In order for you to stay in good health your body must have certain amino acids, the problem is that of the 20 amino acids your body cannot produce eight of them, which are known as the essential amino acids. These eight amino acids are essential for good health because they are responsible for a variety of functions in the human body. While the essential amino acids are called essential it is not because they are more important than other amino acids, they are called essential aminos because it is essential for you to include them in your daily diet.

The good news about the eight essential amino acids is that all of them can be found in vegetables, so by eating a variety of vegetables you can ensure that you are ingesting the eight essential amino acids. Here is a look at the eight essential amino acids that your body cannot produce.

  • Phenylalanine – this essential amino acid is found in breast milk, but it is also used in the manufacturing of specific food and drinks. This essential amino acid is responsible for forming proteins in the human body.
  • Valine – is an essential amino acid that is required for muscle metabolism. Your body also needs valine to help maintain the nitrogen balance in the body and to repair and grow tissue. Valine can be found in food sources such as cottage cheese, lentils, fish, and poultry to name a few.
  • Threonine – this amino acid is required by your body so that you can maintain the proper protein balance in the body, but it is also needed to help assist with forming collagen and elastin in the skin. It is commonly found in beans and most meats, as well as dairy products and eggs.
  • Tryptophan – you can find this amino acid in cottage cheese, meats, and other products. This amino acid is used for the body to produce serotonin, which is important for normal nerve and brain function. Serotonin also helps control emotional moods.
  • Isoleucine – is used with two other amino acids to help with muscle recovery after any kind of physical exercise. It is also needed to form hemoglobin, and regulate blood sugar levels. You can find it in lentils, liver, almonds, chicken, and many other products.
  • Methionine – is used to help prevent the buildup of fats in the arteries because it helps in the breakdown of fats. You will find it in garlic, onion, yogurt, meat, fish, and many other products.
  • Leucine – this amino acid is mostly found in protein foods, it can also be found in brown rice and whole wheat. It is used to help regulate blood sugar levels, but also aids in the growth and repair of muscle tissue, and wound healing.
  • Lysine – this amino acid is very important for children because it is needed for bone development and growth in children, but it also helps with calcium absorption in all ages. You can commonly find lysine in cheese, eggs, milk, and potatoes to name a few.