Amino acids: Building blocks for muscle maintenance

As a part in many different body functions, amino acids are tiny but crucial helpers for everyday activities. Considering there are over 250 aminos, it can seem challenging to understand which ones you need and when.

What are amino acids?

As mentioned, amino acids factor into many functions of your body. They are the building blocks of proteins and your cells. As a fitness enthusiast, you’ve already heard of the importance of proteins: They contribute to your muscles’ maintenance and recovery. But beyond that, amino acids and therefore proteins also factor into other structures of your body such as skin, bones, and hair.

Regarding the cells, amino acids support their structure but are also crucial in getting nutrients transported between cells. These functions alone show how important amino acids are and why it is equally important to make sure you don’t run low on them.

However, not all amino acids are equally made, as there are different categories.

What are essential amino acids?

To further simplify these matters for you: There are about 20 amino acids of truly significant importance to your body and more so if you’re an athlete. The majority of these are produced by your body but there are nine amino acids that are vital for your performance and physical maintenance that your body cannot produce on its own.

The nine essential amino acids are:

• Histidine
• Isoleucine
• Leucine
• Lysine
• Methionine
• Phenylalanine
• Threonine
• Tryptophan
• and Valine.

Because your body cannot produce these on its own, it is crucial for you to take in these aminos through your diet.

You can already find these essential amino acids in many protein-heavier foods such as fish and eggs but if your workout routine is more intense and you push your body harder, it could be helpful to take additional amino acids to give your body the much-needed building blocks after heavy exercise.

What are the benefits of our amino acids?

Amino acids play an important role in numerous bodily functions and are essential for your overall well-being. Taking in additional amino acids might be helpful with the following goals in mind:

Complementing your diet or weight goals

Amino acids aren’t just useful for body builders or others leading very intense lifestyles or fitness routines. If you’re on a low-carb diet or have very specific weight loss goals, ensuring the correct amount of amino acids intake is equally crucial for you, as you may find your menu falling short on the natural amino delivery.

Quicker and more targeted intake

We already boast several options for quick and convenient protein intake through our protein bars or high protein snacks. Besides these food options though, many athletes prefer workout drinks or to take a small supplement capsule with their water. Not only can it feel even handier and quicker but especially if you have trouble monitoring your fluid intake throughout the day, ensuring that extra drink will not hurt you or your workouts. Our supplements deliver specific micronutrients such as the BCAAs, increasing your overall protein intake.

foodspring’s range of amino acid supplements

Get inspired by our selection of amino acid supplements in our nutrition shop. We are happy to assist you in making the right choice!

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• BCAA capsules: These multifunctional amino acid capsules are sourced from plants and provide you with BCAAs. Without any artificial flavours, these Made in Germany supplements are also suited for vegans.
• Energy Aminos: With this workout drink you can prep for any session efficiently. Containing 200mg of caffein, all BCAAs and vitamins C, B3 and B12, these energy aminos give you that sustained energy for your next challenge.
• Recovery Aminos: With this post-workout drink, you can relax after an intense session, while knowing that your body can handle the recovery better than ever. This supplement contains L-Glutamine, plant-based BCAAs, carbs from maltodextrin and dextrose.
• L-Glutamine: Our multifunctional L-Glutamine without any artificial flavours. Also a vegan option due to its lack of animal gelatine, this amino acid supplement is ideal for strength and endurance athletes.