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Amino acids - the real
muscle
builders
Given the amount
of protein that bodybuilders eat, it’s
surprising how little some of them know about
this potent muscle builder. Protein
doesn’t exist as a large molecule, but is made
up of smaller subunits called polypeptide
chains. Polypeptide chains in turn are made up
of even smaller units called amino acids.
Structurally amino acids contain both a
carboxyl (acid) group (COOH) and an amino group
(NH2). The general molecular formula
for a typical amino acid is as
follows.
There are approximately
20 to 22 amino acids that make up protein
chains and they all have unique chemical
characteristics. The exact amino acid
content, and the sequence of the amino acids
in the chain determines what the protein
will be used for.
The
Essentials
The human body
can manufacture approximately 10 of the 20-22
amino acids; the others must be supplied in
your diet. Failure to obtain even one of
the essential
amino acids, can lead to degradation of the
body's protein-based tissues including organs,
muscles, and enzymes. And unlike fats and
carbohydrates, the human body does not store
excess amino acids for later use. They must be
consumed in the food every
day.
The amino acids that can
be synthesized by the body (called
nonessential amino acids) are alanine,
asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine,
glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, proline,
serine and tyrosine. The essential amino
acids are arginine, histidine, isoleucine,
leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine,
threonine, tryptophan, and valine.
Complete and
noncomplete
Nutritionists also
classify protein sources based on their
amino acid make-up. Animal sources contain
all the amino acids and are termed complete.
Most plant sources are deficient in one or
more of the amino acids and are called
incomplete. This is why vegetarians must
consume a wide range of plant sources to
insure they obtain all the amino acids in
their diet. From a bodybuilding perspective
animal products are superior muscle
builders.
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