Related Articles
Out of the 21 amino acids, only 9 are categorized as essential
Amino acids are the basic building blocks of proteins, the compounds that synthesize hormones and neurotransmitters in our bodies. Amino acids help our bodies to grow, repair body tissue, maintain immunity and produce hormones that maintain body functions.
The 21 amino acids different amino acids our bodies need are:
- Alanine
- Arginine
- Asparagine
- Aspartic acid
- Cysteine
- Glutamic acid
- Glutamine
- Glycine
- Histidine
- Isoleucine
- Leucine
- Lysine
- Methionine
- Phenylalanine
- Proline
- Serine
- Threonine
- Tryptophan
- Tyrosine
- Valine
- Selenocysteine
What are the 9 essential amino acids?
Although all of the amino acids are important for our bodies to function properly, only nine of them are classified as essential:
- Phenylalanine
- Valine
- Tryptophan
- Threonine
- Isoleucine
- Methionine
- Histidine
- Leucine
- Lysine
What are the functions of the 9 essential amino acids?
The 9 essential amino acids play important roles in the body:
- Phenylalanine:
- Produces various chemical messengers (neurotransmitters), such as tyrosine, dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine
- Also plays a vital role in the structure and function of proteins and enzymes
- Valine:
- Promotes muscle growth and regeneration
- Also involved in energy production
- Threonine:
- Mostly found in collagen and elastin and a vital component of the skin and connective tissue and helps to:
- Break down fats
- Boost the immune system
- Mostly found in collagen and elastin and a vital component of the skin and connective tissue and helps to:
- Tryptophan:
- Maintains proper nitrogen balance in the body needed for tissue synthesis
- Produces neurotransmitter serotonin that regulates sleep, appetite and mood
- Methionine:
- Promotes tissue growth
- Promotes the absorption of zinc, selenium and other minerals essential for the body
- Leucine:
- Isoleucine:
- Breakdowns muscles
- Produces hemoglobin
- Regulates energy
- Lysine:
- Produces hormones and enzymes
- Helps the body absorb calcium
- Produces energy
- Produces collagen and elastin
- Promotes immune function
- Histidine:
QUESTION
According to the USDA, there is no difference between a “portion” and a “serving.”
See Answer
How are amino acids classified?
Amino acids are classified as essential, nonessential and conditionally essential:
- Essential amino acids: Essential amino acids cannot be made by the body; they must be obtained from the diet.
- Nonessential amino acids: Nonessential amino acids are produced by the body naturally, although they can also be additionally obtained from food. Nonessential amino acids include:
- Alanine
- Arginine
- Asparagine
- Aspartic acid
- Cysteine
- Glutamic acid
- Glutamine
- Glycine
- Proline
- Serine
- Tyrosine
- Conditionally essential amino acids: Conditionally essential amino acids are ones that your body can’t produce under specific circumstances such as stress or illness. Conditional amino acids include:
- Arginine
- Cysteine
- Glutamine
- Tyrosine
- Glycine
- Ornithine
- Proline
- Serine