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.

To list just a few of the twenty amino acids, one should note that histidine is essential for the regrowth of tissue, lysine assists with the absorption of calcium, leucine keeps control of blood sugar, methionine breaks fat levels down, and phenylalanine works on the functions of the nerves and memory.

We suffer in many ways both major and minor when our digestive system is not working correctly. Although acid reflux, indigestion and heartburn are small problems they can still be painful side effects of digestive problems. Acid reflux was thought to arise due to an overproduction of HCL acid. However, research carried out more recently indicates that indigestion can actually be caused by 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.

There are several reasons why your digestive system may not function properly. Maybe your body is not receiving the signals of a chemical nature to encourage the removal of waste, the absorption of amino acids and protein and mineral usage.

Body chemical imbalance could be due to stress or a strong regime of physical exercises taking the whole of your body's attention away from other needs. Age is another factor to take into consideration. Hydrochloric acid production is much lower in an older person than in a younger one. Your digestive system can also be affected by an inadequate diet, eating disorders, or a lack of good sleep.

Drugs like Prilosec, which has been the top selling prescription medication in recent years, appeal to us by promising to stop acid production, even though acid production is a much needed natural process. While these drugs provide temporary relief, they still don't deal with the underlying issue - that the body simply isn't digesting foods properly and therefore is not generating the necessary amino acids that it requires for proper functioning.

For proper regulation of digestive processes, many people take supplements of amino acids to provide the essential chemicals for waste removal, stomach acid production and mineral absorption. Without the necessary nutrients, the body will simply not function as it was designed to do.

About the Author, Steve Pallovy:

Steve Pallovy has done research and written articles on nutrition and dieting for several years. Learn more about the importance of amino acids at Simplygreatnutrition.com. Glyconutrients, glyconutrition.

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