Amino acids are the important building blocks that make up proteins. There are 20 different types of amino acids. Proteins are digested by the body and broken down into amino acids. Amino acids are necessary for vital functions such as protein production, hormone and neurotransmitter synthesis. Amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins, are the body's most important sources of protein production and are an important supplement for muscle development.

What are Amino Acids?

Amino acids are different. There are 3 types of amino acids. These are:

Essential amino acids

It is not produced in the human body. It is also known as essential amino acids that must be taken from outside. These are: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine.

Conditionally Essential Amino Acids

Some non-essential amino acids are defined as conditionally essential amino acids. These amino acids are considered essential only in situations such as illness or stress. For example: even though arginine is not an essential amino acid, the body cannot produce arginine when fighting certain diseases such as cancer, and arginine is supplemented externally to meet the body's needs. Amino acids that must be taken externally in such special conditions are called conditionally essential amino acids. These are; arginine, serine, tyrosine, and cysteine.

Amino Acids Produced by the Body

Apart from essential and conditionally essential amino acids, there are amino acids that the body produces itself. These are glycine, alanine, proline, asparagine, aspartic acid, glutamine and glutamic acid.

What are the Benefits of Amino Acids? What are the Benefits of Amino Acid Products?

There are nine essential amino acids that the body cannot produce. Their functions in the body are shared below.

Phenylalanine : Phenylalanine plays a role in the production of neurotransmitters such as tyrosine, dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine, which act as transmitters in the nervous system. It plays a complementary role in the production of other amino acids and in the structure and function of proteins and enzymes.

Valine : Valine is one of three branched-chain amino acids known as BCAAs . Valine helps stimulate muscle growth and regeneration and is involved in energy production.

Threonine : Threonine forms the basis of structural proteins such as collagen and elastin, which are important components of skin and connective tissue. It has a role in fat metabolism and immune function.

Tryptophan : It is the precursor of serotonin, the neurotransmitter that regulates sleep, appetite and mood.

Methionine : It has an important role in metabolism. It is necessary for tissue construction and the absorption of zinc and selenium minerals, which are critical for health.

Leucine : A BCAA like valine, Leucine is a branched-chain amino acid that is critical for protein synthesis and muscle repair. It helps regulate blood sugar levels, wound healing, and activates mTOR and growth hormone production.

Isoleucine : The last of the three branched-chain amino acids, also known as BCAAs, isoleucine plays a role in muscle metabolism and is found in high concentrations in muscle tissue. It is important for immune function, hemoglobin production, and energy regulation.

Lysine : Plays a critical role in protein synthesis, production of hormones, enzymes, and calcium absorption. Lysine is needed for immune function, collagen, and elastin production.

Histidine : Histidine is used in the body to produce histamine, a neurotransmitter critical for immunity, digestion, sexual function, and sleep and wake cycles. It is also necessary for maintaining the myelin sheath, a protective barrier that surrounds nerve cells.

What are the Benefits of Amino Acid Products?

Amino acids are generally known for their role in muscle growth and repair, but the human body also uses amino acids for many other purposes. All nine essential amino acids are directly involved in critical processes such as muscle and tissue building, energy production, immune function, and nutrient absorption. Therefore, essential amino acid deficiencies can affect the entire body, including the nervous, reproductive, immune, and digestive systems.

Amino Acid Product Types and Amino Acid Prices

Generally, BCAA, Glutamine , Arginine , Creatine, EAA , Pre-Workout products are sold as supplements or supplements, complex amino acids and their derivatives. Amino acid prices generally vary according to the content of the product, the number of servings and the ratio of active ingredients.

What to Consider Before Buying Amino Acids?

First of all, you should determine your needs well. It is important to look at the amount of active ingredients in the products and the number of servings. Many amino acid products are inflated by adding unnecessary substances. For example: We recommend that you stay away from products inflated by adding cheap amino acids such as taurine and similar, as well as amino acid products inflated with maltodextrin and other similar substances.

What are the properties of amino acids? In what forms are amino acids sold?

Make sure that amino acid products are made with free form amino acids. Many products sold as complex amino acids are actually ineffective and expensive traps made from tableted soy or cheap protein sources. The most beneficial way to consume amino acids sold in tablet, capsule, liquid or powder form is in powder form. Liquid amino acids do not provide faster absorption. They are just more practical to use.

BCAA Types and BCAA Properties

BCAA products are generally sold in 2:1:1 or 4:1:1 forms. The BCAA 4:1:1 form is more beneficial before training because it stimulates mTOR and growth hormone, while the BCAA 2:1:1 form is more beneficial for muscle protein synthesis after training.

BCAA and EAA , the essential amino acids that form the basis of post-workout products, are very useful together with glutamine , arginine and other critical amino acids needed for post-workout .

Creatine and Beta Alanine are very useful amino acids, but there is no extra benefit in taking them before or after training . These amino acids show their effect by reaching a certain saturation in the body. It is useful to make sure that post-workout products are not prepared with cheap ingredients such as maltodextrin, dextrose, creatine and beta alanine, which are not urgently needed after training.

How to Use Amino Acids?

Amino acids are free-form structures that do not require digestion. They are directly absorbed by the body. But it is not that simple. If the amino acids are not dipeptides or tripeptides, they line up with other nutrients during absorption. The longer they wait for absorption, the greater the likelihood of spoilage.

Therefore, it is necessary to take amino acids before other nutrients and on an empty stomach as much as possible.

What Are the Differences Between Amino Acids and Protein Powder?

Protein powders are generally produced from whey protein powder, known as whey protein. It contains all 20 amino acids. It needs to be digested by the body. Amino acids are in free form and do not require digestion. They are absorbed directly in the small intestine. This makes amino acids much more functional than protein powder. It is useful to use whey protein after training, but a mixture of free form essential amino acids, BCAA, glutamine and arginine will be much more beneficial. During diets, it is also much more beneficial to use EAA, or essential amino acids, instead of protein powder.