Natural Muscle November 2016 Celebrating 21 Years This Month! | Page 10

VEGETARIAN
BODYBUILDING

CHRIS WILLITTS
VegetarianBodybuilding.com

YES, YOU CAN GET YOUR
PROTEIN FROM VEGETARIAN
FOODS!
If you’ve gone or are thinking of going vegetarian, the most common objection you’ve received could be regarding

your protein source.It’s popular belief that people who steer clear of meat and other animal products, such as eggs,
milk, cheese, and other dairy items, don’t get enough of the required protein to build muscle.

A FEW BASIC FACTS
Amino acids are considered the basic building blocks
of protein, and there are 20 of them that can be found
either in the human body or in the foods we eat.
Amino acids link together to form large protein molecules known as peptides, which further link up to
form the actual proteins.
D ifferent proteins are responsible for the different
processes that take place in the human body. To keep
healthy, we need to make sure we have all 20 amino
acids on a regular basis.
It’s a good thing we need not worry about 11 of
them, which are already manufactured by chemicals
in our body. All we need to pay attention to are the nine
essential amino acids that the body does not make.
Instead, we get these from the foods we eat.
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Natural Muscle Magazine

WHAT COMPRISES AMINO ACIDS,
AND WHY THEY ARE VITAL TO THE
HUMAN BODY?
Amino acids are a group of organic molecules consisting of a
basic amine group (one nitrogen and two hydrogen atoms),
an acidic carboxyl group (one carbon, two oxygen, and one
hydrogen atoms), and an organic side chain that is unique
to each amino acid.
A combination of carbon, hydrogen, sulfur, nitrogen, and/
or oxygen comprise these side chains. What makes one
amino acid unique from the other is the configuration of
these elements.
Isoleucine, leucine, and valine are branched-chain amino
acids responsible for the structure of our muscles.
Aromatic amino acids such as tyrosine, phenylalanine
and tryptophan have a ring-shaped side chain and are essential for manufacturing serotonin and melatonin.
Serotonin is the neurotransmitter responsible for sending
messages between nerve cells and is quite vital for healthy
and restful slumber.

November 2016

Celebrating 21 Years!

In addition to modulating appetite, metabolism, and sexuality, serotonin also helps elevate the mood and prevent
mood swings.
On the other hand, melatonin is a pervasive neurotransmitter-like compound that is quite valuable in the biological
and physiologic regulation of circadian rhythms or the interior body clock.
Melatonin is also known as a potent antioxidant that safeguards nuclear and mitochondrial D NA.
Lysine is one of nine essential amino acids required for
growth and tissue repair. Specifically, it helps in the absorption and conservation of calcium, as well as the production
of collagen.
A deficiency in lysine can manifest in a number of ways:
nausea, dizziness, fatigue, agitation, poor appetite, anemia,
and delayed growth. Additionally, kidney stones and reproductive disorders are often associated with a lack of lysine
in the diet.