Amino Acid 101 ... and a great link (or two) !!

[TwoTrees]

[TwoTrees]

There are many essential (the ones you get from your diet) amino acids that you body does not make.

 

Arginine - involved mostly in the production of growth hormones but also helps cardiovascular and immune systems.

 

Histidine - important for any absorption of zinc.

 

Lysine - aids in lowering cholesterol.

 

Methionine - a major combatant to alleviating allergies.

 

Taurine - the most known one, not only does it also help lowering cholesterol; but stabilizes the brain and heart tissues, and is used largely for people with seizures/epilepsy & manias.

 

Tryptophan - This one has to be the most interesting. It converts into serotonin - you may notice when you are deficient that you have more tendecy to be depressed, have trouble sleeping and even have some cognitive problems.

 

Also: iso-leucine, leucine, phenylalanine, threonine, valine are some notable others.

 

Your body can normaly make about half of the necessary amino acids from other nutrients. However, if you daily duties provide any kind of stress or prolonged illness, your body loses its ability to make these, which is why I feel we have to be careful in declaring a certain group of amino acids as nonessential.

asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glycine, proline, serine, tyrosine

 

Alanine - an important key to blood sugar chemistry.

 

Glutamine - aids in digestion, muscle chemistry and also helps immune system. It is also the precursor to an important calming neurotransmitter (GABA).

 

Carnitine - combats heart disease and essential for energy chemistries.

 

While the power of amino acid therapies are great, the approach requires very high levels of responsiblity (involvement) for people to undertake it. It also demands patience most of all, the willingness to adjust different types of supplements, in the meantime an attention must be paid (but shouldn't it always ?) to all areas of one's life, some understanding of its logic, and very strong commitment. Ultimately, nobody heals anyone else, or heals LIKE anyone else.

Amino acids are involved in every chemical process in the body. Like any other modality, these help ignite the "inner healer" that we have, that part inside that rolls the gears to initiate the process. This approach can also help restore inner metabolic balance, which jump starts (or resumes) the deeper issues that the word "healing" implies to you. Many things you will find that will work like magic, but of course, your healing is greatly enhanced when your own inner magician is vital, and involved.

Edited June 24, 2006 by TwoTrees