Definition: Amino acids are known as the building blocks of protein. They perform many important functions such as: building cells, protecting the body from viruses or bacteria, repairing damaged tissue and carrying oxygen throughout the body.
There are two kinds of amino acids: essential and non-essential. Essential amino acids are those that can't be produced in the body, so you get these from foods or supplements. The eight essential amino acids include:
Isoleucine
Leucine
Lysine
Methionine
Phenylalanine
Threonine
Tryptophan
Valine
Serine
Some of these essential amino acids can be found in wheat, corn, beans, rice, beef and whey.
Non-essential amino acids are those that are produced within the human body. These include:
Alanine
Asparagine
Aspartic Acid
Cysteine
Glutamic Acid
Glutamine
Glycine
Proline
Tyrosine
Arginine
Histidine
