Description
- OPTIMIZED FORMULATION – Specifically formulated to provide essential bioavailable amino acids crucial for the development & maintenance of lean muscle mass and aiding in neurotransmitter production*
- FREE FORM AMINO ACID BLEND – Contains 17 naturally occurring, free form, hypoallergenic amino acids. Includes 9 essential amino acids & L-5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)*
- METABOLIC PATHWAY SUPPORT – Supports metabolic pathways during times when certain amino acids become conditionally-essential, aiding in overall metabolic function*
- SUGGESTED USE – As a dietary supplement, 1 or 2 capsules one to three times daily between meals, or as directed by your healthcare practitioner
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Ingredients:
Amino acids are molecules used by all living things to make proteins. Your body needs 20 different amino acids to function correctly. Nine of these amino acids are called essential amino acids. Essential amino acids must be consumed through the food you eat.
What are amino acids?
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Proteins are long chains of amino acids. Your body has thousands of different proteins that each have important jobs. Each protein has its own sequence of amino acids. The sequence makes the protein take different shapes and have different functions in your body.
You can think of amino acids like the letters of the alphabet. When you combine letters in various ways, you make different words. The same goes for amino acids — when you combine them in various ways, you make different proteins.
Your body needs 20 different kinds of amino acids to function correctly. These 20 amino acids combine in different ways to make proteins in your body.
Your body makes hundreds of amino acids, but it can’t make nine of the amino acids you need. These are called essential amino acids. You must get them from the food you eat. The nine essential amino acids are:
- Histidine: Histidine helps make a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) called histamine. Histamine plays an important role in your body’s immune function, digestion, sleep and sexual function.
- Isoleucine: Isoleucine is involved with your body’s muscle metabolism and immune function. It also helps your body make hemoglobin and regulate energy.
- Leucine: Leucine helps your body make protein and growth hormones. It also helps grow and repair muscle tissue, heal wounds and regulate blood sugar levels.
- Lysine: Lysine is involved in the production of hormones and energy. It’s also important for calcium and immune function.
- Methionine: Methionine helps with your body’s tissue growth, metabolism and detoxification. Methionine also helps with the absorption of essential minerals, including zinc and selenium.
- Phenylalanine: Phenylalanine is needed for the production of your brain’s chemical messengers, including dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine. It’s also important for the production of other amino acids.
- Threonine: Threonine plays an important role in collagen and elastin. These proteins provide structure to your skin and connective tissue. They also help with forming blood clots, which help prevent bleeding. Threonine plays an important role in fat metabolism and your immune function, too.
- Tryptophan: Tryptophan helps maintain your body’s correct nitrogen balance. It also helps make a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) called serotonin. Serotonin regulates your mood, appetite and sleep.
- Valine: Valine is involved in muscle growth, tissue regeneration and making energy.
Your body produces the rest of the 11 amino acids you need. These are called nonessential amino acids. The nonessential amino acids are alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, proline, serine and tyrosine.
Some nonessential amino acids are classified as conditional. This means they’re only considered essential when you’re ill or stressed. Conditional amino acids include arginine, cysteine, glutamine, tyrosine, glycine, ornithine, proline and serine.
What do amino acids do?
Your body uses amino acids to make proteins. The different types of amino acids and the way they’re put together determine the function of each protein. So, amino acids are involved in many important roles in your body. Amino acids help:
- Break down food.
- Grow and repair body tissue.
- Make hormones and brain chemicals (neurotransmitters).
- Provide an energy source.
- Maintain healthy skin, hair and nails.
- Build muscle.
- Boost your immune system.
- Sustain a normal digestive system.
Symptoms of low protein include:
Loss of muscle mass
Hair loss
Swelling
Fatigue
Brittle Nails & hair
Hunger
Anemia
Get sick often
Restless sleep
Weakened bones
Food cravings
Fatty liver
Abdominal bloating
Weight loss
Signs You’re Not Getting Enough Protein
Swelling
One of the most common signs that you’re not getting enough protein is swelling (also called edema), especially in your abdomen, legs, feet, and hands. A possible explanation: The proteins that circulate in your blood — albumin, in particular — help keep fluid from building up in your tissues.
Mood Changes
Your brain uses chemicals called neurotransmitters to relay information between cells. Many of these neurotransmitters are made of amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein. So a lack of protein in your diet could mean your body can’t make enough of those neurotransmitters, and that would change how your brain works. With low levels of dopamine and serotonin, for example, you may feel depressed or overly aggressive.
Hair, Nail, and Skin Problems
Weakness and Fatigue
Hunger
This one might seem obvious. Protein fuels you. It’s one of three sources of calories, along with carbs and fats. If you want to eat a lot of the time even though you have regular meals, you may need more protein. Studies have found that eating foods with protein helps you feel fuller throughout the day.
Slow-Healing Injuries
People who are low on protein often find their cuts and scrapes take longer to get better. The same seems to be true of sprains and other exercise-related mishaps. It could be another effect of your body not making enough collagen. It’s found in connective tissues as well as your skin. To make blood clot, you need proteins, too.
Getting or Staying Sick
Amino acids in your blood help your immune system make antibodies that activate white blood cells to fight off viruses, bacteria, and toxins. You need protein to digest and absorb other nutrients that keep you healthy. There’s also evidence that protein can change the levels of disease-fighting “good” bacteria in your gut.
