Alanine is a naturally forming chemical found in a variety of foods especially meats. This non essential amino acid is used in the production of protein. It assists the body in metabolizing various components such as glucose and can also play a part in lowering cholesterol. It is suggested that an Alanine supplement be used with people who have a diet low in protein and who may be exposed to adverse effects of a protein deficiency. Alanine is also linked to an increase in the efficacy of the immune system and a reduction of toxins in the system.

Arginine is a non-essential amino acid that is needed by the body for the proper functioning of the liver, skin, joints, and muscles. It helps improve the immune system by increasing the T-lyphocytes output from the thymus gland. Arginine also neutralizes the effects of ammonia and toxic substances by detoxifying the liver. It is beneficial to most athletes particularly body builders because arginine helps in the production of creatine in the body and stimulates the excretion of growth hormones that aids in the development of muscle mass. It also helps improve the metabolism and in fat loss. Arginine also promotes the healing and repair of damaged tissues.

Aspartic Acid is a non-essential amino acid which is bountiful in plant proteins. It can also be produced in the human body from oxaloacetic acid. Some biochemicals that are synthesized from aspartic acid include asparagine, arginine, lysine, methionine, threonine, isoleucine, and a number of nucleotides. Apartic acid is used for stamina, the brain and overall health as it helps the liver by removing excess harmful ammonia and other toxins from the bloodstream. If ammonia enters your circulatory system it can be harm your central nervous system and cause neural and brain disorders. Aspartic acid helps to keep the mind sharp by increasing concentrations of NADH in the brain.

Calcium, a mineral vital to the human body, Calcium is necessary for many bodily functions, such as muscle contraction, and proper heart function.

Cystine is a non-essential sulfur containing amino acid. Our body can supply cystine on its own. Cystine is important for vitamin B6 utilization and is a detoxifying agent. It removes toxins absorbed by body through alcohol and smoking and protects body from damage of brain and liver. Cystine increases the level of glutathione, which is a powerful antioxidant and helps in detoxifying harmful toxins in the liver. As Alpha-keratin, the protein that makes up the skin, fingernails and hair contains cystine; it is also used in anti-aging products. It is also useful for faster healing of burns and wounds, for low count of white blood cells and in skin diseases.

Glutamic Acid is an excitatory neurotransmitter, which enhances firing of neurons in central nervous system. Glutamic acid is a main excitatory neurotransmitter in brain and spinal caord. It is transformed either into glutamine or gamma-aminobutyric acid – the two other amino acids which assist in transmitting messages to brain. Glutamic acid plays a vital role in metabolism of fats and sugars, and assists in transporting potassium into spinal fluid and across the blood-brain barrier. Though it doesn’t cross the blood-brain barrier as readily as is done by glutamine, it is present in blood at high levels and may reach the brain in small amounts. The brain can utilize glutamic acid as a fuel. It assists in correcting personality disorders and is helpful in treating childhood behavioral disorders. It is also used in treating mental retardation, epilepsy, ulcers, muscular dystrophy, and hypoglycemic coma.

Glutamine is naturally created by the human body. Glutamine, a non-essential amino acid can also be found in high protein foods like red meat and nuts. Glutamine is used for proper mental function, maintaining muscle mass and controlling blood sugar levels.

Glycine is an organic compound and one of the 20 amino acids deemed as building blocks for proteins. This proteinogenic amino acid is not only the smallest but also the only amino acid of the group that is not chiral, which means there is no enantiomer of glycine. With the prominent exception of collagen, which thirty five percent are glycine, most proteins contain only small amounts of it. As a solid, glycine is sweet tasting, crystalline and has no color. Despite being non-essential, because it can be biosynthesized from the amino acid serine, glycine has several important physiological functions, besides being a precursor to proteins. It is a biosynthetic intermediate of purines and the D-Aminolevulinic acid and it is an inhibitory neurotransmitter found in the central nervous system.

Histidine is an amino acid that is essential especially in infants. The adult body produces this amino acid naturally and thus it becomes a non-essential acid. However in the case of infants this is not true. This vitamin is extremely important and children may not have sufficient Histidine. The Histidine is an originator of the Histamine which is a compound that is release by the human immune system when an allergic reaction takes place. This is also essential for the repair and growth of new tissues and helps to maintain myelin sheaths (the protectors of the nerve cells). Histidine is also needed for the production of the red and white blood cells.

