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For Everyday Health
Our Bodies Can't Function without Amino Acids
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Amino acids are needed every day.
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Amino acids affect sleep and immune function!
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Amino acids can be used to detect health risks!
You Need Amino Acids Every Day!
Proteins Are Continually Made and Broken Down Every Day
Our bodies are made up of proteins and they are continually made and broken down every day in the body.
It is important to make sure that the foods you eat each day contain the amino acids you need to make protein in your body. When you eat proteins in food they are digested and absorbed in your body. When proteins are digested they have mostly become amino acids by the time they reach your liver.
Nine Amino Acids that Must be Taken from Food
There are 20 amino acids that make up proteins. Eleven of these amino acids can be made by the body from other amino acids, but the remaining nine amino acids cannot be made in the body. These nine amino acids are called "essential amino acids" and must be taken from food.Amino acid scoring is a method for protein quality assessment based on essential amino acids composition.
The following table shows the required daily intake per kilogram of body weight for the nine essential amino acids, based on age. The requirements in this table were prepared by the international bodies FAO/WHO/UNU through a Joint Expert Consultation.
| Essential Amino Acids | 0.5 years | 1–2 years | 3–10 years | 11–14 years | 15–18 years | Adults |
| mg/kg per day | ||||||
| Isoleucine | 36 | 27 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 20 |
| Leucine | 73 | 54 | 44 | 44 | 42 | 39 |
| Lysine | 64 | 45 | 35 | 35 | 33 | 30 |
| Methionine＋Cystine | 31 | 22 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 |
| Phenylalanine＋Tyrosine | 59 | 40 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 25 |
| Threonine | 34 | 23 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 15 |
| Tryptophan | 9.5 | 6.4 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4 |
| Valine | 49 | 36 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 26 |
| Histidine | 22 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 |
| Essential amino acids in total |
377.5 | 268.4 | 213.8 | 211.8 | 200.5 | 184 |
You Can Supplement with Amino Acids for a More Balanced Diet
In general, animal proteins are good quality proteins with amino acid scores close to 100. They are rich in essential amino acids with good balance.
Although plant-based proteins are rich in amino acids, some may lack certain essential proteins, specifically lysine and methionine, and the amino acid scores are low. Many people nowadays have imbalanced diets. Supplementing your diet with amino acids is an effective way to maintain your health.
Insufficient Amino Acids Can Cause Malnutrition and Rough Skin
Insufficient amino acids can prevent your body from functioning properly. Not getting enough essential amino acids can cause malnutrition and rough skin.
Amino acids are essential nutrients for living.
Amino Acids for Everyday Health
Using Amino Acids to Fight Decreasing Muscle Mass
Sarcopenia—Progressive Loss of Muscle
As we get older, we start to lose skeletal muscle mass. This natural condition is called sarcopenia and it affects everyone.
If nothing is done about it sarcopenia can prevent people from going out as often and can greatly increase the risk of falls or broken bones. This can make it harder for people to lead independent lives.
Using Amino Acids to Prevent Sarcopenia
The right exercise and consumption of enough animal-based proteins are needed to prevent and treat sarcopenia. Doctors are closely looking at amino acids as a nutritional strategy to tackle sarcopenia.
Recent studies have found a clear link between the consumption of amino acids and exercise with the increase of muscle mass and muscle strength.
Let's Learn More!
Amino Acids for Better Sleep
Defining Good Quality Sleep
Getting a good night's sleep means sleeping soundly and waking up refreshed. Getting enough hours of sleep and getting quality sleep is essential to a good night's sleep.
When we sleep we go through cycles of non-REM and REM sleep. However, stress, irregular schedules, and other factors can prevent healthy sleep cycles.
Amino Acid Glycine Promotes Naturally Deep Sleep
Getting good quality sleep means that you sleep deeply and soundly when you go to bed.
The latest research shows that taking glycine before bed helps you to quickly and naturally fall into a deep sleep.
By supplementing your diet with the appropriate amino acid you will probably have a better sleep quality to rest your mind and body. Then you will feel less fatigued and wake up refreshed and energized for the next day.
Let's Learn More!
Amino Acids for a Hangover
Amino Acids Promote the Decomposition of Alcohol and Acetaldehyde
We get a hangover when we drink too much alcohol, and from acetaldehyde that is produced from alcohol.
Taking the amino acids alanine and glutamine before and after drinking and during the next day has been shown to promote liver function and weaken hangovers. Previously people thought that nothing could be done about them.
Let's Learn More!
Measuring Amino Acid Balance to Detect Cancer and Diabetes Risk
AminoIndex® to Check for Health Risks
AminoIndex is a technology developed by Ajinomoto Group. It uses Ajinomoto Group's wealth of expertise in amino acid analysis and research into amino acid metabolism.
Amino acids are basic nutrients that serve many different functions. Scientists thought that measuring amino acids could maybe effectively detect health risks. Ajinomoto Group decided to scientifically prove the effectiveness of measuring amino acids for health and developed the AminoIndex technology.
Ajinomoto Group established the screening technology for measuring the level of blood amino acids concentration as an indicator of the state of health and risk of various diseases including cancer and diabetes.
Pool of Free Amino Acids in Our Bodies
Amino acids do not only make up proteins in our bodies. The same amino acids also exist as free amino acids in the body. This pool of free amino acids in our bodies can make vitamins and hormones, or become new proteins.
