Essential Amino Acids Weight Loss Diet Nutrition Tips Guide

Essential Amino Acids Help Keep Your Body Processes Humming

By Tracy Kerr-Walshe

When we digest a meal containing protein, our stomach produces hydrochloric acid to break down the food into essential amino acids, the building blocks of life needed for every body function.

While it may look like food to us, the stomach recognizes the protein as a complex sequential chain of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds. Once the acid is secreted, the protein is unraveled, exposing the amino acid chains so that the pancreas, small intestine and stomach lining's digestive enzymes can get to work splitting peptide bonds and freeing individual amino acids for energy absorption, fat for storage and waste for excretion.

Side Effects Of Improper Digestion

When our digestion system is out of whack, we suffer in both big and small ways. Acid reflux, heartburn and indigestion can be a small - yet terribly uncomfortable - side effects of improper digestion.

While it's widely believed that acid reflux comes from overproduction of HCL acid, recent research suggests that indigestion can be caused by the contrary - underproduction!

Undigested Protein Sitting In The Stomach

In the case of underproduction of acid, also known as achlorhydria, undigested protein sits in our stomach, essentially rotting. Bloating, burping and discomfort ensues - sometimes forcing acid or food back up the esophagus.

Disgusting, isn't it? If you have bad breath, burp excessively after eating, feel heavy after eating, experience nausea, diarrhea or constipation, then you need to review your options as these may be telltale signs that food isn't being broken down properly into the amino acids you need to feel your best.

Stomach Acid Acts As A Trigger For Other Digestive Processes

Also, without stomach acid as the essential trigger for other processes, the pancreas may not secrete fat and starch digesting enzymes, the gall bladder may not release bile and we won't absorb essential amino acids or minerals like B6, B12 and folic acid, as needed.

Adequate levels of stomach acid also protect us from bacteria, viruses, parasites and toxins that may lurk deep inside our food. In the worst case scenario improper digestion and loss of amino acids can lead to poor nutrition, disorders and serious diseases -- even Cancer.

Drugs Provide Immediate Temporary Relief

Over time, acid reflux can result in esophagus degradation (like in the case of people with bulimia). Drug companies like Prilosec - the top selling prescription last year -- appeal to us by promising to stop acid production, even though it's a much-needed natural process.

While these drugs provide immediate, temporary relief, they still don't attack the underlying issue - that your body simply isn't digesting foods properly, and, as a result, can't derive the amino acids from the food that you've eaten.

Look To Address Underlying Problem With A Healthy Diet

Body builders, senior citizens and indigestion sufferers alike, add essential amino acids supplements to their diets. While it's almost instinctual to take the fast track to immediate heartburn symptoms relief, many researchers warn against it.

To address the underlying problem, which is inadequate amino acids and improper digestive functioning, reflux treatment should include a healthy diet that triggers one's natural body processes.

If achieving that is difficult, then a boost of these supplements might do the trick.

Please Note: All information given on this site is for general information purposes and is not to replace any medical opinion or medical diagnosis given by a qualified medical doctor, a dietitian/nutritional expert or any other medical expert, as individual circumstances may vary. Please see your medical doctor, before any action is taken to alleviate symptoms.

This Article was about Essential Amino Acids.

About the Author:
Tracy Kerr-Walshe is an author of articles on nutrition, healthy food, diet and weight loss including Protein Diets, Organic Foods, Healthy Snacks, Effective Weight Loss, Full Body Detox, Juice Fasting.
Keep a lookout for more of her articles coming soon.