Amino Acids

This list of nutrients and their food sources is not an exhaustive list, but rather a basic guide for finding food nutritional sources.

Amino Acid	Metabolic Function	Therapeutic Function	Caution	Food Source
Alanine	Essential in tryptophan and pyridoxine metabolism	Produces glucose in order to stabilize blood glucose.
Arginine	Stimulates the release of growth hormones.	Helpful in handling infertility due to motility problems in sperm. Accelerates the healing of wounds.	Excess may lead to catatonia. Deficiency may cause male infertility.	Guar gum, peanuts, cashews, pecans, seeds, peas, garlic, ginseng.
Cystine	Contains sulfur which reacts with other body substances to detoxify harmful compounds. Is essential for utilization of vitamin B-6.	Helps destroy chemicals produced by smoking and drinking.	Should be used with caution in individuals predisposed to bladder and kidney stones. Also diabetics.
Glutamic Acid	A component of folic acid and glucose tolerance factor.	Detoxifies brain of ammonia by reconversion to glutamine. Useful in depression.	A shortage may result in brain damage due to excess ammonia.	Brewer's yeast.
Histidine	Nourishes the nerve cells of the hearing mechanism.	Aids the treatment of ulcers and anemia.	Should be accompanied by vitamin C.	Primarily animal protein.
Isoleucine		No apparent therapeutic use.	Useful in hemoglobin formation.	Liver, milk, fresh cottage cheese, baked beans.
Leucine	Aids the absorption of tryptophan.	May be useful in chronic pain control.	Excess may be predictor of pellagra.
Lysine	Influences most body growth factors, nourishes the bloodstream and forms antibodies.	Helps control the frequency and severity of herpes. Helps form carnitine.	Deficiency results in reduced ability to concentrate, chronic tiredness, fatigue and anemia.	Beans, brewer's yeast, fish, lamb, milk, cheese.
Methionine	Helps regenerate liver and kidney cells. Essential for selenium absorption.	Acts as a detoxifying agent.	Should be accompanied by vitamin B-6.	Sardines, yogurt, lentils, eggs, liver, fish, soy beans, cottage cheese.
Ornithine	Enhances liver function. Stimulates the release of growth hormones, insulin and other hormones.	Used in treatment of hepatic coma states.	Caution should be used by anyone with a history of schizophrenia. May cause worsening of symptoms.
Phenylalanine	Stimulates the thyroid gland.	Antidepressant. Stimulates brain function and pain relief.	Should be used with caution by hypertensives as excess will cause high blood pressure, insomnia and irritability.	Soy beans, cottage cheese, fish, almonds, nuts, seeds, pumpkins.
Serine	Aids skin metabolism.	Natural moistening agent.
Taurine	Is synthesized from methionine and cystine.	Stimulates the production of growth hormones. Aids development and function of the brain. Used in treatment of epilepsy.		Human milk, heart, brain.
Threonine	Aids the absorption of other nutrients.	Useful in indigestion and intestinal malfunctions and prevents excessive liver fat.	Personality disorders can result.
Tryptophan	Aids the utilization of the B complex vitamin. Is needed to produce niacin.	Used in treatment of insomnia, depression and obesity. Reduces heart attack risk. Controls trembling.	Vitamin B-6 should be taken at the same time. Should not be used by women anticipating becoming pregnant.	Cottage cheese, milk, fish, turkey, pumpkin seeds, beef, liver, lamb.
Tyrosine.	Aids the function of the adrenal, thyroid and pituitary glands.	Helps to relieve chronic depression. Influences the pigment of skin and hair.	Excess produces toxic reactions. Better to take small amounts.
Valine	Sparks mental vigor, muscular co-ordination, smooth working of the nervous system.	When combined with other amino acids aids weight control. Useful in muscle, mental and emotional upsets, insomnia and nervousness.	Excess leads to symptoms such as hallucinations and "crawling skin".	Cottage cheese, fish, almonds, mushrooms, peanuts, sesame seeds, chicken.

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The information on this site is educational in nature and is not intended to recommend or replace the advice of a qualified health practitioner. As each person is an individual, any dietary or lifestyle recommendations or treatments can and will only be recommended after a thorough review of the individual's health history has been done and a diagnosis has been made by Dr. Seliski.