Essential Amino Acids: The Building Blocks of Life

Essential Amino Acids 

Did you know that amino acids are one of the most common nutrient groups that people are deficient in? Depending on your weight, the recommended daily intake of essential amino acids is between 5-7 grams. Amino acids are organic compounds that combine to form proteins, the building blocks of life. Protein is found throughout the body—in muscle, bone, skin, hair, and virtually every other body part or tissue. The body depends upon amino acids to build these tissues and as an essential fuel source.

Benefits of Amino Acids: 

• Build and repair essential body tissues
• Prevent muscle damage
• Improve muscle recovery
• Increase endurance
• Improve mental acuity
• Reduce mental fatigue
• May improve mood and sleep
• Can boost exercise performance
• May promote weight loss

Not only is it important to ensure you get adequate amounts of amino acids in your diet, but it is important to ensure that your body is actually digesting and absorbing the amino acids that you consume. When you consume protein, what you are actually consuming are chains of amino acids that the body has to break down and absorb. Unfortunately, due to modern dietary and lifestyle trends, many people’s digestive tracts are inflamed and unable to properly absorb amino acids from the food they eat. In addition, most food today lacks the nutrients it once contained due to the degradation of our soil and as a result of factory farming that produces malnourished and unhealthy animals.

Through the use of cutting edge technology, our Complete Amino Acid Complex was created to maximize the absorption of amino acids. It has a small enough molecular structure that it can actually bypass the digestive tract, meaning it does not need to be digested in order to be absorbed, simply combined with a simple sugar molecule when consumed on an empty stomach.

There are 20 different amino acids that the body needs to function optimally, 9 of which are essential (meaning they must be obtained through the food we eat) and 11 are non-essential (can be produced by the body). Here is a brief clinical description of the benefits of each amino acid in our complex:

Zuma Amino Acid Blend

Pharmaceutical grade L-Crystalline singular amino acids, necessary for proper protein synthesis by the body’s organic tissues. These are the essential and non-essential amino acids that once available go on to produce the 50 thousand different proteins that make up the body.

L-LYSINE, essential amino acid which can be deficient in vegan/vegetarian diets, can promote anti-viral activity, by blocking the viral replication of viruses, especially RNA viruses. It is the key building block collagen and therefore all the connective tissue in the body associated with elasticity, such as skin, tendons, ligaments, hair, nails, etc. It is the largest by volume of any other amino acid in the body, needing to maintain a pound and a half, to maintain the body’s collagen structures. The only other nutrient that match’s it is calcium also at 1½ pounds, due to the amount of bone in the body.

L-TRYPTOPHAN, an essential amino acid used to make serotonin (a mood-determining brain chemical), also cannot be produced without Serine. Meanwhile, both serotonin and Tryptophan deficiencies are believed to contribute to depression, insomnia, and anxiety. Has neuro-calming effects that have been associated with sleep benefits.

L-ARGININE, beneficial for  immune function and its cardiovascular properties. It helps increase Nitric Oxide production, which is important for endothelial cells. Vasodilating, relaxation of smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls, in particular in the large veins, large arteries, and smaller arteries. 

L-LEUCINE, L-ISOLEUCINE & L-VALINE, make up the Branched Chain Essential Amino Acids in proper balance for healthy muscle tissue. Important for stamina, endurance, and strength. These amino acids are lost during catabolic conditions.

L-ALANINE helps stabilizes blood glucose levels. 

L-THREONINE is an essential amino acid and theprecursor to Glycine. It is useful in certain neurological conditions. 

L-HISTIDINE,  a semi-essential amino acid. Found useful in certain conditions of Rheumatoid Arthritis as an inhibitor of histamine release. 

L-METHIONINE, prevents deposits and cohesion of fats in the liver due to lipotropic factors, and assists in proper gallbladder function. It also has powerful antioxidant properties and immune contributing properties. 

L-CYSTINE, promotes recovery of tissue, it’s part of the insulin molecule, and it’s useful in dermatology problems such as psoriasis and eczema. 

L-GLUTAMINE, benefits muscle tissue, neurological and gastro-intestinal health, supporting the immune system and promoting proper glucogenic (glucose formation) function. 

L-TYROSINE, crosses the blood-brain barrier quickly, to elevate catecholamines (which are generally low in depression), and for proper neurological balance. 

L-ASPARTIC ACID helps in the protective function and detoxification of the liver. It’s important for neurological health and is the precursor to GABA. 

L-PHENYLALANINE is the precursor for epinephrine and catecholamine chemistry, and has been found useful in conditions of mental fatigue. 

L-GLYCINE, important for proper glucose balance, the formation of collagen, synthesis of creatine, prostate health and is involved in the central nervous system. It is essential for bile acid metabolism and is a biochemical constituent of the tripeptide Glutathione, an important antioxidant 

L-SERINE, plays an important role in the catalytic function of many enzymes. This amino acid is particularly essential for the proper functioning of your brain and of your central nervous system. One of the Serine's functions is to help form the phospholipids, (a class of lipids that are a major component of all cell membranes,) which are necessary for creating every cell in the human body. It also contributes to the production of immunoglobulins and antibodies for a healthy immune system, as well as for helping in the absorption of creatine that helps build and maintain the muscles. 

N-Acetyl-L-Cystine, an amino acid complex that is the precursor to Glutathione, increasing Glutathione concentrations in the cells and helps detox oxidative compound build-up in the body. It acts as a mucolytic agent reducing mucus and inflammation in the lungs.

The Ultimate Amino Acids Complex

Many amino acid supplements on the market contain only BCAAs (branch chain amino acids) or just the essential amino acids. Our Complete Amino Acid Complex contains all 9 essential amino acids and 11 non-essential amino acids. Consuming non-essential amino acids from an external source allows the body to utilize these nutrients without having to synthesize them itself in the liver, which is a delicate process that is often interfered with due to poor liver health.

Making sure your body has adequate amino acids is a simple way to increase longevity, optimize physical performance, and improve your overall health and well-being. When supplementing with amino acids in a bio available form, you may notice a major increase in energy, endurance, and performance. Amino acid supplementation is truly a breakthrough in the nutritional supplement industry, and our Zuma Nutrition team is very proud to offer an amino acid supplement that is not only free of toxic chemicals and fillers, but that is actually effective and easily absorbed by the body. Don’t cheat yourself when it comes to the quality of your food and supplements. Give your body what it needs to thrive so you can be the happiest, healthiest version of yourself.