Amino Acids
One of the newer waves in modern weight loss is what I call the amino acid craze. Interestingly enough, this movement started in another health supplement world, weight lifters and body builders, and made its cross over a few years ago. The change signaled an adjustment in marketing, not in supplementing. In fact, most of the weight loss supplements purporting to have amino acid complexes are significantly lower quality then their work out counterparts. Part of that has to do with information; part of it has to do with niche marketing.
We here at weight-loss-tips.net are going to give a brief explanation of what amino acids do, what they can do for you in supplement form, and which ones can help you lose weight. We will also give a warning about what to look for and what actually works.
There are two kinds of amino acids that we will focus on, Essential and non-essential. These names are misleading, because all of them are necessary. The difference is that essential amino acids cannot be synthesized by your body, and must be taken in through your diet (mostly through meats and proteins) while non-essential amino acids the body can synthesize and produce on its own. There are nine essential amino acids, phenylalanine, valine, threonine, tryptophan, isoleucine, methionine, histidine, leucine, and lysine. Several other important amino acids often require supplementation to have adequate amounts, including arginine, cysteine, glycine, glutamine and tyrosine.
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, which are the building blocks of cells. But they also serve an imperative need in regulating enzyme and hormone release, and acting to allow for proper equilibriums in the body. A few examples:
- Tryptophan is a precursor of the neurotransmitter serotonin.
- Arginine is a precursor of nitric oxide.
- Carnitine is used in lipid transport within the cell.
- Ornithine and S-adenosylmethionine are precursors of polyamines.
- The thyroid hormones are also alpha-amino acids.
While most amino acids have more to do with cellular function then weight loss there are a few that appear to have particular diet bonuses.
Carnitine, tryptophan and phenylalanine may help in the fight against obesity by burning fat more efficiently and suppressing appetite.
We reviewed the 22 most common amino acids, and the few that have weight loss help prevention. But remember, these amino acids your body already has. Much like taking a vitamin C tablet with 1600% of the vitamin C that you need, overdosing on amino acids will exit your body the same way, not multiply your weight loss by 4 times as much. Plus, overdosing on amino acids can be dangerous, sometimes the body won’t be able to break down the amino acid, and sometimes it will inhibit the absorption of important nutrients. Always consult with a doctor before playing with your body’s metabolism in this manner. Also, be aware that these products do more for muscle growth then fat loss and burning. And make sure to not overpay.