Seventy five percent of the body is made up of the building blocks of life, also known as amino acids, which are required for every bodily process. There are twenty necessary amino acids and ten of them are produced from what we eat, while the others are produced naturally.

Here are a few of the essential amino acids: histidine is necessary for tissue regrowth, lysine helps with calcium absorption, phenylalanine affects memory and nerve functions, methionine breaks down fats, and tryptophan aids in sleep and serotonin production.

When our digestive system is out of whack, we suffer in several ways. Acid reflux, heartburn and indigestion can be an unpleasant side effect of improper digestion. While it’s widely believed that acid reflux comes from overproduction of hydrochloric acid, recent research suggests that indigestion can actually be caused by the underproduction of this acid.

In the case of underproduction of acid, also known as achlorhydria, undigested protein sits in our stomach, essentially rotting away. Bloating, burping and discomfort follows – 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 tell-tale signs that food isn’t being broken down properly into the amino acids you need to feel your best.

The reasons why your digestive system may not be working properly are plenty. Your body may not be picking up the chemical signals which promote body waste removal, amino acid absorption and protein and mineral uses.

Body chemicals can be affected by heavy duty workouts or stress — which seems to command all of your body’s attention, thus taking it away from other processes that may need neurotransmitters. Age also naturally diminishes hydrochloric acid production : a 65 year old individual has only 15% of the HCl that he or she had at the age of 35. Sleep deprivation, eating disorders and a poor diet can also affect digestion in significant ways.

Top selling medications such as Prilosec appeal to us with the promise of stopping stomach acid production and thus relieving the pain. However, while drugs offer instant relief, it is temporary and does not tackle the underlying problem. After all, food digestion is a natural process in the body and if it is not taking place, amino acids we need will not be produced from the foods we eat.

Many people choose to take amino acids in supplement form to regulate their digestive processes. These supplements act as a boost to the removal of waste and control stomach acid production as well as the absorption of minerals. The body is after all like an intricate machine and needs the proper mix of nutrients to function well.

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