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What Is Amino Acid Metabolism?

May 1st, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

All proteins contain amino acids, a specific group of molecules in the human body, and they serve as the actual building blocks of most proteins. Amino acid metabolism refers to those essential amino acids that either enter the body through nutrients found in some types of food, and are then converted into energy, or are produced naturally by the body itself.

There are twenty essential amino acids, and these include Histidine, which is most important in children, Lysine, Valine and Threonine, as well as many others. Amino acid metabolism is especially important for those people who participate in professional athletics, or who enjoy rigorous exercise.

How Can I Increase My Amino Acid Metabolism?

The best way to increase amino acid metabolism is to consume foods rich in amino acids or, in a very limited number of cases, to take amino acid supplements. An easy way to remember the most important types of amino acids is to memorize the phrase “Private Tim Hall,” or “PVT Tim Hall,” where each letter stands for the first letter of an amino acid.

Nevertheless, before taking amino acid supplements, it is very important to consult your doctor and a nutritionist. The reason this is so crucial is that many foods we consume are already rich in amino acids, but we may simply not know this as it is not often confirmed on nutrition labels.

Some products that are known to be rich in amino acids and thus increase amino acid metabolism include milk and eggs. Milk, for example, contains eight of the twenty essential amino acids. In eggs, the part richest in amino acids is the egg white, which can be consumed in either a cooked or raw form.

Is It A Good Idea To Take Amino Acid Supplements?

It is generally better to stick to natural solutions whenever possible and this includes all attempts to increase the in-take of amino acids. While eight essential amino acids are available in everyday foods, the body can naturally produce the other 12 that together comprise the 20 essential amino acids.

As such, many nutritionists will observe that it is not necessary to take supplements, either in the form of powder or pills, for anyone who participates in some type of physical activity and has a balanced diet. In some cases, taking supplements can even cause mild side-effects, such as drowsiness and fatigue, as in the case of Tryptophan.

Additionally, a diet rich in amino acids and protein can also lead to excess deposits of fat, as protein tends to stay in the body. As a general rule, proteins should not comprise more than 15% of anyone’s diet.