Today we will discover together what the substantial difference is between amino acids and proteins, and the reason why you absolutely must not get confused.
We will also understand together if, after a workout, it is better to take amino acid supplements or protein powder and finally we will see which are the best amino acid supplements on the market.
Let's start right away on this journey to discover essential amino acids , how careless I said essential right? Let's say it wasn't a coincidence because in our guide " Do muscles grow more with animal or vegetable proteins? " we analyzed the main factors that help protein synthesis and therefore muscle growth and we discovered that essential amino acids are the main responsible .
Yes, you understood correctly, there is a strong correlation between the dose of essential amino acids ingested and the stimulation of protein synthesis .
What is the difference between amino acids and proteins?
Amino acids are defined as the “building blocks” that make up proteins, so we can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that proteins are a set of amino acids and a set of amino acids makes up proteins .
However, this does not mean that ingesting amino acids or proteins indiscriminately gives the same result, in fact each "type" of amino acid is capable of triggering a different metabolic effect .
To better explain what we are saying, in the image below you see how an aggregation of amino acids creates a peptide and in turn a set of 100 peptides forms a protein.
Having immediately clarified the focal point of our article today, however, brings us to the subsequent questions, fundamental to have a clear picture on integration, proteins and amino acids.
Is it better to supplement with amino acids or protein powder after training to grow muscles?
Answering this question was not easy, because after years of debate about whether whey protein was the best post-workout supplement, a recent study has finally shed some light on the matter .
Released in 2020, the International Society of Sports Nutrition has demonstrated what we at Swiss Natural Med have been saying for years, that is, that after training, the ideal would be to use a whey protein (Whey) with an additional addition of essential amino acids, the effect you get is amazing (not to say a real bomb) muscle growth is 3 to 6 times HIGHER than taking whey protein alone.
The major anabolic effect is due solely to the rapid increase in the concentration of essential amino acids with their relative peak in the blood.
As mentioned, we have been saying this for years, which is why, together with our experts, we have developed Ultra Amino Whey , a combination of the best whey proteins supplemented with the right amount of essential amino acids to make your muscle growth explode.
What are amino acids for in the gym?
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and play a key role in muscle protein synthesis.
When you train intensely, your muscles are put under stress and micro-injuries occur.
Amino acids provide the nutrients needed to repair and rebuild damaged muscles , promoting muscle growth and recovery.
Additionally, amino acids can increase energy, improve endurance, and reduce recovery time after training.
Incorporating amino acids into your diet can help maximize your efforts in the gym and help you reach your goals more efficiently .
Ultra Amino Whey is a food supplement based on amino acids and proteins, also ideal for those who want to reduce or eliminate meat from their diet, while maintaining the same protein content.
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The best amino acids and proteins on the market
In the final part of this article I want to give you some tips or advice for choosing the amino acid supplements to put in your shopping cart .
You should know that among the best amino acids on the market, two large companies have certainly stood out, Ajimoto and Kyowa, both Japanese, with over a century of experience (more than 100 years!) in vegetable fermentation .
I won’t bore you with all the steps involved in vegetable fermentation, just know that it’s a process through which nutrients are “extracted” from fruits and vegetables.
These two companies have even patented their production processes to guarantee the quality of their products and the absence of: impurities, chemical additives or synthetic substances in their amino acids.
We rely only on them for the production of our products because we always want to offer you the best .
You should know, however, that not everyone thinks like us. A study by the American Food Journal of Food Sciences in 2013 discovered that some amino acid supplements on the Chinese market (which are the ones we find at low cost on many websites) were obtained from pig fur. Obviously, you will never find these indications of origin on the label .
This is also one of the reasons why Swiss Natural Med was born, to put an end to these attacks on health!
Unless you’re someone who doesn’t care that your amino acids come from duck feathers and hair , determining exactly where your ingredients come from is important.
Unfortunately, not all amino acids and proteins in general are created equal.
The type of production and raw materials are the #1 difference in a quality product versus a low cost one.
You should know that the production of amino acids is done by several methods, the most common being the use of a very strong acid extraction of animal products including duck feathers and human hair .
Over the course of several hours, high heat and strong acids are applied to the raw ingredients, causing hydrolysis (the breaking down of a molecule due to reaction with water).
The end result is hydrolyzed amino acids which must then be filtered, dried and refined to make them suitable for human consumption .
While this method may be cheaper and easier to produce, it may result in a final product full of contaminants and allergens.
BIOAMIN is a food supplement based on essential and semi-essential amino acids produced by natural fermentation of “ Animal Free ” vegetal origin, enriched by a natural phytocomplex rich in B vitamins, folic acid, polyphenols and polysaccharides, cold extracted from red fruit and vegetables.
Produced with the best raw materials , with an innovative stoichiometric ratio of amino acids to improve absorption and bioavailability.
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Our advice? Prefer fermented amino acids
Even though they cost more, essential amino acids derived from plant fermentation are safer from a health perspective (because they are certified against pollutants and impurities) and more beneficial (therefore more useful for our goal of growing our muscles) because:
- Fermented amino acid supplements have better antioxidant properties that help your immune system and bone health.
- Better Bioavailability : Greater bioavailability of amino acids means higher absorption rates and better effects throughout the body.
- Positive effects on your gut: Fermented amino acids contain "good bacteria" that enter the digestive system and strengthen the natural barrier between the blood supply and the gastrointestinal tract. And when this barrier is weakened, intestinal permeability occurs.
- Fermented supplements are produced through a natural process of fermentation , a process that does not rely on the use of chemicals.
- Enhanced amino acid content: Fermentation allows amino acids to be more available even in powdered formulations .
- Healthy cells are supported as consuming fermented supplements helps cells rid themselves of certain toxins .
- New nutrients are formed: Phytonutrients can be formed through the fermentation of certain plants and foods . Consider that a study in the International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition found that fermented fenugreek leaves created vitamin B12 .
Bottom line: What is the difference between amino acids and proteins? And what are amino acids used for?
In this article you discovered the fundamental difference between amino acids and proteins , and what amino acids are used for.
It is important to understand, however, that not all proteins are the same: each type of amino acid has the power to trigger different metabolic effects.
This fact becomes crucial when deciding whether to opt for amino acid supplements or protein powders after training.
A recent study confirms that combining whey protein with essential amino acids generates 3 to 6 times greater muscle growth than taking whey protein alone.
This success is attributable to the rapid increase in the concentration of essential amino acids in the blood.
Sources:
Park et al. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (2020) 17:9 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-020-0340-5
