Calcium, a mineral vital to the human body, Calcium is necessary for many bodily functions, such as muscle contraction, and proper heart function.

Iron is vital in human nutrition as the adult human body contains 3-4 grams of iron. Haem-iron and non-haem iron are the two types of iron. Foods rich in haem-iron include meat, liver, fish, and poultry. Foods that are high in non-haem iron are those of vegetable origin, like green leafy vegetables, cereals, legumes, oilseeds, nuts, dry fruits and jiggery. Iron is vital for numerous body functions, including hemoglobin formation, brain development and function, muscle activity, regulation of body temperature and catecholamine. Deficiency of iron affects immune system, reduces the number of T-cells and production of antibodies. Iron is also necessary for binding oxygen to body cells as its main function is oxygen transport and cell respiration. It works as an anti-cancer agent. Iron increases energy level of the body, improving physical performance. It prevents insomnia.

L-Alanine is considered as a supplementary amino acid. The presence of carbon atom in its composition leads to the formation of L alanine, which is organic in nature. The best sources of L-alanine would be fish, beef, pork and poultry. The various protein sources which are animal based would consist of a good amount of l-alanine. The alanine levels increases with the contraction of muscles in the body. L- alanine is used by the body to build proteins. It also helps in the transfer of nitrogen from the tissues in our body. It helps to draw blood sugar and hence acts as a good energy resource producer. This would be best suited for those who want a reduction in extra body fat.

L-Arginine - Several functions in our body are carried out by L-Arginine that is actually an amino acid. Its major advantage is to help the body get free of the waste product named ammonia. It also helps in the development of compounds such as L-proline, L-glutamate and creatine in the body. If required, it can also be converted into glycogen or glucose. The blood vessels in our body our relaxed by the compound named nitric oxide which is produced by the help of L-arginine. Another great advantage of L-arginine is the formation of protein in our body. Many other uses of L-arginine is found in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, healing of wounds, reducing high blood pressure and many more.

L-Aspartic Acid is deemed non essential in humans, since that it can be transaminated from oxaloacetate. Natural sources of L-Aspartic Acid are sugar cane and sugar beets, among others, like beef, poultry, eggs, potatoes, dairy, etc. Asparagine, which is deemed a synonym for L-Aspartic Acid, is required by the nervous system, but it also plays a vital part in the synthesis of ammonia. As an important participant in the citric acid circle in human metabolism, L-Aspartic Acid is vital for the proper function of many other amino acids and biochemical components, such as lysine, methionine, asparagine, arginine and isoleucine. L-Aspartic Acid seems to be able to increase stamina, thereby increasing the endurance in athletic competitions and workout regimes; furthermore it seems to increase the body’s resistance to fatigue.

L-Cysteine is one of the many naturally occurring amino acids. It is further termed as a protein amino acid. Promoting the stomach lining health is one of the main functions of l-cysteine. It also helps in correction of situations where the essential nutrients from food sources are not being absorbed properly. Generally, most people do not need supplements for obtaining l-cysteine amino acid. It is can easily be found in vegetable, meats and dairy products. Although, l-cysteine is also available in the form of cysteine, which is found in plenty of protein enriched foods. Cysteine is one of those amino acids which are not destroyed by cooking. On the contrary, research shows that cooking of food rich in cysteine may help you absorb them better.

L-Glutamic Acid- In the proteinogenic group of twenty amino acids, the group that is deemed the building blocks of proteins, L-Glutamic Acid is one of the more commonly known ones. The reason for this fame are the carboxylate anions and salts of the glutamic acid, the glutamates. Glutamic acid is present in many fermented or aged food sources, such as cheese and soy sauce, but also in yeast extracts. The sodium salt of glutamic acid, monosodium glutamate, is a very popular and widely used food additive. Glutamate is an extremely important molecule in cellular metabolism. Glutamate is also one of the most commonly occurring excitatory neurotransmitters. Glutamate has been also identified as a precursor to GABA inhibitor. Glutamic acid is deemed responsible for one of the five basic tastes, the human taste sense commonly called umami.

L-Glycine- Glycine is an organic compound and one of the 20 amino acids deemed as building blocks for proteins. This proteinogenic amino acid is not only the smallest but also the only amino acid of the group that is not chiral, which means there is no enantiomer of glycine. With the prominent exception of collagen, which thirty five percent are glycine, most proteins contain only small amounts of it. As a solid, glycine is sweet tasting, crystalline and has no color. Despite being non-essential, because it can be biosynthesized from the amino acid serine, glycine has several important physiological functions, besides being a precursor to proteins. It is a biosynthetic intermediate of purines and the D-Aminolevulinic acid and it is an inhibitory neurotransmitter found in the central nervous system.

