Amino acids are literally the building blocks of proteins.
There are about 26 amino acids in the body of which 8 cannot be manufactured from within. These amino acids are referred to as essential and non-essential. The non-essential amino acids are those we can synthesize in the body and the essential are those that we must get from the foods we eat. Since amino acids are the cellular building blocks of life, deficiencies in any can cause enzyme depletion, memory loss, wrinkles, increase the effects of free radical damage, inhibit immune function and other afflictions of the aging process. Specific amino acids like methionine and cysteine are important factors in any anti-aging protocol since the quantity of these amino acids are found in decreasing amounts as we age.