Nutrition Information |
|
||
Understanding Amino Acids and their Importance in Diet
The importance of protein in a healthy diet is well known to nutritional scientists, and widely understood by the general population. Indeed, every bodily system is directly or indirectly supported by protein. For example, protein supports the structural development of cells, helps ensure the integrity of tissue, aids digestion, carries hormones, and strengthens the immune system[i]. More recently, however, the motivation for people to choose protein-rich foods has been fueled by carbohydrate-free and carbohydrate-reduced diets, such as the Atkins? Diet, South Beach Diet? and Isometric Diet?. Via each of these diet programs, millions of people are vigilantly scanning food labels, and asking pertinent health questions when eating out. Added to this growing number of protein-aware people are, of course, the millions of bodybuilders, powerlifters and athletes who have demonstrated for centuries the irreplaceable value of protein in building and maintaining muscle. As impressive and inspiring as it is to see that more people than ever before are "protein-conscious", there is still more useful protein information to learn. It is well past time to add an understanding of amino acids to this protein knowledge base. Many people - understandably -- do not recognize that amino acids are not acids as they are conventionally understood. Rather, they are the molecular units that comprise protein. They are, quite simply, the very building blocks of protein. Amino acids are organic compounds that contain two groups of molecules: amino (-NH2) and carboxyl (-COOH). There are a total of 19 amino acids in the human diet, of which 11 are non-essential, and the remaining 8 are essential. It is this critically important fact - that there are 2 kinds of amino acids -- that should be well understood and acted upon by eaters everywhere. If the term "amino acid" does not readily suggest the link to protein, the terms "non-essential" amino acids and "essential" amino acids can be sources of even greater confusion. The nutritional world is fond of the word "essential", and uses it often to describe something that is important, or critical, or irreplaceable. For example, a nutritionist may rationally inform her patient that eating 50 grams of protein per day is essential; and by this she means "very important". This same application of the term does now, however, flow to the "essential" and "non essential" amino acid vocabulary. Non-essential amino acids are those that the body is able to synthesize itself. This does not mean, of course, that the body can create these non-essential amino acids out of nothing. Rather, it means that the body's own internal laboratory can create these 11 non-essential amino acids from raw materials. It is for this reason that these 11 amino acids are called non-essential; it has nothing to do with the term "important" or "unimportant". These 11 non-essential amino acids include, in alphabetical order:[ii] - Alanine The remaining 8 amino acids are called essential; and this refers to the fact that they cannot be synthesized. The body can only receive them exogenously (eg. through food). These essential amino acids include, in alphabetical order:[iii] - Isoleucine Understanding the importance of amino acids is critical, because a failure to eat foods that contain these essential amino acids can lead to deficiency and adverse health effects. These effects can include - but are not limited to -- fatigue, allergies, loss of memory, and even heart disease[iv]. When one considers the pain and suffering caused by any of these four ill health effects, and the myriad of subsequent ailments that they can provoke, it becomes readily apparent that a knowledge of amino acids, and especially "essential" amino acids, must be a part of an intelligent eater's knowledge base. While there has been some movement on the part of nutritional supplement companies to provide eaters with convenient and palatable sources of protein, many of them have put their marketing needs first and ignored amino acids altogether. As a consequence of this omission, some eaters are actually suffering from an "overdose" of incomplete protein. This is because what they are eating may not provide them with the total, essential protein that they need. The only complete proteins on the planet are derived from dairy, meat, fish, poultry and soy, and these foods are not present in our most common foods. There are, however, protein supplements that