essential amino acid
1
3.6
- noun
- /ɪˈsɛnʃəl əˈmiːnoʊ ˈæsɪd/
- Specialized
:
aminoácido esencial
- In order for protein intake to be adequate, there must be a balance of essential amino acids in the proportions required by the human body.
There is a myth that plant based foods are missing essential amino acids and that's that's not true.
- There is a myth that plant based foods are missing essential amino acids and that's that's not true.
- So all plants contain all nine essential amino acids.
- The first would be that plant protein is missing certain essential amino acids.
- Tryptophan is an essential amino acid, which means you can only intake tryptophan by eating enough proteins.
- And one can get enough of the essential amino acids if the total caloric load of that protein is high enough.
Examples
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Tryptophan is an essential amino acid, which means you can only intake tryptophan by eating enough proteins.
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Proteins from animal sources (for example, eggs) contain all of the essential amino acids.
Blog text (34) -
Chickens lack essential amino acids.
Fiction book (1997) -
If anyone doesn't eat enough essential amino acids, then they will lose weight, simple.
Blog text (30) -
For the record, plants usually have all eight essential amino acids, but not necessarily in the correct ratios for humans.
Blog text (30) -
As Pakistan is a developing country, a huge amount of foreign exchange is utilized in the import of this essential amino acid for the feed industry.
Academic text (2015) -
Proteins rich in the essential amino acid leucine may offset muscle loss, promote positive muscle protein balance, and reduce sarcopenia.
Academic text (2017) -
Because animals do not have specialized tissues to store excess amino acids for extended periods, essential amino acids must be continually supplied in the diet to permit adequate levels of protein synthesis.
Academic text (2011) -
Essential amino acids are not readily converted into carbohydrates or fatty acids, and I would therefore expect animals previously fed with labeled essential amino acids to oxidize them until phase III of fasting.
Academic text (2011) -
Quinoa is a complete protein that provides all nine essential amino acids for a healthy diet.
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is a straightforward composition: 'essential' (required) modifies the compound noun 'amino acid', so a B1 learner who knows the parts can infer it means an amino acid that is necessary for the body. The specific scientific detail that it cannot be synthesized and must come from the diet is a domain-specific elaboration but follows naturally from the sense 'essential', making the expression morphologically transparent.
Etymology
Essential amino acid comes from a simple image: an amino acid is a tiny 'building block' for the body's proteins, and if a block is called essential, the body 'cannot make' it so you must get it from food. That's why 'essential amino acid' today means a needed amino acid that 'must come from the diet'.