Amino acids — or the building blocks of life — make up 75% of the body and are needed for every body process. Ten of the twenty essential amino acids are derived from the food we eat, while the rest come naturally. Histidine is needed for tissue regrowth, Lysine aids calcium absorption, Phenylalanine aids memory and nerve functions, Methionine breaks down fats, Leucine regulates blood sugar and Tryptophan aids in sleep and serotonin production, to name a few.

When our digestion system is out of whack, we suffer in both big and small ways. Acid reflux, heartburn and indigestion can be a small - yet terribly uncomfortable - side effects of improper digestion. While it’s widely believed that acid reflux comes from overproduction of HCL acid, recent research suggests that indigestion can be caused by the contrary - underproduction!

In the case of underproduction of acid, also known as achlorhydria, undigested protein sits in our stomach, essentially rotting. Bloating, burping and discomfort ensues - sometimes forcing acid or food back up the esophagus. Disgusting, isn’t it? If you have bad breath, burp excessively after eating, feel heavy after eating, experience nausea, diarrhea or constipation, then these may be telltale signs that food isn’t being broken down properly into the amino acids you need to feel your best.

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This entry was posted on Monday, December 10th, 2007 at 6:54 pm and is filed under Health & Beauty. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.