also offer proteins with the full spectrum of amino acids. The solution here is uncomplicated and accessible. Eaters must simply choose to eat foods and nutritional supplements that offer a "complete" source of protein. This means that all 19 essential amino acids must be present including, of course, the "essential 8" amino acids that the body cannot synthesize. There are some companies - though still clearly in the minority - that create nutritional supplements that carefully ensure that all of the amino acids are present. It is notable that these companies do not necessarily have to do this, since neither the Food and Drug Administration nor many consumers are demanding this from their food labeling; at least, not yet. This is all the more reason to laud those companies that are putting people and nutrition first, and marketing a distant second. ABOUT PROTICA Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm with offices in Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Protica manufactures capsulized foods, including Profect, a compact, hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein beverage containing zero carbohydrates and zero fat. Information on Protica is available at http://www.protica.com You can also learn about Profect at http://www.profect.com REFERENCES [i] Source: "Amino Acids. Diet-and-health-net. http://www.diet-and-health.net/Nutrients/AminoAcids.html [ii] Source: "Amino Acids". About.com. http://exercise.about.com/library/Glossary/bldef-amino_acids.htm [iii] Ibid. [iv] Source: "What are Amino Acids?". Vanderbilt University. http://vanderbiltowc.wellsource.com/dh/content.asp?ID=759 Copyright 2004 - Protica Research - http://www.protica.com
Look For
MORE RESOURCES: Do Airbnbs impact Green Bay housing and rents? City seeks public input, could change rules Green Bay Press Gazette Letters to the Editor: This is what happens in a beach town when vacation rentals take over Los Angeles Times Tranel Accused Zinke of ‘Illegally’ Operating A Vacation Rental. Whitefish Officials Say Otherwise. Flathead Beacon Vacation rentals still allowed in Anna Maria The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper Tripadvisor Shutters Vacation Rental Direct Bookings in Favor of Third-Party Providers Skift Travel News Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis talks about Anna Maria Island vacation rental conundrum Sarasota Herald-Tribune Biggest vacation rental gotchas to avoid this holiday season The Seattle Times Business Report: August vacation rentals Hawaii News Now Citing housing crisis, Santa Cruz County supervisors take aim at vacation rentals Lookout Santa Cruz The evolution of the vacation rental industry London Daily News Holmes Beach enacts vacation rental moratorium The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper Hawaii lawmakers take aim at vacation rentals after Lahaina wildfire amplifies Maui housing crisis The Associated Press 'Poltergeist' House Is Transforming Into An Airbnb Rental, Replicating The Film’s Iconic Set Travel Noire Vacation Rentals Florida Trend Vacation rentals among new offerings along Columbia River | Provided by Crescent Ridge The Seattle Times Help! My $1,988 Spring Break Rental Was Canceled at the Last Minute. The New York Times Florida Gov. DeSantis vetoes vacation rental bill that gave state more authority Tallahassee Democrat Vacation Rentals: How to Shrink Your Carbon Footprint The New York Times $39,000 per night? Two Nevada Airbnb properties among most expensive in the U.S. Reno Gazette Journal Letter: Vacation rental vs. low to middle-class housing | Opinion Newport News Times DeSantis vetoes short-term vacation rental bill Florida Phoenix Maui County’s vacation rentals at 49.3% occupancy in June, down double-digits from last year Maui Now Gov. DeSantis vetoes vacation rental bill News 13 Orlando Mount Hood estate seen in Netflix’s ‘The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals’ is for sale OregonLive Vacasa Lost 9% of Its Vacation Rentals in the Last Year, Doesn’t See Profitability in 2024 Skift Travel News Want a Bargain on Your Beach House Rental? These Are the Cheapest—and Priciest—Months Realtor.com News It's Time to Plan Your Summer Vacation—Here Are 100+ Top Rentals Around the World Condé Nast Traveler Honolulu Has Been Fighting Over Illegal Vacation Rentals Since The 1970s Honolulu Civil Beat Bloomington Vacation Rentals Visit Bloomington Lee Cataluna: Phasing Out 7,000 Vacation Rentals On Maui Would Be A Sea Change - Honolulu Civil Beat Lee Cataluna: Phasing Out 7,000 