What Are Essential Amino Acids? How These Are Different Than Non-Essential?

Proteins are the basic entities that you need for the regulations of the tissues and organs of the body. Proteins are necessary for body to stay healthy and work efficiently. Proteins are the means of running the oxygen in your body. Essential amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. So, they are as important as the proteins. Other than this, essential amino acids play critical roles in our body. There are many processes in which amino acids play a great role. For example, synthesis of hormones neurotransmitters. Amino acids are often used as supplements for the sportsmen. Especially for the athletics, it is the basic adrenaline. We call them essential or non-essential on the basis of various factors. We aim to elaborate everything under the sun you need to know about the essential amino acids. Their importance and how they are different from non-essential amino acids.

What Are Essential Amino Acids?

Nitrogen is the basic component of the amino acids. Amino acids consist of nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen. Secondarily they contain side chain groups. Your body does not make essential amino acids, that’s why they are known as essential. Moreover, they are necessary for the working and growing of our body. Nearly a dozen amino acids are considered as mandatory. Based on certain conditions, many non-essential amino acids become essential amino acids. You can have arginine as an example. It is the most recommended amino acid when treating the patients of cancer. Otherwise, it is non-essential. The pair of amino acids and proteins is the building block of our life. More often when we run short of proteins body use the amino acids to make the proteins. Tissues of our body get repaired because of essential amino acids.

Classifications Of Amino Acids:

There are three types of amino acids.

• Essential amino acids
• Non-essential amino acids
• Conditional amino acids

Essential Amino Acids:

We have explained the qualities of essential amino acids. There are basically 9 essential amino acids.  histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.

Non-Essential Amino Acids:

Non essential amino acids are those amino acids which are produced by our body. This is the built-in function of our body even if we don’t take supplementary diets. The main non-essential amino acids are arginine, alanine, proline, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, tyrosine.

Conditional Amino Acids:

Conditional amino acids are not in fact other than first two types. There are some amino acids which can show dual behavior when needed. They can be termed as conditional amino acids. Some of the main conditional amino acids are: aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, proline cysteine.

Major Differences Between Essential And Non-Essential Amino Acids

• According to an assignment writing firm, the first and foremost difference between them is their production. Human body produces non-essential amino acids, not the essentials. Essential are also necessary for the proper working of our body. So, that deficiency has to overcome through diet.
• There are 20 amino acids. Nine of them are considered as the essential and remaining 11 are known as non-essential. There are some other side chains as well. But basically, we count them to 20
• The source of the amino acids is different. Non-essential are produced by our body itself. Whereas egg, chicken, meat, and protein-rich diets can be used as a source of essential amino acids.
• The job of both acids is different from each other. Essential amino acids are used to build and repair the tissues of the body. They play an important part in the nourishment of the brain. Whereas non-essential amino acids are used to produce the red blood cells and white blood cells of the body. Red blood cells are used to transfer oxygen in the body while white blood cells provide the defense system to the body against infections. Both are dependent on non-essential amino acids. Moreover, non-essential are also used to for the removal of toxins from the body.
• The last but not the least difference of both acids is the effect of deficiency. Deficiency of essentials affect the growth of the body, while deficiency of the non-essential can cause illness and infections. Usually, people get short of essential amino acids as they come from food.

These are the main differences of both acids. Now let us throw some light on the purpose of each essential amino acid briefly. It will give better awareness about their necessity.

Functions Of Essential Amino Acids In Our Body:

Following are the roles that nine essential amino acids play in our body:

• Phenylalanine: It plays a vital role in the proper functioning of enzymes. It also helps in producing proteins and other amino acids as well. Neurotransmitters of the brain require phenylalanine very much.
• Threonine: It is the major part of the protein molecules. They play an important part in the development of skin. The connectivity of the tissues become better with the presence of threonine.
• Valine: Valine has an effective role in the development of the muscles of the body. Production of energy largely depends on the valine.
• Histidine: It is used to stimulate the dead or damaged neurotransmitters of the brain. Its main purpose is to produce histamine. Histamine is responsible for the sleep cycles and sexual behaviors of the bodies.
• Isoleucine: Tissues of the muscles contain larger amount of isoleucine. Hemoglobin and immune functions largely depend on it.
• Leucine: It is used for the production of proteins. The healing of human tissues largely depends on them. Leucine plays an important role in the regulations of sugar level.
• Lysine: Collagen and elastic need lysine for their production. Lysine also helps in the production protein, hormones and enzymes.
• Methionine: It is the most important part of the metabolism and neutralization of toxics. It absorbs zinc from the body and other minerals that can harm the body
• Tryptophan: It helps to control the mind state of a person. Often used for dizziness and sleep purposes.

Conclusion:

Our body does not produce essential amino acids. They are necessary for the growth of body. 9 out of 20 amino acids are essential. The remaining 11 are termed as non-essential which are produced by the body.