Chapter
3-4 of Healing Foods by Walter Last
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. There are 8 essential
amino acids for adults that must be supplied with the diet: Isoleucine,
Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Tryptophan and Valine.
Two others, Arginine and Histidine are in addition essential in the first year
of life.
The
following is a summary of the functions of amino acids. Some of these may be
useful as supplements to enhance the described functions. Commonly this is
necessary only in cases of malabsorption of nutrients, or with specific
diseases, or with bodybuilding and sports nutrition. The amounts to use are
usually not critical and may vary widely. If not otherwise recommended by your
health professional, you may use amounts indicated on the container in which
they were purchased. However, in most instances, instead of taking single amino
acids, I recommend taking spirulina or chlorella instead. These are high in
protein (up to 70%) and easily digestible.
Amino
acids, like many vitamins, exist in two forms that are chemically identical but
differently folded. These are named either D-amino acid or L-amino acid. Amino
acids in our body have the L-form. Therefore, it is not advisable to use the
synthetic D,L-amino acids, but rather the more expensive D-amino acids produced
with enzymes. One exception to this is D,L-phenylalanine if used for pain
relief. If the label of a supplement does not specify that it is the L-form,
you can assume that it is the cheaper D,L form, and I would not use it.
Furthermore, two simple amino acids, glycine and taurine, exist only in one
form and are not marked D or L.
Arginine
Arginine is the precursor of the neurotransmitter nitric oxide, which helps to relax and dilate blood vessels. It is in an antagonistic balance with lysine. Arginine helps to channel nutrients into tissues and promotes regeneration, but also infiltration by microbes; lysine blocks the spread of microbes but also tissue regeneration. Avoid supplementation during pregnancy, lactation and with virus infections.
· Aids
in liver detoxification.
· May
retard growth of tumors and cancer cells.
· Assists
in the release of growth hormones.
· Helps
maintain a healthy immune system.
· Important for scar tissue formation and
collagen production.
· Promotes
muscle growth and fat utilization.
· May
help with male impotence.
Carnitine
Can be produced in a healthy liver from lysine, vitamins B1, B6 and
Iron. Vegetarian diets can be deficient in carnitine as this is found mainly in
meat. D-carnitine is harmful. Acetyl-L-carnitine is the form best suited to
treat neurological conditions.
·
Aids
transport of long chain fatty acids to mitochondria for energy production.
·
Helps in
weight loss.
·
Improves
athletic ability through increased energy production.
·
Enhances
effectiveness of the antioxidant vitamins E and C.
Creatine
Widely used by bodybuilders to increase muscle
size, and by athletes to improve performance.
·
Is
phosphorylated in the muscle to store energy
Cysteine
A
high sulfur-content amino acid, formed in the liver from methionine, needs vitamin
B6. It acts as a brain neurotransmitter and high-dose supplements can interfere
with brain functions in susceptible individuals.
·
Aids in
detoxifying the body.
·
Precursor
to glutathione, a strong antioxidant.
·
Removes
excess heavy metals, helps to burn fat.
·
Increases
muscle growth.
·
Breaks
down mucous in the respiratory tract.
·
Useful
for burns and wound healing.
·
Assists
in the supply of insulin.
Glutamic Acid
Glutamic
acid is a major neurotransmitter in the brain and supplements must be avoided. Mono-sodium
glutamate or MSG is a main ingredient of food flavoring added to processed food
and variously described as hydrolyzed vegetable protein, soy protein extract,
yeast extract, beef stock, caseinate or natural flavoring. Evidence shows that
it can kill brain cells in susceptible individuals.
· Important
for neurotransmission.
· Metabolism
of sugars and fats.
· Detoxifies
ammonia (when used with Glutamine).
· Together
with glucose, is the brain's principal fuel.
Glutamine
·
Provides
about 80% of the body's pool of free nitrogen
·
Reduces
craving for sugar, alcohol and other drugs
·
Improves
nutrient absorption
·
Important
with inability to gain weight (cachexia)
·
Useful
with impotence, allergies, senility, fatigue, peptic ulcers
·
Converted
in the brain to the neurotransmitters glutamic acid and GABA.
Glycine
· Prevents
or slows muscle degeneration.
· Needed
for healthy prostate.
· Aids
central nervous system functions.
· Useful in
epilepsy and depression.
· Important
for immune system, building block for of non-essential amino acids.
Histidine
· Tissue
growth and repair
· Important
for digestion and ulcer healing
· Controls
gastric acidity.
· Production of red and
white blood cells. Possible benefits in rheumatoid arthritis
Isoleucine
An essential amino acid and one of three
branch-chain amino acids (BCAA's) which form an essential part of muscle tissue
protein.
· Hemoglobin production.
· Stabilizes blood sugar
and energy levels.
Use in
combination with leucine and valine. Deficiency can produce hypoglycemia-like
symptoms.
Leucine
An essential branch-chain amino acid (BCAA's)
important in muscle protein.
· Lowers elevated blood
sugar levels
· Promotes healing of
bone, skin and muscle tissue.
Use with
correct balance of Leucine & Valine. Excessive amounts can produce
hypoglycemia.
Lysine
An essential amino acid, which must be
derived from the diet.