L-Histidine is an amino acid that is essential to the body, but is not produced by the body. It is made available through various food sources. Histidine helps in the manufacture and repair of tissues in the body, and in the formation of red and white blood cells which help in the treatment of anemia. It is also used for the production of gastric juices by the stomach. A deficiency in Histidine can lead to cataract and rheumatoid arthritis. Besides this, it is also a well known component of the skin that protects it by absorbing the ultra violet rays of the sun. A variety of foods such as meat, legumes, seafood, nuts, poultry and dairy products are providers of the required amounts of L-Histidine.

L-Hydroxyproline is a hydroxylated form of the amino acid proline. L-Hydroxyproline is formed when body makes proline and combines with Vitamin c. It is a major element of collagen, a protein that is responsible for giving the skin strength, elasticity and flexibility. L-Hydroxyproline promotes the formation of collagen and elastin that keeps skin healthy. L-Hydroxyproline prevents easy bruising, internal bleeding and breakdown of tissue ligaments and tendons. It also decreases the risk of blood vessel damage. L-Hydroxyproline also helps in retaining moisture and in cell proliferation. It is commonly used in anti-aging skin products like creams and lotions because of its properties.

L-Isoleucine is one of the amino acids besides the other two, L-Valine and L-Leucine. These are found in all the forms of life as proteins. They are as well obtainable in the diet through vegetable and animal sources. L-Isoleucine is good to regulated blood sugar as well the energy levels. It is also important in the synthesis of hemoglobulin and thereby increases endurance. L-Isolecuine gets metabolized in the tissues of the muscles and the opulent L-Isolecuine sources are almonds, cashews and soy protein. Hence, this is prominent among athletes and is taken in combination with the other two amino acids, L-Leucine and L-Valine. L-Isoleucine is required for the formation of hemoglobin and also regulates as well as stabilizes the energy levels. The other food sources of L-Isoleucine are eggs, meat, fish, rye, chickpeas, chicken, liver and lentils. People suffering from physical and mental disorders are usually deficient in L-Isoleucine. These amino acids are required for the synthesis of enzymes, structural protein and for hormones.

L-Leucine is an essential amino acid that works together with isoleucine and valine, forming the three branched chain amino acids (BCAA). Leucine is easily converted by to body to glucose, helping to regulate and maintain the blood sugar level. Leucine promotes muscle recovery, muscle repair and provides the body with energy. It also helps in burning fat that are least responsive to exercise and dieting. Leucine helps in toning the body and the muscles. Leucine prevents muscle loss by breaking down and converting to glucose, this prevents the body from breaking down muscle tissues to create energy, particularly during intense workouts and heavy weight lifting.

L-Lysine- Lysine is an essential alpha amino acid that needs to be ingested and cannot be synthesized by the human body. Sources of L-Lysine include meat, particularly red meat, lamb, poultry and pork, but also cheeses, like parmesan, some fish like cod and sardines and eggs. Several plants are rich in L-Lysine, soybean, lentil, spinach and buckwheat, but also buffalo gourd, watercress, locust bean and many other bean variants, including the common bean. L-Lysine is deemed vital for the overall production of protein, as a structural building block. It seems that L-Lysine also plays a prominent part in the absorption of calcium. Further properties include playing a role in the production of enzymes, hormones and antibodies, but also in the recovery from sports injuries and surgeries.

L-Methionine, an essential amino acid for the human body, acts as a building block for proteins. Since the body cannot produce it naturally, you need to take it through supplements and diet. This antioxidant is found in dairy products and meat and is essential for producing creatine. It is soluble in water and helps in breakdown of fats. You can also find L-Methionine in vegetables and fruits. Since it is a glycogenic amino acid, it helps in forming glycogen and D-glucose. On a daily basis, experts recommend only 13 mg of L-Methionine for adults. These supplements are not only effective in liver disease treatment but also beneficial for individuals who follow a vegetarian diet. You can enhance the quality of your skin, hair and nails by taking L-Methionine supplements.

L-Phenylalanine- The human body needs L-Phenylalanine for survival as it is an essential amino acid. It is found in food items that are rich in protein such as eggs, meat, dairy products, beans and fish. Since the body cannot produce L-Phenylalanine from other chemicals, you need to increase the intake of protein for fulfilling the nutritional needs. L-Phenylalanine is one of the chemical forms of Phenylalanine, an amino acid. It helps in building up of several proteins produced by human body. L-Phenylalanine supplements act as an appetite suppressant as it initiates the release of cholecystokinin, an intestinal hormone. Once this hormone enters the stomach, it signals your brain that you are not hungry anymore. According to experts, you should not take more than 500-1000 mg of L-Phenylalanine per day.