Iron is one of the most commonly available chemical elements which are used in the form of metal. When in the presence of oxygen and moisture, iron gets oxidized very easily. Therefore it is never available on the surface of earth. Iron is a metal whose properties can be changed by mixing it with the various other metals. Humans need iron as a daily dietary substance. There are a number of supplements available in market which provides the daily required dose of iron. But the best way to consume iron is by eating the food that is rich in iron. Fish, poultry, beans, lentils, leafy vegetables are some of food items that are a good source of iron. Although, research shows that it is easier to digest the iron found in meat and meat products than the vegetables.

Isoleucine- An important essential amino acid is isoleucine which is also part of the three “branched chain amino acids” along with leucine and valine. Since it is an essential amino acid it cannot be synthesized in the body and thus isoleucine has to be ingested in the diet (almonds, chicken, eggs, cashews, fish, lentils, liver, meat etc.). Isoleucine is required for muscle recovery and also for the formation of haemoglobin. Isoleucine also assists in regulating blood sugar levels and energy levels. It is also involved in blood-clot formation. Isoleucine deficiency is present only in those people who are lacking in protein intake. Deficiency may lead to dizziness, fatigue, depression etc. Excessive amounts of isoleucine doesn’t seem to be a problem though it isn’t recommended for those with kidney or liver disease.

Leucine is an essential amino acid that works together with isoleucine and valine, forming the three branched chain amino acids (BCAA). Leucine is easily converted by to body to glucose, helping to regulate and maintain the blood sugar level. Leucine promotes muscle recovery, muscle repair and provides the body with energy. It also helps in burning fat that are least responsive to exercise and dieting. Leucine helps in toning the body and the muscles. Leucine prevents muscle loss by breaking down and converting to glucose, this prevents the body from breaking down muscle tissues to create energy, particularly during intense workouts and heavy weight lifting.

Lysine

Magnesium, which is a mineral used by the body to help maintain muscles, bones, and nerves. Magnesium is also needed for energy metabolism and protein synthesis.

Methionine is an a-amino acid classified in the non polar group of amino acids. All amino acids have a basic structure in which there is a central carbon atom, attached with the amine, carboxyl, and functional groups as side chains and also a hydrogen atom. Only the functional group varies in different amino acids and the properties, and thus the importance of the amino acids varies according to the functional groups. Methionine has a non polar thioether group as its functional group. Most of the advantages of methionine are based on the fact that the body can convert it into very useful substances. On its own, it is a potent antioxidant and helps in the breakdown of fat. When converted to creatine monohydrate, it helps muscle building.

Proline is an amino acid. The body has the capability to produce Proline with glutamic acid. Proline works well with vitamin C, which make it more potent. It helps particularly in maintaining and repairing damaged tissues, skin and muscle. It heals damaged cartilage, and helps maintaining flexible joints. It benefits parts of the body where collagen is found, such as blood vessels, tendons, skin, bones, and including the eye. It prevents and reduces the sagging, wrinkling and aging of skin. It ensures that the body has the proper supply of collagen, guarding it against future joint and spine problems. It also enhances the immune system.

Serine is a non-essential proteinogenic amino acid that occurs naturally in the body. It is derived from the metabolite glycine. It is important to overall health, both physical and mental, as well as the proper functioning of the brain and central nervous system. It is an important factor to the biosynthesis of purines and pyrimidines, which directly affects the body’s metabolic rate. Serine forms the phospholipids that are needed to make cells in the body. Promotion of a healthy immune system is also one of serine’s benefits, as it produces immunoglobulins and antibodies. Serine produces trypophan which is an amino acid that is used to make serotonin.

Threonine-The essential amino acid threonine is found throughout the body's circulatory, skeletal and central nervous systems and is essential for maintaining balance throughout the body while assisting in the production of elastin and collagen that are needed for healthy skin. Threonine is also beneficial for optimal liver functioning and promotes a healthy immune system by assisting with the production of antibodies. Threonine has also been used in various formulations to strengthen mental clarity and sharpen focus. Threonine can be found in abundance in various dairy foods, beans, nuts, wheat germ, some vegetables, eggs, and most meats, or in supplement form.

Tryptophan-If you have ever felt sleepy or drowsy following a big "turkey" dinner, then you have felt the effects of tryptophan, which is an essential amino acid that is found in foods that contain protein, such as turkey. Tryptophan in supplement form is mainly for those who suffer from insomnia, as an all natural sleep aid. Tryptophan may also be used for mental enhancement and as an appetite suppressant to help achieve weight loss or maintain an ideal body weight. The way that tryptophan works is by converting to serotonin in the body, which is a natural chemical that causes a sleepy feeling.

