Arginine is a conditionally essential amino acid, which can be produced in your body from other amino acids, but in certain circumstances, such as young age or heavy illness, you may need to obtain additional amounts from foods in order to be healthy.  

Arginine:

• A building block of proteins

• Important for the production of nitric oxide (NO), which widens the arteries, detoxification of nitrogenous wastes and stimulation of growth hormone release

• A glucogenic amino acid — it can be converted into glucose

• helps the body rid itself of ammonia (a waste product) and stimulates the release of insulin

 

Alanine or beta alanine is a nonessential amino acid.  Unlike most amino acids, it is not used by your body to synthesize proteins.  Instead, together with histidine, it produces carnosine. Carnosine is then stored in your skeletal muscles. Carnosine reduces lactic acid accumulation in your muscles during exercise, which leads to improved athletic performance.

Alanine:

• helps improve exercise performance

• Studies show that beta-alanine helps increase your time to exhaustion

• In resistance training, it can boost training volume and reduce fatigue.

• The antioxidant benefits of carnosine include neutralizing free radicals and reducing oxidative stress

• It also has antioxidant, immune-enhancing and anti-aging properties.

 

Glutamine is a conditionally essential amino acid, which can be produced in your body from another amino acid glutamic acid and ammonia, but in increased body demands, such as in heavy exercise, injury, burns, chronic illness or cancer, you might need to obtain additional amounts from foods in order to be healthy. It plays an important role in immune function. However, during illness or injury, the body may not be able to produce enough of it. Glutamine supplements may help improve immune function and preserve protein stores in the body. Glutamine is produced mainly in the muscles and consumed by the gastrointestinal and kidney cells.  

Glutamine:

• A building block of proteins

• A glucogenic amino acid — it can be converted into glucose

• An energy source for the intestinal, kidney, immune cells and nerve cells

• The main nitrogen carrier

• A precursor for the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate and for the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA.

• A buffer – it affects the acid-base balance in the blood

 

Glycine is a conditionally essential amino acid, which can be produced in your body from other amino acids, but in certain circumstances, such as young age or heavy illness, you may need to obtain additional amounts from food to be healthy.  Glycine is an amino acid that your body uses to create proteins, which it needs for the growth and maintenance of tissue and for making important substances, such as hormones and enzymes.

Glycine:

• Is one of three amino acids that your body uses to make glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that helps protect your cells against oxidative damage caused by free radicals, which are thought to underlie many diseases. 

• Is a component of creatine, a compound that provides your muscles with energy and has been associated with other health benefits, such as improved bone health and brain function.

• The most abundant amino acid in collagen, a structural protein that has several health benefits, including for your skin, joints, and bones.

• May preserve muscle mass in wasting conditions, such as cancer, malnutrition, and burns, though more research in humans is needed.

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N-Acetylcysteine (Cysteine) is a semi-essential amino acid.  It is considered semi-essential because your body can produce it from other amino acids, namely methionine and serine.  It becomes essential only when the dietary intake of methionine and serine is low.  

Studies claim that N-Acetylcysteine:

• is essential for making the powerful antioxidant glutathione and helps with detoxification to prevent or diminish kidney and liver damage

• helps relieve symptoms of respiratory conditions and may improve fertility in both men and women

• may stabilize blood sugar by decreasing inflammation in fat cells

• has the ability to boost glutathione levels that may improve immune function 

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Ornithine is a conditionally essential amino acid, It is a naturally occurring amino acid found in meat, fish, dairy, and eggs. Ornithine is one of the key reactants in the urea cycle that is responsible for 80% of the nitrogen excretion in the body. It enhances liver function and helps detoxify harmful substances.  

Studies claim that ornithine:

• improves athletic performance

• has anabolic effects

• has wound-healing effects

• helps enhance your immune system

 

Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid. It is found in many foods and used by your body to produce proteins and other important molecules. Phenylalanine has been studied for its effects on depression, pain, and skin disorders.  It is crucial for the production of other molecules, including:

• Tyrosine: This amino acid is produced directly from phenylalanine. It can be used to make new proteins or converted into other molecules

• Epinephrine and norepinephrine: When you encounter stress, these molecules are vital for your body’s “fight or flight” response 

• Dopamine: This molecule is involved in feelings of pleasure in your brain, as well as forming memories and learning skills

 

Threonine is an essential amino acid and is an important residue of many proteins, such as tooth enamel, collagen, and elastin. An important amino acid for the nervous system, threonine also plays an important role in fat metabolism and prevents fat buildup in the liver. Useful with intestinal disorders and indigestion, threonine has also been used to alleviate anxiety and mild depression.  

 

Tyrosine is a conditionally essential amino acid, which can be produced in your body from another amino acid phenylalanine, but in certain circumstances, such as young age or heavy illness, you need to obtain additional amounts from food to be healthy. It has been shown to improve alertness, attention, and focus.  Tyrosine helps make several important substances, including:

• Dopamine which regulates your reward and pleasure centers. This important brain chemical is also important for memory and motor skills 

• Adrenaline and noradrenaline are hormones that are responsible for the fight-or-flight response to stressful situations. 

• Thyroid hormones are produced by the thyroid gland and primarily responsible for regulating metabolism 

• Melanin is the pigment that gives your skin, hair, and eyes their color. Dark-skinned people have more melanin in their skin than light-skinned people