Vacation Rentals On Maui Would Be A Sea Change Honolulu Civil Beat Vacation Rentals and Luxury Trips: Travel Startups Raise $106 Million Skift Travel News Can you still get a rental this summer on Cape Cod? Yes, but here's what you should know. Cape Cod Times Maui Council Budgets $300,000 To Study Impacts Of Eliminating 7,000 Vacation Rentals Honolulu Civil Beat Vacation Rental Prices Come Down From Pandemic High The Vineyard Gazette - Martha's Vineyard News West Michigan beachfront town works to ban short-term vacation rentals Detroit Free Press Indian Rocks Beach prepares for legal fight after rejecting vacation rental compromise ABC Action News Tampa Bay Amid housing crisis, Maui commission votes to phase out thousands of short-term rentals Hawaii News Now Green Bay area Airbnb NFL draft prices have started to moderate. Why that's a good thing Green Bay Press Gazette Newsom signs consumer protection bills on vacation rentals, overdraft fees and credit scores Capital Public Radio News Short-Term Dwelling and Vacation Rental Licensing Boulder County (.gov) New era of policing vacation rentals in Santa Cruz County pushes complaints, violations into public view Lookout Santa Cruz Vacation rental crackdown may lower condo prices in Maui County University of Hawaii System Hawaii’s vacation rentals total nearly 6% of housing supply Hawaii Tribune-Herald Counties differ in approach to regulating vacation rentals West Hawaii Today A Statewide Ban On Vacation Rentals? The Idea Is Gaining Steam After The Maui Fires Honolulu Civil Beat How to Avoid Paying Vacation Rental Fees The New York Times Amid housing crisis, Maui commission considers phasing out thousands of vacation rentals Hawaii News Now Vacation rental bill divided lawmakers. Now it's drawing calls for DeSantis to veto it Tallahassee Democrat Indian Rocks Beach poised to battle in court after scrapping proposed changes to vacation rentals WTSP.com Floridians cleaning up from Hurricane Milton are hampered by a widespread fuel shortage The Daily Gazette Governor signs measure giving counties authority to convert vacation rentals into housing Hawaii News Now Maps of vacation rentals in San Diego are fueling a fiery debate about the city's housing crisis — here's why Yahoo Finance Maui County weighs phasing out vacation rentals West Hawaii Today Best Mattress for Vacation Rentals (2024) Mattress Clarity Owner-Managed Vacation Rentals Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism As vacation rentals eat up housing in South Florida, controlling them might become harder | Opinion Miami Herald These Markets Could Drive Vacation Rental Growth Skift Travel News Park District forced to end vacation rentals at historic Belle Baldwin house Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber Florida governor DeSantis vetoes vacation rental bill Short Term Rentalz Florida Governor Vetoes Bill Regulating Vacation Rentals coastalbreezenews.com DeSantis vetoes vacation rental bill Fort Myers Beach Talk |
RELATED ARTICLES
Copping Out the Positive Effects of Copper One must always keep in mind that copper is not just a kind of metal, when it comes to medicine and health, copper is actually a trace element mineral that serves a wide variety of purposes for the body, both on its own as well as a cofactor. Although the body requires a comparatively tiny amount of copper per day, even that little bit of copper is proven to be essential to having very good health. Acid and Digestive Disorders: Breaking the Vicious Circle THE RISKThe primary symptom of acid reflux is obvious to those who have it. During the digestive process, acid flows up into the throat and causes a burning sensation. Redeeming Unsaturated Fat The most dreaded word in many dieter's vocabulary is 'fat'. It is not uncommon to hear a dieter discuss their avoidance of eating fat as if it were something thoroughly unwholesome, or even life-threatening, like an allergen, or a contagious disease. Minerals, Minerals, Minerals You are a mineral bodyEvery part of you is made from minerals - your bones, cell structure, lymph liquid, arteries, organs, tissue, muscle, hair, and so on. You cannot live without minerals. Is Eating a Raw Food Diet Actually Healthy for You? Whatever diet you choose to live by, the food you eat has to provide your body with the nourishment to properly balance your body's chemistry. If you have health challenges, are overweight or obese, chances are you are not in balance at all. The Importance of Nutrition and Lifestyle Eating healthy and taking care of yourself