B1.2.3 - Dietary requirements for amino acids

Essential ⁣Amino Acids

• Essential amino acids are like specialized tools your body cannot make on its own

• They must be obtained from your diet because the metabolic pathways needed to synthesize them are absent

• Without ‌these amino acids, your body cannot produce certain proteins, which can lead to health issues

Non-Essential Amino Acids

• Non-essential amino acids are like ‍multipurpose tools that your body can create from other amino acids or molecules

• This adaptability means that ‍even if your diet lacks certain non-essential amino acids, your body can usually compensate

Role of Amino Acids in Diet

• Amino acid profile of the food you eat determines how effectively your body can ‌meet its protein requirements

• Animal Based Foods = Rich source of essential amino acids

• Plant Based Foods = Essentials less concentrated and there’s a need for a more diverse diet

Autotroph

• Organisms that can make their own food

Heterotroph

• Organism that cannot make its own food and gets nutrition from other sources of organic carbon