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Amino acid supplementation is helpful for women at every stage of their lives. Amino acids help produce lean muscle for strength and definition, and may help burn abdominal fat associated with many chronic diseases. Amino acids for women also help alleviate many symptoms of menopause, and can be used instead of or in addition to hormone therapy.
As women age, they inevitably experience hormonal changes, marked in part by menopause, which occurs around age 50. Many changes occur during menopause, including the end of menstruation. Physiologically, the most important aspect of menopause is probably the reduction in the secretion of female hormones from the ovaries. (Most notably, estrogen, but the secretion of other hormones is also reduced.) Decreased estrogen secretion after menopause contributes to deterioration in bone health. A number of other responses also occur after menopause, some of which reflect the lack of estrogen, some of which occur as a response to aging, and some of which arise from a combination of these two factors.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with estrogen and progestin has been used to counter the symptoms of menopause. While the prescription of HRT used to be common, side effects and complications like blood clotting and stroke have reduced the long-term use of HRT. Other medications may be prescribed for a more targeted therapy for specific symptoms of menopause.
Hormonal therapy should be discussed in detail with your doctor, as it carries controversial risks. If you choose to take these risks and receive hormonal therapy, you will need to increase your intake of essential amino acids to get the full benefit of hormonal therapy.
BCAAs are essential amino acids that play a key role in stimulating muscle growth and suppressing muscle breakdown. Women need to consume enough BCAAs or they may be caught in a weight-gain loop and unable to get rid of excess fat, particularly belly fat.
Easier said than done. In order to get enough BCAAs from your diet to make sure muscle protein synthesis is outweighing muscle protein breakdown, you need to eat A LOT of protein-rich foods, especially chicken and meat. Many women are unable to meet BCAA requirements through diet alone, and amino acid supplements formulated with the ideal concentration of BCAAs can help.
Carnitine is a dipeptide produced by the essential amino acids methionine and lysine. It aids energy metabolism, helps prevent muscle damage and fatigue by increasing testosterone production, and revs up your fat-burning processes. Specifically, carnitine helps transport fatty acids into the mitochondria of your cells to be used for energy. The more fatty acids you burn as fuel, the more likely you are to lose weight! Carnitine can be especially helpful after menopause to help prevent naturally occurring weight gain.
Arginine is an amino acid that boosts blood flow to the muscles by increasing nitric oxide levels and widening blood vessels. This effect helps to promote strength and endurance during resistance exercise and can help lessen the symptoms of menopause. Improved circulation has been shown to help reduce the severity and frequency of hot flashes.
Lysine is an essential amino acid that serves as a building block for many different tissues in the body. Of particular interest to women is lysine’s ability to increase calcium absorption in the teeth and bones. This helps to prevent osteoporosis in later years.
For active females, lysine provides a cushioning effect for joints and tendons. It helps create muscle fibers and collagen to keep your connective tissues lubricated and pliable.
Lysine is also thought to help prevent outbreaks of genital and oral herpes, and strengthen the immune system against colds and viruses.
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