Amino acids

You can think of amino acids as the building blocks of proteins. Your body breaks down proteins into amino acids. A quarter of this is burned as energy or you pee. The rest is used for the production of body proteins, which your body needs to function properly.

There are 22 different types of basic amino acids that your body needs. You can divide these amino acids into three categories:
- Non-essential amino acids. Your body can make this itself.
- Semi-essential amino acids. These are amino acids that your body sometimes does not produce enough to meet your needs, for example with a medical condition or after strenuous exercise.
- Essential amino acids. Your body cannot produce this itself and you get it from your diet and our supplements.