Explain the difference between essential and nonessential amino acids.

Question

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Answer 1

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The body needs 20 different amino acids to function. Although all amino acids are needed for life, 11 of them do not need to be obtained from the diet. They are classified as nonessential (or dispensable) amino acids because our bodies make them, using other amino acids we consume (Table 7-1). The 9 amino acids the body cannot make are known as nutritionally essential (or indispensable) amino acids because they must be obtained from foods. Essential amino acids cannot be synthesized in the body because body cells cannot make the carbon skeleton of the amino acid, cannot attach an amino group to the carbon skeleton, or cannot do the whole process fast enough to meet the body's needs.