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The Relationship Of Amino Acids And Indigestion

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and of life itself. They make up 75% of the body and are essential for every function in the body. Ten of the twenty essential amino acids come from the food we eat, while the rest are produced naturally in the body.

Here are a few of the 20 amino acids with their functions: lysine helps with the absorption of calcium, histidine is essential for the re-growth of tissue, phenylalanine assists with nerve functions and memory, leucine controls the blood sugar levels, methionine is used to break fats down and tryptophan helps with sleep and the production of serotonin.

We suffer in many ways both major and minor when our digestive system is not working correctly. Although acid reflux, indigestion and heartburn are small problems they can still be painful side effects of digestive problems. Acid reflux was thought to arise due to an overproduction of HCL acid. However, research carried out more recently indicates that indigestion can actually be caused by underproduction of this acid.

Achlorhydria, which is the technical term for the underproduction of acid, results when undigested protein is sitting and is basically rotting away in the stomach. This in turn causes burping and bloating and is very uncomfortable when food is forced back up the esophagus. Telltale signs that your food is not being broken down properly and is not producing the amino acids that your body requires, are excessive burping, feeling heavy and nauseated, suffering with either diarrhea or constipation and bad breath.

There are several reasons why your digestive system may not function properly. Maybe your body is not receiving the signals of a chemical nature to encourage the removal of waste, the absorption of amino acids and protein and mineral usage.

Body chemicals can be affected by heavy duty workouts or stress — which seems to command all of your body’s attention, thus taking it away from other processes that may need neurotransmitters. Age also naturally diminishes hydrochloric acid production : a 65 year old individual has only 15% of the HCl that he or she had at the age of 35. Sleep deprivation, eating disorders and a poor diet can also affect digestion in significant ways.

Drugs like Prilosec, which has been the top selling prescription medication in recent years, appeal to us by promising to stop acid production, even though acid production is a much needed natural process. While these drugs provide temporary relief, they still don’t deal with the underlying issue - that the body simply isn’t digesting foods properly and therefore is not generating the necessary amino acids that it requires for proper functioning.

Many people choose to take amino acids in supplement form to regulate their digestive processes. These supplements act as a boost to the removal of waste and control stomach acid production as well as the absorption of minerals. The body is after all like an intricate machine and needs the proper mix of nutrients to function well.