There are two different types of amino acids: essential or nonessential.
Essential amino acids must be obtained through food or supplemental.
Nonessential means our bodies naturally produce them. However, depending on your training volume, intensity, and duration, obtaining Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) through food and supplementation is vital for your success to avoid catabolic effects.
Here is list of the essential and nonessential amino acids (1).
Essential amino acids | Nonessential amino acids |
histidine | arginine |
isoleucine | glutamine |
leucine | tyrosine |
lysine | cysteine |
methionine | glycine |
phenylalanine | proline |
threonine | serine |
tryptophan | ornithine |
valine | alanine |
asparagine | |
aspartate |