects against free radical damage, while also blocking the adhesion of white blood cells to the arterial walls, which is an early step in plaque formation.
The pharmaceutical companies have long recognized the importance of nitric oxide to vascular health and have come out with all manner of drugs that increase nitric oxide levels, including nitroglycerin for angina and Viagra for erectile dysfunction. But guess what does all this and more? Good old inexpensive, over-the-counter arginine supplements.
Due to arginine’s close relationship with nitric oxide, it’s not surprising that arginine supplements have been shown in clinical studies to reduce angina, improve erectile function and improve symptoms of patients with heart failure. Other benefits of arginine supplements include lowering blood pressure, improving blood flow, enhancing immune function and increasing levels of growth hormone.
Dr Whitaker’s Dosage Recommendations:
Because amino acids are best absorbed on an empty stomach, you should take them 30 minutes before or two hours after meals.
GABA supplements: To relieve anxiety, take 500–750 mg as needed, up to three times daily. For insomnia, take 750 mg an hour before bedtime.
Glutamine supplements: To support intestinal health or to help resolve the conditions mentioned above, take 2–3 grams, in divided doses, daily.
Arginine supplements: For cardiovascular support or help with the other conditions mentioned above, the suggested dose is 2–6 grams, in divided doses, daily. Do not take arginine supplements if you are taking nitroglycerin or another nitrate drug.