Amino acids are organic compounds that combine to form proteins. They are commonly referred to as the "building blocks of life" and are used by all living organisms. Amino acids are categorized by the body's ability to synthesize them.
Essential Amino Acids: These are amino acids that the body cannot produce and must obtain from diet. They include histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.
Non-Essential Amino Acids: Amino acids such as alanine, asparagine, and serine that the body can synthesize endogenously under normal conditions.
Conditionally Essential Amino Acids: Amino acids such as arginine and histidine which become essential during specific periods of growth, stress, and illness when the body's synthesis capacity is insufficient.
Amino acids are vital to a living being's health. As a result, there are many benefits to amino acids. Such benefits include growing and repairing body tissue, providing energy, building muscle, and boosting the immune system.