What are Amino Acids?

You may have heard the words “amino acids” without really knowing what they refer to. Amino acids are essential for the proper functioning of our body, especially for repairing muscles and other tissues, and for digestive function. Here is a more complete picture of these important components of the human body.

What are amino acids?

These are compounds that the human body uses to form proteins, which are then used at the cellular level throughout the body. Several dozen types of amino acids have been identified, but the human body only needs 20 of them. These different amino acids combine with each other to form long sequences called “polypeptides”. These sequences are designed in a specific order within our DNA. DNA represents the genetic code that allows our body to regenerate itself, both in the different tissues that make it up as well as the organs.

By building the different types of proteins necessary for our body to function, we can say that amino acids take part in all the following activities:

Tissue regeneration (tendons, cartilage, bone, etc.) especially in the joints;
Healthy nails and hair;
Building and maintaining muscle mass;
Formation of hemoglobin in the blood and blood flow;
Maintaining the immune system;
Producing the enzymes necessary for digestion;
Preventing degenerative diseases;
And more.

3 types of amino acids

Beyond the name of each of the 20 amino acids that our body needs, it is important to remember that amino acids fall into three main categories:

Essential amino acids: They are not naturally produced by the human body, so they must be provided by food or supplements. Isoleucine, methionine, threonine, tryptophan, valine, histidine, leucine, lysine and phenylalanine are the 9 essential amino acids.
Nonessential amino acids: These amino acids are produced by the human body directly.
Conditionally essential amino acids: These amino acids are normally considered “nonessential.” However, due to special needs related to a particular disease, a condition, or specific needs (e.g., for elite athletes), they may then be classified in this category.

Sources of essential amino acids

For our body to get the essential amino acids it needs, we must eat foods that contain enough protein! As you probably know, there are animal and plant sources of protein.

Animal proteins come from meat and poultry, fish and seafood, as well as dairy products and eggs. Plant-based proteins are found in soy and soy products (tofu, tempeh, etc.), seitan (made from wheat protein), as well as in some cereals such as quinoa and buckwheat.

Since these foods each contain different types of amino acids, you should adopt a varied diet to get all essential amino acids. Vegetarians and vegans, since they do not consume meat and/or products from animal sources, should ensure that they eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds. They can thus benefit from a complete supply of amino acids.

Collagen: a protein brimming with amino acids

Collagen represents about one-third of the proteins that make up the different tissues of our body and organs. Collagen itself is composed of a chain of 19 amino acids. It is the most important and most abundant protein in the human body. However, the natural production of collagen by our body begins to decline in our thirties.

AminoLock Collagen found in Genacol products contains these amino acids essential to the proper functioning of the body and forming of tissues. It is also specially designed to be effectively assimilated by the body so that you can enjoy its benefits to the fullest!