· Essential
building block for all protein
· Needed for proper growth
and bone development in children
· Helps calcium absorption
· Maintains nitrogen
balance
· Effective against cold
sores, herpes and other viruses.
· Increases antibody
production
· Needed for collagen
production
· Helps to build muscle
· Lowers
serum triglycerides.
Deficiency
results in loss of energy, ability to concentrate, irritability, retarded
growth and hair loss.
Methionine
Essential sulfur amino acid that must be obtained from the diet.
Supplementation can be harmful with vitamin B6 deficiency, therefore use both.
·
Needed
for the metabolism of fat.
·
Aids in
liver detoxification.
·
Involved
in the synthesis of the amino acids Cysteine and Taurine.
·
Help to
reduce effects of chemical sensitivities.
·
Aids digestive processes.
·
Involved
in production of choline.
Ornithine
· Helps release
growth hormone.
· Needed for
Immune system function.
· Promotes
healing.
· Detoxifies
ammonia.
Phenylalanine
An essential amino acid. D or D, L
phenylalanine may be used for long-acting pain relief. Do not use during pregnancy,
with anxiety attacks, high blood pressure, Phenylketonuria (PKU).
· Used in the
treatment of depression.
· Essential for
the production of neurotransmitters.
·
Involved in the formation of the skin pigment melanin.
Taurine
Taurine
is a sulfur amino acid and a main component of bile salts, essential for fat
absorption.
·
Promotes emulsifying and absorbing fats
·
Regulates rhythm and mineral concentrations in the
heart
·
Inhibitory (sedating) neurotransmitter; helps with
epilepsy
Threonine
One
of the essential amino acids.
· Maintains
protein balance.
· Needed
for the formation of collagen and elastine.
· Aids
the liver and the fat metabolism.
·
Helps
with control of epilepsy.
Tryptophan
An essential amino acid.
· Important for the
production of the vitamin Niacin or Niacinamide.
· Helps prevent
insomnia and elevates mood.
· Controls
hyperactivity in children.
· Needed for
production of serotonin and melatonin.
Tyrosine
· Involved in
the production of melanin pigment of skin & hair.
· Important for
adrenal, thyroid & pituitary gland function.
· Helps control
appetite and body fat levels, antidepressant.
· May assist
during withdrawal from addictive drugs.
· Raw material
for synthesis of epinephrine (adrenaline) and dopamine.
Valine
An
essential branch chain amino acid (BCAA's) in muscle protein.
·
Important for muscle tissue maintenance and muscle
coordination.
·
Stimulates and promotes mental vigor.
Find out
what digestive enzymes do and if you have increased requirements for any of
them.
Digestive
enzymes are released from our digestive organs in order to break down food into
molecules small enough for it to be absorbed. Deficiencies of digestive enzymes
are widespread and are caused mainly by overeating, eating too much cooked
food, by habitually eating problem foods and by incorrect food combining.
Virtually all elderly people and those with chronic degenerative diseases and
allergies have digestive enzyme deficiencies.
The
enzymes in raw and fermented foods help in the digestive process but are
destroyed by temperatures over 1200 F. Furthermore, many heated
proteins become more difficult to digest. With this, they need more digestive
enzymes than sprouted grains and uncooked proteins. However, some raw seeds
(especially beans such as soybeans and broad beans), wheatgerm and nuts contain
enzyme inhibitors. Sprouting inactivates these.
Make a
deliberate effort to improve the enzyme content and digestibility of your food.
In addition, if you are in a state of chronically lowered health, it will be
very helpful to use enzyme supplements. This is essential in the case of cancer
and other advanced degenerative diseases and also allergies, except if on a
predominantly raw food diet.
Most important are
the pancreas enzymes - pancreatin, available under various trade names. For
serious diseases take 4000-5000 mg of pancreatin in divided doses during the
course of each meal. One tablet may contain 1200 or 1600 mg of pancreatin,
sometimes also described as 300 or 400 mg of pancreatin 4NF. In addition you
may take one or two tablets of an enzyme combination containing papain,
bromelain, pepsin and bile. Pepsin is indicated with protein foods if the
stomach is weak, while bile is helpful if there is a problem with fat
absorption. Papain and bromelain help protein digestion.
Swallow tablets of
pancreas enzymes whole. In the case of degenerative diseases and advancing age,
gastric acid is often deficient. You may take hydrochloric-acid-pepsin tablets,
especially with cooked protein meals. The best gastric acid replacement is
betaine hydrochloride, a white crystalline powder, this is the form in which
stomach acid occurs naturally. Alternatively, dilute 1 part commercial diluted
hydrochloric acid (usually 20%) with 9 parts water. Mix 1 (plastic) teaspoon of
this with meals or drink with fluids after a meal. Additional enzymes are not
needed with uncooked meals.
However, digestive
enzyme supplements are not required if protein-digesting enzymes can be
obtained from food, such as bromelain from pineapples or papain from unheated
leaves or flowers or unripe fruit of papaw/papaya. Also ripe Kiwi-fruit are
good. Use any of these with protein meals. You may also pre-digest meat, fish
or other protein food by refrigerating it wrapped or mixed with papaw leaf
overnight.
Chapter 3: HEALTH FOODS AND NUTRIENTS
·
Vitamins
·
Minerals
·
Herbs