What are amino acids and why are they essential?

Body building supplements comprise several substances which primarily include though proteins and amino acids. They are taken by athletes, body builders and sports persons to help with their muscle building and/or help supplement with their fat loss regimen. These supplements indeed help improve their sports performance.

The protein that is consumed through diet or supplements is metabolized by the body into amino acids. Body building enthusiasts go with three branched chain amino acids; the leucine, isoleucine and valine. These are not made by the body and have to be supplemented. The muscles metabolize the aforesaid branched chain amino acids and they are believed to have resistance towards breakdown of muscles.

Soy protein is a natural complete protein but it exhibits estrogenic activity often times and hence not a choice for many bodybuilders, and egg protein will be chosen as it also is one complete protein. In fact Casein is another protein source which is rich in amino acid glutamine.

What are amino acids and why are they essential?
Amino acids are building blocks of proteins and so play a vital role in health and wellbeing of an individual. The enzymes, the hormones, the neurotransmitters in brain, the blood and bone cells, as well as cell membranes all need amino acids for their respective syntheses.

Amino acids also have substrate/surface specific roles too. That said, our body produces non-essential amino acids and the amino acids that must be supplemented are the essential amino acids. Amino acids therapy is intake of amino acids in supplemental quantities. However, not everyone can follow the therapy and a urinalysis is done and from the results of urine analysis the amino acid supplementation will be custom devised according to individuals to help supplement their needs.

Amino acid powders come in different doses as well as with different ingredients. While some powders contain just one or a couple of amino acids required for bulk or bodybuilding, there are other powders which contain multiple amino acids catering the sportspersons and athletes. In general bodybuilders take amino acid powders and amino acid supplements after exercise; sometimes as even replacement of a meal.

An individual can supplement with amino acid powders depending upon his/her needs as well as desired goals. The most common amino acid supplements are creatine and whey. While creatine gives energy for more results during workout the whey is a milk-derived supplement which stimulates the amino acids for muscle building.

Advantages of amino acid powdersr
Enhance energy and strengthr
Increase the muscle massr
Shorten the recovery time post a work out

Amino acid powders help boost the results of a workout and exercise, but it should be remembered that they cannot increase or build muscles with no exercise. Exercise caution while taking amino acid powders for excess and indiscriminate intake of them can lead to damage of liver and kidney.