Amino Acids and
Amino Acid Supplements

Amino acids play an important role in womens health issues. They are also being studied for their support of emotional health and the treatment of depression. Amino acids are one of the building blocks of life. They are involved in cellular energy production and they make up proteins in every tissue of the body. They help in the formation of antibodies, muscles, collagen, hormones, enzymes, immunoglobulins, hemoglobin, neurotransmitters, and receptors.

They are important to nearly every chemical process in the body that affects physical and mental function.

A deficiency in amino acids may affect athletic performance, fatigue, digestion, cardiovascular health, arthritis, allergies, neurologic balance and cognitive functions.

Yet these very important amino acids are seldom included in the daily multi-vitamin and mineral supplements you find at the supermarket. Believe it or not.

Check the labels. We looked recently and not one of the grocery store brands of vitamins we saw had any amino acids included. Not one.

Many people who take vitamins and minerals and herbs forget about these important amino acid supplements. Are amino acids missing from your diet?

Three ways to add amino acids to your diet include:

1. Eating foods rich in amino acids,

2. Taking one of the few daily womens supplements that also include amino acids, and

3. Drinking a whey protein milkshake or a hemp seed protein shake every day.

Processed foods may be low in amino acids. The foods in a frozen dinner for example, have been shipped, processed, cooked, packaged, frozen, shipped, then cooked again by you at home.

The Bragg company makes a soy sauce substitute that is full of amino acids. It is called Bragg Liquid Aminos and comes in a spray bottle. You can just spray it on stir fry meats and vegetables, rice, etc. to add some aminos to your food.

Twinlab makes a liquid amino acid supplement that is a creamy syrup. You can take a tablespoon of it with a meal, or add it to a smoothie.

Whey protein naturally contains a full range of amino acids. So does hemp seed protein powder. Many companies offer whey protein or hemp protein powders you can blend with fruit, yogurt and juice to make a smoothie.

BOth whey protein powder and hemp protein powder are popular with dieters and bodybuilders, and a wide variety of brands are for sale in most gyms and health food stores.

See our page about whey protein with amino acids for more information on whey protein and whey protein isolate that is rich in amino acids.

The isolate is the very pure, easy to mix and digest form of whey protein that we prefer.

Mixing a serving of whey protein powder in a blender with some fruit or juice is a healthy daily habit. Adding a tablespoon of flaxseed oil to your shake gives you the important omega-3 "healthy fats" that your body also needs.

Hemp protein powder has both, the amino acids and the omega-3 oil that your body wants. It also tastes great.

Breakfast is a good time to enjoy a healthy smoothie. It can be blended in a minute. Some people pour it into a tall cup with a lid and a straw, and sip it on their drive to work.

Whey protein powder products vary in quality and amino acid content. Read the labels and ask your health food store salesperson which brand has the most protein "isolate" and the least amount of cheaper filler ingredients.

One we have tried and are impressed with is the Bioplex Pure WPI, whey protein isolate. This is one of the most pure, easy to mix and digest whey protein isolate we've ever tried. It is not "chalky" like many other protein powders. It is fat free, sugar free, lactose free and carbohydrate free. It is very high in eighteen important amino acids, such as L-Glutamine, Lysine, Tyrosine, etc.

A hemp seed protein powder we tried and liked a lot is the Manitoba Harvest brand. It has a tasty nutty flavor and it makes delicious shakes that are packed with amino acids and omega-3.

L-glutamine:

Lifestyle factors can also play a role in amino acid needs. For example, exercise and stress can deplete some of the amino acid L-glutamine from the body. This amino acid is important for cellular repair and energy.

Some foods that provide L-glutamine include whey protein and other dairy products, meat, eggs, seafood, beets, nuts and whole grains.

If you are exercising regularly, or are under a lot of stress, you may want to supplement your L-glutamine intake.

A recent survey of a quarter of a million women by Parade magazine found that stress was the number one health issue in their daily lives. Also, most health conscious women are exercising more these days.

These facts indicate that supplementation of L-glutamine and other amino acids is important to optimal health. Two ways to add amino acids into your diet are with whey protein powder and with a daily vitamin-mineral supplement that includes amino acids such as the super high quality Total Balance for Women.

L-Glutamine References:

Rhode T, et al. Glutamine, exercise, and the immune system. Exerc Immunol Rev. 1998;4:49-63.

Shephard RJ, et al. Immunological hazards from nutritional imbalance in athletes. Exerc Immunol Rev. 1998;4:22-48.

Castell LM, et al. Glutamine and the effects of exhaustive exercise upon the immune response. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. May1998;76(5):524-32.

Nieman DC. Exercise and resistance to infection. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. May1998;76(5):573-80.

Houdijk AP, et al. Glutamine-enriched enteral nutrition in multiple trauma patients. Nutrition. Jan2000;16(1):70-1.

Bobrova NP, et al. Effect of chronic alcohol intoxication, termination of ethanol administration, and treatment of abstinence with glutamine and riboflavin on neuromediatory systems of gamma-aminobutyric acid and acetylcholine in the rat brain. Vopr Med Khim. Jan1982;28(1):103-6.

Klimberg VS, McClellan JL. Glutamine, cancer, and its therapy. Am J Surg. 1996;172:418-424.

Fahr MJ, Kornbluth J, Blossom S, et al. Harry M. Vars Research Award. Glutamine enhances immunoregulation of tumor growth. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 1994;18:471-476.

O'Keefe SJ. Nutrition and gastrointestinal disease. Scand J Gastroenterol Suppl. 1996;220:52-9.

Fujita T, et al. Efficacy of glutamine-enriched enteral nutrition in an experimental model of mucosal ulcerative colitis. Br J Surg. Jun1995;82(6):749-51.

Wells SM, et al. Dietary glutamine enhances cytokine production by murine macrophages. Nutrition. Nov1999;15(11-12):881-4.

Demling RH, et al. Metabolic management of patients with severe burns. World J Surg. Jun2000;24(6):673-80.

Albrecht J, Dolinska M. Glutamine as a pathogenic factor in hepatic encephalopathy. J Neurosci Res. Jul2001;65(1):1-5.

The statements herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease. All information here is intended for general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting any new supplement, diet or fitness regimen.






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