Amino Acids vs Protein: Which is Better?

Getting the proper nutrients is essential for everyday function and reaching your fitness goals. If you’re new to the world of supplements, cutting through the jargon and understanding what will give you the best results can be confusing. When choosing whether to prioritize amino acids vs protein, the answer might not be as simple as you think.

Both amino acids and proteins serve important purposes in the body. However, understanding the difference between the two and choosing to incorporate them into your fitness and health goals can improve your progress. Today, we dive into the differences and similarities between amino acids and proteins to establish how to use them to their fullest potential.

What Are Amino Acids?

Amino acids are organic compounds made up of amino acids and carboxyl. They are molecules that naturally occur in living organisms. These molecules, when alone, are called free aminos, which can be difficult for our bodies to absorb. However, they can combine, and when they do, they create basic protein structures that your body can use to fulfill many different functions within the body. In simple terms, they’re the building blocks of protein. 

There are roughly twenty different types of amino acids, which all fit into two categories: essential and non-essential. The difference is the body does not naturally produce essential amino acids. This means you must obtain them from other sources. Of the amino acids, only nine are essential.

Amino acids play a crucial role in building muscles, restoring tissue, hormonal regulation, and synthesizing energy within the body. Though they are not proteins, they are essential to creating and processing protein.

What Is Protein?

Protein is a compound molecule within cells. It is responsible for many bodily functions, including providing structure to cells, regulating energy, and repairing muscles and organs. 

As mentioned above, amino acids make up protein. You can find protein most commonly in cells, so most protein sources involve another living thing. Yet, this doesn’t always mean animal products, even though this is the most well-known source of protein. Plenty of plants and grains also contain high amounts of protein.

 Protein, much like amino acids, has different forms. However, they are classified by complete or incomplete, which refers to which amino acids they contain. A complete source of protein contains all nine of the essential amino acids, whereas an incomplete protein will not. An example of a complete protein would be quinoa or eggs; some incomplete protein sources are nuts and certain vegetables. 

When it comes to protein, selecting complete proteins tends to be best, as you need the amino acids present in these protein sources. Especially when you are active, high-quality complete protein sources can improve your gains, help your energy levels, regulate hormones, and improve recovery.

Key Differences Between Amino Acids and Proteins

Though it’s clear that amino acids and proteins play complementary roles within the body. However, they are not the same, as there are several differences between them. 

For one, they have structural differences. Amino acids are a single molecule; they are simple, lightweight, and much smaller than protein compounds. Protein compounds are a more complex collection of amino acids, each with its own unique shape and properties. Proteins are the foundation for antibodies, muscle tissue, enzymes, and much more.

Within the body, amino acids play a role in protein synthesis and breaking down other compounds, such as creatine and other nitrogenous compounds. Amino acids represent the biological component of protein, which gives energy and is constantly shed and regained through natural metabolic processes and dietary intake.

Amino acids exist in all protein sources. You can find both in certain grains like quinoa and rice, vegetables, beans, lentils, tofu, and nuts. Alternatively, meat, dairy, and eggs are also premium complete protein sources. You can even find amino acids in whey protein, which is often present in protein shakes and protein bars.

Importance of Amino Acids and Proteins in the Diet

Amino acids and proteins are essential to a healthy body as they help ease the constant turnover of cells in the body. The two are responsible for helping repair joints and muscles, as well as regulating energy and processing other nutrients your body needs.

Lately, protein has become a focal point in the conversation about health. Protein is an essential part of everyone’s diet, and dieticians recommend an intake of between 25 and 40 grams per day. 

Typically, women require less protein than men, but this varies based on weight and activity level. If you lead an active lifestyle, getting extra protein is essential for developing muscle, feeling satisfied throughout the day, and recovering from workouts.

Consuming enough protein and all essential amino acids is necessary for healthy functioning, but balancing your intake can have several other benefits. Getting the proper protein and amino acid levels can benefit your liver. It also helps you recover after workouts and improves muscle growth and development. It can help you stay fuller longer and get more out of the food you eat. Overall, protein and amino acids are exceptionally important inclusions to a healthy diet.

Final Look at Protein vs Amino Acids 

If the question is protein or amino acids, then the answer is both! Most foods that contain protein contain amino acids, so you don’t have to compromise. 

Still, when choosing protein sources, you should prioritize complete proteins to gain the benefits of all nine essential amino acids. Remember that your body cannot produce these amino acids on it’s, so the only way to get them is through a healthy diet. 

Working hard to meet your protein goals and get essential nutrients into your daily routine is key to a healthy mind and body. Your body, especially when you’re active, is constantly restoring and regenerating on a cellular level. This is why it’s essential to be mindful of returning what you use to keep yourself at peak performance.

If you’re looking for ways to add more protein without changing your diet, supplementation is a great no-fuss way to meet those macros. If you can't get enough protein daily, you should consider incorporating a protein bar or shake to help give you an edge. Getting high-quality protein that tastes great doesn’t have to be challenging when you have BUILT bars. 

Want both Amino Acids and Protein? Try BUILT