The elementary building blocks that make up all proteins.
Amino acids are the basic units of proteins. There are 20 in the human body, including 9 essential ones that must be provided by the diet because the body cannot synthesize them.
The 9 essential amino acids are: leucine, isoleucine, valine (BCAA), lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and histidine. Leucine is the primary trigger for muscle protein synthesis. Tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin.
Synthesizing proteins, producing neurotransmitters, serving as an energy substrate.
Consume a variety of protein sources to cover all essential amino acids.
The quality of a protein is judged by its essential amino acid profile and digestibility.
A question about Amino Acid? Ask our nutrition AI.
Ask a question