Amino acids are a vital part of your health because they are the building blocks that make up protein, which is a fundamental characteristic of your body’s health. Amino acids also perform important functions in the metabolic process, help to produce hormones and enzymes that activate bodily functions, act as precursors to neurotransmitters – the chemicals that convey messages in the brain – and are cofactors to vitamins and minerals, allowing them to perform effectively after being absorbed by the body. An insufficient supply of any of the essential amino acids can cause serious health concerns, such as indigestion, depression, and stunted growth, among others.

Amino acids are critical in the manufacturing of proteins, which in turn play a crucial role in the bio-chemical processes that sustains life, and they are an essential component of every living cell in your body. Protein substances form your muscles, ligaments, tendons, organs, glands, nails, hair, are key to the health of your bone structure, and as components of antibodies they are the basis of your immune system.

Amino acids are broken into two categories: Non-essential amino acids are produced by your liver, and these account for around 80% of all the necessary amino acids. Essential amino acids are not manufactured by the body, but need to be ingested as part of your diet. These are Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Typtophan, and Valine.

Essential amino acid deficiency can result due to several factors, with vegetarians and especially vegans being at particular risk. The hectic and potentially unhealthy lifestyles we live can seriously impact our amino acid levels, through impaired absorption, infection, trauma, stress, drug use, age, and nutrient imbalances. Insufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals in your diet can negatively impact the absorption of amino acids.