If you’re involved in athletics or bodybuilding, chances are you’ve probably heard about amino acids. There’s no doubt that they are critical to help your body function, especially if you’re looking to optimize your performance on the field, in the gym, or elsewhere.
It’s best to have a clear understanding of the role they play in your fitness and wellness goals.
They’re a bigger deal than you think!
Let’s take a closer look at how amino acids work, why you need them, and how they benefit your body.
So, lets cover these topics below:
- How Amino Acids work
- Where are they found in the body?
- Why we need them
- Who should be supplementing them?
How Amino Acids Work
Amino acids are the basic building blocks of protein. These amino acids attach themselves to one another and form different proteins that our body needs. They are an important component to every cell in your body. Among many other functions, protein provides the structure for just about everything in your body, from your cells through to your organs, bones, muscles, skin, hair, and nails.
Our bodies use amino acids in a number of different ways, but they are most closely associated with the process of protein synthesis, whereby our cells generate new proteins.
Because the body needs proteins to function, these same proteins will eventually be broken down as they’re used by the cells. Thus, they play a further role in maintaining the balance between this breakdown and synthesis of new proteins.
Where are Amino Acids Found in the Body?
Even though these amino acids are found in every cell of our bodies, around 80% are found in our muscle tissue.
If the daily intake of amino acids can’t keep up with the demands of protein synthesis and breakdown, your muscles will actually release some for use by other parts of the body. (Which you don’t want to happen if you are trying to grow your muscles.)
Why we need Amino Acids.
Your body needs protein to provide energy; produce enzymes, neurotransmitters, and hormones; manage blood glucose; digest your food; and regulate your immune system.
In short, without the amino acids that make up protein, your body cannot function.
In fact, they are so important that essential amino acids (EAAs) are the only dietary macronutrients (nutrients required in large amounts) that must be consumed for survival.
Whether this be through diet or through supplementation.
Non – Essential Amino Acids (NEAAs) help produce new proteins so that the rates of protein breakdown and synthesis remain balanced. These particular amino acids are produced by the body, so we don’t need to obtain them through dietary sources.
By contrast, EAAs can only be obtained through our diet. So, if our diets are lacking in plenty of healthy whole foods, unless we’re supplementing with a high-quality amino acid supplement for nutritive support, we probably won’t be getting enough EAAs.
In other words, without the EAAs the body needs for muscle tissue growth, maintenance, and repair, muscle mass will be lost and exercise performance and even basic functioning will suffer.
Who should supplement them?
Everyone needs EAAs in their diet, but not everyone needs to supplement them.
If you have a more active lifestyle, that may include regular exercise or weight training you will need more than the average individual to maintain and rebuild from the tension you put your body and muscles through.
Your protein breakdown will be significantly higher than that of a non – active individual. You will need an increased volume of protein and more specifically EEAs to be able to balance your protein synthesis and breakdown if you would like your muscles to grow and basic functioning to be at a normal level.
Non-active individuals that consume enough protein do not need to supplement these EAAs since they are not actively building their muscle and strength. But for those that do have a focus on building strength and lead an active life 2+ days per week and would like to reduce their recovery time, EAAs serve this purpose well.
Our special blend of Energized Aminos (EAAs) also adds the benefit of increasing natural energy and giving you an extra boost of energy for before or after a workout.
How do I take them?
You can easily take our Energized Aminos by adding one scoop to 8 – 12 oz of water before or after a workout, and quickly receive the recovery benefits your muscles and tissue needs.
Visit Our Shop and learn more about Amino Acids!
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