Everybody involved in body building knows how important sufficient intake of amino acids is to build more muscle tissue! Even though some might consider this example extreme, it helps to understand that amino acids as part of protein are crucial to maintain healthy body composition, including bone health and blood sugar balance. Protein is a critical part of the diet and getting a good variety and sufficient amounts of amino acids through either diet or supplementation supports almost all metabolic processes in the human body and are essential for a healthy body.

• As mentioned before, amino acids help to maintain body composition by preserving muscle mass. This has a flow-on effect on many body systems including better mobility, less injury risk, weight management and normal blood sugar balance. These effects are also critical for elderly individuals who often struggle to sustain muscle mass.
• Individuals recovering from an illness may find support from sufficient intake of amino acids for retaining muscle mass and maintaining other important body functions
• Athletes often are conscious about their protein intake and use amino acid supplementation to support growth and repair of tissues as well as energy production
• Good nervous system function depends on availability of amino acids: they are needed to produce neurotransmitters like serotonin or dopamine and assist in healthy mood as well as muscle and nerve tissue function
• We all need a good sleep, and again, amino acids come to the help: not only are they essential to produce calming neurotransmitters, such as GABA, but also hormones like melatonin. Amino acids important for sleep include tryptophan, glycine and L-theanine which is an amino acid derived from green tea.
• Amino acids assist strong immune system function: antibodies consist mostly of amino acids; amino acids contributing to a healthy immune response include glutamine, arginine and cysteine
• Keep moving with amino acids like methionine or arginine as they work together with glucosamine and chondroitin for normal joint function, flexibility and mobility
• And the list could go on … to mention a few more effects of amino acids, they are imperative for weight management, better skin, hair and nails, healthy fertility, hormone production and normal intestinal and liver function.

Enjoy a variety of foods to ensure sufficient amino acid intake like tofu, tempeh, natto, buckwheat, quinoa, chia and flax seeds, dairy products, eggs, meat, fish poultry, legumes and nuts and seeds. An easy way to add amino acids into your daily regime is to try one of the many good quality plant, whey or soy powders – enjoy it made up as a delicious shake for a snack or as a protein addition to a main meal.