Foods with Amino Acids

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and though your body is capable of producing some amino acids, you need to provide the body with the remaining ones. Amino acids which are manufactured by your body (mainly in the liver) are termed as non-essential amino acids. The amino acids which your body needs to acquire from the food are referred to as essential amino acids. These are all crucial for health as they help build protein that helps develop strong cells and muscles and thus ensures strong immune system. Amino acid supplements may cause side effects, so it is always better to consume foods rich in amino acids. First, let us take a look at the list of essential and non-essential amino acids.

Non Essential Amino Acids

• Alanine
• Asparagine
• Aspartatic acid
• Cysteine
• Glutamaic acid
• Glutamine
• Glycine
• Proline
• Serine
• Tyrosine

A healthy body is able to produce these amino acids in sufficient quantity. But weak people or people diagnosed with some diseases may notice inadequate production of some of these amino acids. They might need to take supplements of these amino acids. Arginine, cysteine, glutamine, proline and tyrosine are therefore recognized as conditionally essential amino acids.

Essential Amino Acids

• Arginine (Some amount of arginine is produced by the body naturally)
• Isoleucine
• Histidine
• Leucine
• Methionine
• Lysine
• Phenylalanine
• Tryptophan
• Threonine
• Valine

It's not true that only meat and fish can supply ample amino acids; vegetarian foods with amino acids are as good as meat and fish. Meat, eggs, poultry and dairy products are recognized as the complete sources of proteins, because they contain all the essential amino acids.

List of Foods Packed with Amino Acids

Eggs Fish (Cods, salmon, tuna, and sardines) Beef Chicken Liver Pork Red Meat Lamb Turkey Veal Shellfish Parsley Seaweed (Spirulina) Shredded Coconut Pumpkin Peas Cauliflower Celery Beets Potatoes Brown Rice Tomatoes Brewer's yeast Soy products Fenugreek seeds Pears Peaches Mango Figs Mushrooms Milk Yogurt Cheese (Parmesan, Edam, Mozzarella, Cottage cheese)

Papaya Apricots Bananas Apples Watermelon Avocados Cashews Pistachios Hazelnuts Walnuts Almonds Peanuts Sunflower seeds Sesame seeds Pumpkin seeds Macadamia Nuts Pecans Shrimp Snails Teff Oats Raw cereals Wheat Sprouts Lentils Onions Squash Rye Garlic Wheat Germ Quinoa Seafoods Legumes

Health Benefits of Foods High in Amino Acids

Foods that contain high amount of amino acids help prevent hair loss. Amino acid rich food helps inhibit the growth of tumors and cancer. Amino acids help enhance the process of liver detoxification by neutralizing ammonia and improve your overall health. They ensure nitrogen balance. They are required for proper functioning of reproductive system. They help increase muscle mass and promote weight loss. They also promote fast healing and repair of skin and connective tissue. They are essential if you want to have healthy skin, hair and nails. Deficiency of amino acids may result in imbalance of enzymes and hormones. They trigger insulin release and thus help balance sugar levels. They work great for arthritis. They also stimulate production of growth hormone. They are required for strong bones and collagen. They help avoid fatigue and increase your stamina. They help prevent neural and brain disorders by maintaining the balance of central nervous system. Amino acid rich foods help maintain heart health. They help avoid depression and improve your memory. They offer sound sleep and prepare your body for stress management. These properties have made amino acids supplements popular in all parts of the world.

Our body stores excess fats and carbohydrates for later use but it does not store excess supplies of amino acids. So a regular supply of foods with amino acids is essential. Now that you know about the health benefits of amino acids, you should include foods that supply ample amino acids, in your regular diet and maintain healthy body metabolism.