You’ve probably heard that protein is essential for building and repairing your body. As it turns out, this may be more true than we ever knew. The latest research suggests that not having enough protein could be more harmful than eating too much of it.
A lack of quality protein can have a detrimental effect on your health, leaving you weak and fatigued as well as increasing your risk of developing diseases such as osteoporosis, kidney disease, colorectal cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Even though it seems like there are only two types of amino acids
- those found in animal-based foods such as dairy and fish and those found in plants such as soya
- they act differently in the body. If any one of them is out of whack, then you can expect imbalances in other areas of your health, including your muscles and metabolism. That’s why getting your amino acid levels balanced is so important!
What Are Amino Acids?
Every cell in your body contains proteins, and protein is essential to life! These “building blocks” of the body are made up of amino acids, which are the “brains” of your cells. There are over 100 amino acids that your body can produce, and you need a specific amount of each to stay healthy.
Your body can get all the amino acids it needs from the foods you eat, but it can also make some from other chemical components, like enzymes. Animals and plants that produce meat, fish, poultry and dairy are the main dietary sources of amino acids.
However, not all amino acids are found in the same foods. Humans can’t make the essential amino acids listed below in significant amounts, so we must get them from our diets. In addition, we may not get enough of some amino acids depending on our age, gender, genetics, activity level, illness or other factors.
The Benefits of Having Your Amino Acid Levels Balanced
Although amino acids are critical for your health, they cannot be used directly by the body. Instead, they are converted into metabolic products, such as glucose and fatty acids, that fuel your cells. If you don’t have enough amino acids in your body, then you’re not producing the metabolic products necessary to fuel your cells and your metabolism slows down.
The result is that you feel weak and fatigued easily, and you may also experience other adverse effects such as low immunity, an increased risk of disease and poor muscle growth. Fortunately, the majority of amino acids can be balanced with dietary changes and supplementation.
If you are a vegetarian, then you should make sure that you are getting the right amino acids from your diet. If you are a vegan, then you might need to increase your protein intake.
The Negative Health Effects of a Protein Deficiency
As we mentioned above, amino acids are essential to health, but they have bi-directional functions in the body. They can be used by the body as fuel or through a process called “transamination”, where they are turned into other substances that are required by the body.
If you are not getting enough of any particular amino acid, then it will hurt the function of your body’s cells. You may experience a lack of energy, muscle loss, low immunity, an increased risk of disease or poor metabolism.
Some amino acids are not easily replaced by the body, so deficiencies in certain essential amino acids can lead to serious health issues. For example, B vitamins are important for the metabolism of amino acids and the formation of red blood cells, so those who are deficient in B vitamins are more likely to develop anaemia.
How do you know if your amino acid levels are out of balance?
To test your amino acid levels, you can ask your doctor to order a blood test. Alternatively, you can try some at-home methods of testing as well.
- Urinalysis: If you’re having trouble balancing your amino acid levels, then you may be suffering from a protein deficiency. This could indicate underlying kidney disease, and your doctor could order a urinalysis to check if this is the case.
- Muscle Testing: If you’re having trouble balancing your amino acid levels, then you may be suffering from a protein deficiency. This could indicate an underlying disease or disorder, and your doctor could recommend muscle testing to check if this is the case.
- Dietary Review: If you’re having trouble balancing your amino acid levels, then you may be suffering from a protein deficiency. This could indicate an underlying disease or disorder, and your doctor could recommend dietary changes to help improve your amino acid levels.
Deficiencies and Excesses in the Body
Protein is an essential nutrient that is used to build and repair the body, and it is also required to maintain healthy muscles throughout your lifetime. If you do not consume enough protein, then you will suffer from muscle loss and you may also be at an increased risk of developing diseases such as osteoporosis, kidney disease, colorectal cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
However, if you consume too much protein, then you will suffer from an excess in your body’s amino acid levels and you may also develop kidney disease, colorectal cancer and osteoporosis.
Which Food Sources Provide the Most Essential Amino Encodes?
Listed below are the most important amino acids to consume in your diet if you want to have your amino acid levels balanced. For more details, read our article, The 8 Most Important Amino Acids For Humans.
- Alanine: This amino acid is used for building muscle and supporting metabolic processes. It is found in milk, soya products, nuts, beans and pulses.
- Arginine: This amino acid is used for building muscle and supporting metabolic processes. It is found in milk, soya products, nuts, beans and pulses.
- Aspartic acid: This amino acid is used for building muscle and supporting metabolic processes. It is found in milk, soya products, nuts, beans and pulses.
- Cysteine: This amino acid is used for building muscle and supporting metabolic processes. It is found in milk, soya products, nuts, beans and pulses.
- Glutamic acid: This amino acid is used for building muscle and supporting metabolic processes. It is found in milk, soya products, nuts, beans and pulses.
- Glycine: This amino acid is used for building muscle and supporting metabolic processes. It is found in milk, soy products, nuts, beans and pulses.
- Proline: This amino acid is used for building muscle and supporting metabolic processes. It is found in milk, soya products, nuts, beans and pulses. –
- Serine: This amino acid is used for building muscle and supporting metabolic processes. It is found in milk, soya products, nuts, beans and pulses.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a vegetarian or a vegan, the key to getting your amino acid levels balanced is to consume protein from a variety of sources throughout the day. The following are some of the best plant-based sources of protein:
- Legumes: Beans, nuts and pulses
- Whole Grains: Oats, barley and wheat
- Greens: Spinach, kale and Swiss chard
- Fatty Fish: Salmon, tuna and sardines Make sure you’re getting adequate amounts of the essential amino acids and you will have the best chance of keeping your body healthy and functioning well.