• Used for
  • Wound healing, detoxification reactions and immune function
  • Promoting hormone secretion (e.g. insulin, growth hormone)
  • Synthesizing creatine
• Plays central role in formation of Nitric Oxide
• Needed:
  • During periods of growth (eg pregancy, childhood and muscle building training) and stress
  • When protein intake in high (to break down nitrogen in amino acids)
• Prevents hypoammonemia

Best sources – chocolate, peanuts, seeds, almonds, walnuts

• Used in blood cell production (ie hemoglobin) and to produce Histidine, hormone responsible for immune reaction resulting in swelling and allergic reactions
• Needed:
  • During childhood and growth periods
  • For tissue formation and repair (eg injury)

• Branch Chain Amino Acid (BCAA)
• Promotes muscle recovery after exercise
• Broken down to help regulate blood sugar
• Stimulates protein synthesis and maintenance of muscle tissue
• Oxidized in mitochondria for energy
• Acts as precursors for ketone bodies and lipids in the liver
• Supports energy related disorders, stress, muscle building
• Reduces twitching and tremors

Best sources

• high protein foods; red meat, dairy, fish
• Nuts, seeds, grains, grain flour and their germs (eg wheat germ)

Function notes – in brain entry, BCAAs share transport mechanisms with tryptophan, phenylanine and tyrosine

• BCAA
• Used to make sterols (e.g. cholesterol)
• Stimulates protein synthesis and maintenance of muscle tissue (more than other BCAA)
• Oxidized in mitochondria for energy
• Acts as precursors for ketone bodies and lipids in the liver
• Support energy related disorders, stress, muscle building; helps heal wounds of skin and bones

Best sources

• High protein foods; red meat, poultry, fish, dairy
• Oats, grains, grain flour and their germs

Function notes – in brain entry, BCAAs share transport mechanisms with tryptophan, phenylanine and tyrosine

• Very high in fish, meats (turkey,chicken), dairy
• Higher than other aminos in wheat germ, legumes and many fruit and vegetables
• Not readily available in grain cereals of peanuts
• Lysine sensitive to dry heat (such as popping, dry frying) but content of lysine enhanced by sprouting

• Methyl donor in methylation (with folic acid, B6, B12) as SAMe in methylation of DNA which controls DNA expression (useful in genetic disease states) and hormone production
• Manufacture of body components, especially brain cells
• Manufacture of sulfur containing cartilage compounds
• Manufacture of Glutathione in liver detoxification
• Sulfur containing
• Intermediary in creation of phospholipids (used in each cell membrane), and other proteins: e.g. Taurine, Choline
• Helps in treating depression, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, liver disorders, migraines

Best sources – meat, fish, eggs, dairy

• High in many foods, especially meat, milk products
• Lower levels in oats and wheat germ

• Supports liver function
• Supports healthy immune system by promoting thymus response to illness

• Precursor to neurotransmitter serotonin (involved in muscle movement, alertness, mental activity, mood regulation) and melatonin (hormone for sleep regulation)
• Regulates appetite
• L-tryptophan and 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) useful in treating insomnia and depression

Best sources

• Turkey, chicken, eggs, red meats, fish
• Milk, cottage cheese, casein component of milk
• Tofu, almonds, peanuts, dates, chocolate

Source and function notes

• Requires Vitamins B6, C, Folic acid and Magnesium to metabolize tryptophan
• Poor diet, lack of exercise, caffeine, alcohol, physical and emotional stress all effect serotonin and melatonin levels
• Serotonin levels directly related to tryptophan intake and uptake
• Tryptophan competes with other aminos for absorption especially tyrosine and phenylamine
• Other aminos (especially BCAAs) get priority in entry to brain: they share the same carrier across Blood Brain Barrier
  • To promote tryptophan metabolism and entry to brain
    • Eat foods low in other aminos and tryptophan rich
    • Eat foods low in protein and rich in carbohydrate

• BCAA
• Fires up system
• Works with IsoLeucine and Leucine to repair damage
• Helps regulate blood sugar
• Stimulates and regulates nervous system
• Stimulates protein synthesis and maintenance of muscle tissue
• Oxidized in mitochondria for energy
• Acts as precursors for ketone bodies and lipids in the liver
• Supports energy related disorders, stress, muscle building
• Helps treat liver and gallbladder disease
• Helps in treating addictions
• Deficiency may affect myelin sheath of nerves

Best sources

• High protein foods; red meat, dairy, fish nuts
• Seeds, grains, grain flour and grain germ (eg wheat germ)

Function notes – in brain entry, BCAAs share transport mechanisms with tryptophan, phenylanine and tyrosine