is essential to obtain optimal wellness. Most people roll their eyes or moan when confronted with these ideas, but, in reality, taking care of yourself is not as hard, time consuming, expensive, or dull as most would have you believe. Adding to Your Level of Health is the Key Here is a continuation of the light and darkness metaphor: a bucket of water. The bucket represents you. The Wonderful Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet The Mediterranean Diet is now recognized as one of the healthiest in the world consisting as it does of large amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables, salads, nuts, seeds, omega-3 rich oily fish, olives, and olive oil and being comparitively low in dairy products and red meats.The people of the Mediterranean region, particuarly Greece and Spain, are very fortunate to live in an area where naturally healthy food is readily and cheaply available. Understanding Cholesterol Levels and Decrease the Risk of Heart Attacks and Strokes What is Cholesterol?Before we go into how to reduce your cholesterol, let's take a look at what exactly cholesterol is.Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is produced by the liver and its job is to:-? produce bile acids to help with the digestion of fat ? build and repair cells and ? produce estrogens and testosterone hormonesTherefore cholesterol is an important function of the body, but too much cholesterol in the body becomes a risk as it can clog up arteries and this can be the cause of heart attacks and strokes. Enjoy The Holidays Healthfully How To Have A Healthy ThanksgivingEnd of the year holidays are a time when our eyes are often bigger than our stomach! Many of us wonder how we will get through them without gaining 5 or 10 pounds. So how can you feel great after parties and meals instead of overstuffed and uncomfortable?Your stomach cannot miraculously hold more food just because it's the holidays. Physical Health is Attainable Through Proper Nutrition and Exercise Obesity is epidemic in this country for both children and adults. The invention of television, video games, and convenient appliances help to influence us to be sedentary. Who Said Bananas Are Not Good For You? After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.Bananas: Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fibre, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Things You Should Know about Vitamin K's Unique Power How well do you know about vitamin K? This vitamin is probably not as popular as other vitamins. But still you need this vitamin for your health. Macrobiotics: Diet and Lifestyle for Long-term Health A frequent misunderstanding about macrobiotics is that it is a diet sick people use - cancer patients especially - in order to heal. While it is true that a macrobiotic approach has helped a great many people get well, macrobiotics is much more than a mere diet, and it is for everyone. Food Additives: Safety versus Health Maintenance / Prevention The topic of food additives is not quickly addressed in one article. Searches on the internet can reveal information that is either pro or con regarding food additive substances. The Many Benefits of Green Tea Extract The Benefits of Green Tea Extract: Anti-Aging, Anti-Cancer, Weight Control One of the great advancements in nutrition in the twenty-first century is the scientific confirmation of the many benefits of green tea extract. Here are just a few. Blood Type and Diet Eating right to suit your blood type" is a subject that is come up a lot in the chat rooms lately, so as promised, here is more information about the topic.First of all there are two bibles on this subject written by Dr. What A 6-Month Old Can Teach Us About Our Eating Habits Recently, I had the pleasure of seeing my 6-month old niece Rianna in Las Vegas. She has just started eating "real" baby food beyond the formula in her bottle, and I got a kick out of feeding her one of her meals of squash. Beginning an Alkaline Diet: The Basic Principles - Start Alkalizing Today! Each and every person living in the UK is facing a myriad of health and lifestyle challenges every day. We are constantly being fed new information about what is healthy and what is unhealthy while thousands of us try to deal with problems ranging from obesity to fatigue to life threatening diseases. The Face of the Waters The story of creation begins with water. Water is an essential nutrient in our diet, but many people fail to address this important component of health. |
home | site map |
© 2005 |