Tyrosine is a non essential amino acid derived from several sources, including soy, poultry, milk and cheese products, but can also be synthesized in the body from phenylalanine. There are twenty amino acids that are used in human cells to synthesize proteins, one of which is tyrosine. It is of vital importance to the carbon dioxide conversion into organic compounds conducted by plants, the photosynthesis. Tyrosine is also recognized as a precursor to hormones, but also alkaloids and pigments. It is furthermore viewed as a precursor to neurotransmitters; it increases the levels of plasma neurotransmitters, most prominently norepinephrine and dopamine. While under normal circumstances the effects of tyrosine are inconclusive, it has been observed as useful in stress situations and to reduce the effects of a cold, fatigue, sleep deprivation and any kind of prolonged labor.

Valine- One of the several essential amino acids present in the human body is Valine. This is also a nonpolar, branched chain amino acid which is found in high concentrations in the muscles. Since it is an essential amino acid, valine is not synthesised in the body and thus must be ingested as part of the diet. Valine is available through foods like fish, poultry, peanuts, sesame seeds, lentils and cottage cheese. Valine is essential for muscle, growth and repair of tissue and for maintaining the body’s nitrogen balance. Since it has a branched chain, valine can be used as an energy source in the muscles and thus conserves glucose. Hence valine is often used by bodybuilders to support muscle growth and provide energy. A deficiency of valine in the body, caused by the inability of the body to metabolise valine leads to the Maple Syrup Urine Disease in which the person’s urine smells like maple syrup.

Vitamin A is a vitamin is needed by the retina of our eye in the form of a specific metabolite, the light-absorbing molecule retinal. This molecule is absolutely necessary for both scotopic and color vision. It also palys an important role in mainating body health, such as skin health, bone metabolism and immune function. Vitamin A is also commercially produced and administered as esters such as retinyl acetate commonly called Vitamin A acetate. Its defeciency can cause blindness. Some other problems include impaired immunity, keratosis pilaris and squamous metaplasia of the epithelium lining the upper respiratory passages and urinary bladder to a keratinized epithelium.

Vitamin D- The fast soluble vitamin D is perhaps the most underrated nutrient that is produced when sunlight touches the skin. But it is extremely vital for bone health, as without it the body cannot absorb the calcium that you may provide it in the form of supplements. With the advent of beauty products with high sun protection factor, this nutrient is becoming less available to our bodies. Even weaker sunscreens with just SPF-8 prevent the body considerably from producing vitamin D. Diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, certain cancers, multiple sclerosis, and even schizophrenia may stem from deficiency of this vitamin. You can provide vitamin D to your body through supplements and foods like mushrooms, tuna, eggs, dark green leafy vegetables, salmon, sardines, mackerel, fortified dairy products and cereals, yoghurt, and milk.

Whey Protein Concentrate- Whey protein is derived from a by-product (whey) during the process of conversion of milk into cheese. It’s available in three forms namely concentrate, isolate and hydrolysate. - Whey protein concentrate has higher level of bioactive compounds and lactose. They are low in cholesterol and fat content and have 29 percent to 89 percent of protein by weight. It’s mainly used by body builders for building muscles; it has numerous other health benefits. Whey protein is a good source of protein for all age groups and has an essential amino acid leucine which helps in muscle protein synthesis and muscle growth. Whey protein is also used in cancer and other chronic diseases where people are suffering from protein calorie malnutrition. Amino acid present in whey protein is essential for nail, skin and muscle growth. It is used in all infant formulas as it contains components that are found in human breast milk and it is also used in health drinks for children as a good source of protein. It helps prevent bone loss and helps in healing of wounds, surgical incisions as body requires more protein for the healing process. Whey protein is used in weight loss supplements as an appetite suppressant. Whey protein helps in improving immune function in athletes as it increases the level of glutathione.

Whey Protein Isolate is a pure high quality protein made from cow's milk. It is a naturally complete protein containing all of the essential amino acids required by the body daily. It is a rich source of branched chain amino acids which metabolize directly into muscle tissue and are the first ones used during periods of exercise and resistance training. It is an excellent source of Lucien which plays a key role in promoting muscle growth. Whey protein also helps stabilize blood glucose levels by slowing the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream.