Amino acids: the classification of amino acids

Amino acids: the classification of amino acids

Info source: 

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002467.htm

Amino acids are classified into three groups:

Essential

Nonessential

Conditional

Essential amino acids cannot be made by the body, and must be supplied by food. 

They do not need to be eaten at one meal. The balance over the whole day is more important. 

The nine essential amino acids are:

Histidine

Isoleucine

Leucine

Lycine

Methionine

Phenylalanine

Threonine

Tryptophan

Valine

Nonessential amino acids are made by the body from essential amino acids or in the normal breakdown of proteins. They include:

Alanine

Asparagine

Aspartic acid

Glutamic acid

Conditional amino acids are usually not essential, except in times of illness and stress. They include:

Arginine

Cysteine

Glutamine

Glycine

Ornithine

Proline

Serine

Tyrosine

Protein foods are no longer described as being "complete proteins" or "incomplete proteins."