What is the difference between essential and nonessential amino acids?
There are 20 different amino acids (organic compounds from which proteins are made) that make up all proteins in the human body. These amino acids are needed to replenish tissue, red blood cells, enzymes, and other substances. Of these 20 amino acids, 9 to 12 can be manufactured by the body (estimates vary). They are called nonessential amino acids because they need not be obtained from the diet. The remaining 8 to 11, called the essential amino acids, cannot be made by the body and must be obtained from the diet. Meat contains all the essential amino acids and is considered a “complete protein.” Vegetables, with the exception of soybeans, are “incomplete proteins” in that they do not contain every essential amino acid. By combining certain foods that are, individually, incomplete proteins, it is possible to achieve the…
