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Hey Everyone! A few lines about myself. I'm an Italian American from Boston Mass. with a Bachelor's degree from UMASS. I am extremely passionate in health and fitness and have been in the industry for over 20 years. I also enjoy music, sports, fashion, acting while continuing on growing a strong spiritual foundation. This blog was created to share some of my passions and experiences with you.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Are Amino Acid Supplements Necessary For You?

Amino acids are VITAL to your health because they are the building block components that make up proteins - and protein is absolutely essential to your life!


Proteins are involved in the critical bio-chemical processes that sustain life and are a necessary component of every living cell in your body.

Protein substances makeup your muscles, ligaments, tendons, organs, glands, nails, hair, many body fluids, and are essential for the growth of your bone. They form the basis of your immune system as components of antibodies.

But the proteins making up your body do not come directly from protein foods you eat – your body breaks down any protein you consume into amino acids which it then uses to build the specific proteins needed.



So amino acids are critical nutrients!


Amino acids not only build proteins but some are critical to metabolic functions and others act as precursors to neurotransmitters – the chemicals that convey messages from one nerve to another.

Amino acids also act as cofactors to vitamins and minerals – not for absorption but to allow them to perform their duties correctly once they have been assimilated in you.
There are two types of amino acids – essential and non-essential. 
Non–essential aminos are produced by your liver - these account for approx. 80% of all amino acids you need.
The essential ones cannot be manufactured by your body and need to be taken in through your diet.
Essential amino acids are called: Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, tryptophan, and Valine.


Under specific conditions non-essential aminos can become essential! Huh! 


That’s because your body manufactures some non-essentials from some essentials but if these essentials are not present in your diet in sufficient quantities then you can’t produce the non-essentials. Do you essentially understand?

An insufficient supply of even one essential amino can cause serious problems to your health. This would upset your body’s continuous synthesis of proteins – leaving it short of the proteins it needs.
“This can result in negative nitrogen balance, an unhealthy condition in which the body excretes more nitrogen than it assimilates. Further, all of the essential amino acids must be present simultaneously in the diet in order for the other amino acids to be utilized – otherwise, the body remains in negative nitrogen balance.

A lack of vital proteins in the body can cause problems ranging from indigestion to depression to stunted growth.” (1)
A further benefit of some aminos is that they have antioxidant properties. If you’re up to date on your antioxidant/free radical knowledge then you’ll know how important antioxidants are to your body and health.

Glutathione and Cysteine/N-Acetyl L-Cysteine are powerful antioxidants while Taurine and Tyrosine offer minor antioxidant properties.


Amino Acid Supplements
Why You Probably Need Them


Deficiencies of essential amino acids can be caused by several things. First and foremost is today’s ‘weight-loss’ mindset. This causes many people, particular women, to consume inadequate amounts of protein.

Vegetarians, especially vegans, are particularly susceptible.

But even if you eat a reasonable diet with enough protein there are other factors that can contribute to deficiencies - most of which are linked to unhealthy 21st century lifestyles. Impaired absorption, infection, trauma, stress, drug use, age, and imbalances of other nutrients can all affect the availability of essential aminos. (2)

And inadequate amounts of vitamins and minerals in your diet can hinder the absorption of amino acids.

The bottom line here is that if your dietary intake provides insufficient amounts of essential amino acids this will lead to illness - a deficiency can result in numerous different kinds of negative health conditions.

That’s why amino acid supplements are important – they help to counteract deficiencies in those that have them and provide therapeutic benefits in those that don’t. Taking in additional amino acids via a quality amino acid supplement is a much better option than eating a diet with large amounts of protein because this is unhealthy.

Amino acid supplements can include aminos in two forms – D form and L-form. 

Proteins in animal and plant tissue are in the L-form so it’s best to use supplements containing the L-Form - this is more compatible with human biochemistry. (L-form aminos are significantly more expensive for manufacturers to buy.

Unless you have a specific health condition it is best to take in a balanced range of essential and non-essential amino acids in a multi nutrient heal supplement designed by a bio-scientist. Then you can be sure that the dose amounts are safe.

If you need to use a single amino acid supplement to treat a disorder be sure to not to take it longer than necessary - don’t use single amino acids unless you are treating a problem or have been diagnosed with a deficiency.



Amino Acid Supplements
What to look for


As I mentioned above please be sure your supplement is science-based and has been formulated by a bio-scientist – not a physician or marketer!

The supplement company should manufacture its own products and control the manufacturing process through all stages.

To guarantee absolute safety, purity, and potency all raw materials must be sourced from GMP registered and audited facilities.
All ingredients must have a CERTIFICATE OF ANALYSIS (COA)on file confirming their potency.

To further ensure safety and ingredient amounts in accordance with label claims, be sure the manufacturer is GMP compliant at a pharmaceutical level – this is the highest standard possible for the manufacture of nutritional supplements.

Very few companies manufacture to this level - they are not committed enough to making a difference, just to maximizing profit!

The product should come with a 100% unconditional money back guarantee. The manufacturer must be prepared to stand by their product!






Amino Acid Supplements
Which Supplement Gets My Vote?


‘Total Balance’ from the Xtend-Life company is a science-based, multi nutrient "micro-nutriment" vitamin supplement that is UNMATCHEDin the industry.
Supplements classified as micro-nutriment are the most sophisticated broad spectrum wellness supplements available at this time.

But Total; Balance is FAR MORE than just an amino acid supplement!

It not only contains a wide range of important L-form amino acids in safe proportions, but its formula also contains vitamins, phytonutrients, herbal extracts, enzymes, amino acids, male and female support nutrients and other specialty nutrients.

Total Balance meets all criteria mentioned above.

All up its formula contains a WHOPPING 84 ingredients 

which target and rejuvenate every organ and system in your body for overall good health, anti-aging benefits and POTENT DISEASE PROTECTION!


Total Balance was created by a world renowned bio-scientist, hired by governments around the world to produce complex formulas (including brain formulas for the NASA space program)


If you would like to see how Total Balance shaped up in some in-depth head to head comparisons with other market leading multi ingredient vitamin supplements, please visit my best vitamin supplements comparisons and reviews.

If you would like to know more about Total Balance please visit the xtend-life website


Amino Acid Supplements – Sources:


  1. Balch PA. Prescription for Nutritional Healing. Third Edition. 2000. 1:43 (re amino acid supplements)


  2. Ibid (1)


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