Amino acids are critical to life and play a large role in metabolism. Actually, they play several roles in the metabolic process.

One of the main functions is the fact that amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. Because of the important roles that they play, amino acids have become very important in nutrition. They are the building blocks of life, so we are unable to live without them.

But let’s look at the role that amino acids play when it comes to metabolism and see how that ties into sports nutrition and fitness.

First, it is important to understand what an essential amino acid is. It is an amino acid that your body does not produce naturally, but it needs.

The only way that you can obtain it is through your diet. The body is great at making nonessential amino acids, but it was just not designed to make essential amino acids. Continue reading →