L-Proline is a proteinogenic alpha amino acid, one of only twenty amino acids that are DNA encoded for the forming of protein. It is not deemed essential because humans are able to synthesize it from the amino acid L-Glutamate. This unique member of the twenty protein building block amino acids is the only one of the group that is distinct as belonging to the secondary alpha amino group. L-Proline plays a role in the synthesis of collagen. Collagen is undeniably the most common protein in mammals, being found in skin, tendons, joints, ligaments, vasculature and bones. It is deemed good for the health of joints, when taken as a supplement. Low protein diets, vegetarian and vegan diets as well as malnutrition lead to diminished L-Proline levels.

L-Serine- Serine is an organic compound and a proteinogenic amino acid that is considered a building block for the creation of proteins. This member of the hydroxyl group and a polar amino acid is not essential and therefore it is not necessary to ingest it by means of diet. L-Serine can be synthesized from metabolites such as glycine. L-Serine plays a role in the biosynthesis of pyrimidines and purines, furthermore it is a precursor to many metabolites like sphingolipids and to amino acids like cysteine and glycine. It is also involved in catalytic functions of several enzymes. L-Serine can be transformed into D-Serine by the serine racemase, which functions as a neuronal signal and NMDA receptor activator in the brain, a vital glutamate receptor responsible for memory functions and synaptic plasticity.

L-Threonine is an amino acid that is essential to the body, but must be obtained from various sources, as it is not produced by the body. L-Threonine is a well known amino detoxifying agent which works in the liver, preventing the build up of fat. It assists in metabolism and helps the intestinal and digestive tracts to function with absolute ease. L-Threonine also helps in the formation of enamel, elastin, collagen and muscle tissue. Foods rich in Threonine are leafy vegetables, poultry and pork, but it can be obtained from various pulses, whole grains, nuts and fruits like peaches and pairs. Commonly used in the relief of stress and anxiety, L-Threonine helps the consumer to have a completely healthy mental and physical style of living.

L-Tryptophan- Tryptophan is an essential amino acid as well as within the group of only twenty standard amino acids that are required by the human diet. It is one of the building blocks required for protein biosynthesis. It is also viewed as a precursor to serotonin and thereby also melatonin, niacin and also auxin. Interestingly enough, lactose intolerance and fructose malabsorption have the side effect that tryptophan is only improperly absorbed in the intestines which leads to diminished levels of it in the system. Dietary sources of tryptophan are plentiful, it can be found in red meat, poultry, fish, milk, milk products, peanuts, mangoes, dates, chocolate and oats, among others. As a dietary supplement tryptophan has found applications as a safe sleeping aid and also as a calming agent.

L-Tyrosine is an amino acid taken to enhance the functions of the thyroid gland. It provides essential supplements to the body for fighting serious ailments. L-Tyrosine is a natural cure mainly for hypothyroidism and many other illnesses including protection of skin from the UV rays and depression. People suffering from hypothyroidism lack tyrosine and therefore do not respond to iodine supplements. Iodine supplements are of no use without tyrosine. Using L-tyrosine replaces vital amino acids which people having hypothyroidism lack. It produces thyroid hormones namely, norepinephrine, dopamine and epinephrine. L-tyrosine must be used by those who have a family history of under active thyroids and by those who have not got benefits from dieting efforts. L-tyrosine is taken in doses of 500mg 2 to 3 times everyday. People having high blood pressure must be cautious while taking this supplement.

L-Valine- L-Valine is one the three Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs). The other two BCAAs are L-isoleuine and L-leucine. L-Valine is required by the body for the proper function of the nervous system and the brain. L-Valine is not processed by the liver; instead, it goes directly to the muscles. It helps enhance muscle growth and help it to recover faster after an intense workout. It also helps in muscle tissue repair and maintains the proper amount of nitrogen in the body. It can also be used as an energy source that gives energy and strength to the muscles. L-Valine has other benefits; it is also helpful in liver regeneration, improvement of insomnia and nervousness, and is an effective appetite suppressant.

Vitamin C- The essential nutrient L-ascorbic acid, or rather Vitamin C, is necessary for a wide plethora of metabolic reactions in almost all living beings. In humans, Vitamin C is vital in the collagen synthesis. While most beings are able to make it internally, apes and humans cannot. Interestingly enough, while widely promoted as the best dietary source of Vitamin C, Oranges are dwarfed by the Kakadu plum, which has sixty times the amount. Prominent are rose hips, blackcurrant, red peppers, parsley, the kiwifruit, broccoli, redcurrant, several berries including strawberries and raspberries, as well as more exotic fruits and vegetables like Camu Camu, acerola, seabuckthorn, Indian gooseberry, jujube, guava and baobab. Tomatoes, while very popular Vitamin C source in the US, are very low on the Vitamin C scale.