Silly question, what's the difference between protein and amino acids?

[badblood909]

Please, no links, I would like an explanation in your own words.

I just want like, the very basic difference, I *somewhat* know the answer, but I have follow-up questions as well.

[Awesome]

Proteins are buildings and amino acids are legos.

Different combinations of different amino acids create different proteins.

That's as basic as I can get while still giving a decent explanation.

edit: Additionally, sometimes combinations of buildings create a complex. Same idea with some proteins.

edit2: A better analogy may be a train instead. Except parts of the train would be interacting with other parts of the train. Each car would be a different amino acid.

[kprzCreation]

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Proteins are buildings and amino acids are legos

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LMAO!

[TForce]

The different amino acids perform different functions in the body. Meat typically has all of the amino acids available, in varying amounts. Protein in vegetables contain only some of the amino acids and are considered incomplete.

I think the question might be leading to what is the difference between BCAA's and whey? I think BCAA's are already broken down and more quickly absorbed into your system than whey, which needs 45 min. to an hour to accomplish the same thing, since whey is considered "a complete protein".

[DirtbagDan]

Amino acids are what protein is further broken down into by your body's digestive system. Protein itself is way too big to fit through the different cell membranes in your body (such as muscle cells), so your body breaks the protein down into amino acids.

It's like if you buy a brand new bed for your bedroom. The fully constructed bed is like protein itself, but lets say the bed is REALLY big and you can't carry it into your house and into your room fully constructed! It won't fit through the door! So, you have to bring it into the house in the form of pieces and parts in the box. So, the pieces and parts such as the legs, the frame, the nails, the bolts the metal pieces, etc. are like amino acids. Look at it this way...

1) You chew up and swallow steak

2) Your stomach's digestive enzymes break the steak down and separate the proteins from whatever else is in the steak (ie. vitamins, minerals, etc.)

3) Your body calls upon other enzymes to break the protein down into amino acids

4) The amino acids are absorbed and sent to where they are needed (for tissue repair and growth such as muscle, for immune system function, cell growth, brain function, etc.)

And that's it! Those 4 steps are a simplified laymans desciption of the process that your body goes through.

[badblood909]

Aha, so to the next question, why do we take protein in the first place? Why don't we just consume amino acids (as far as supplements are concerned)? It would make absorption almost instant!

Also, why do amino acids have "0g of protein", I understand that amino acids are the building blocks of protein, but shouldn't an amino supplement claim to supply your body with the equivalent of Xg of protein after absorption?

[Awesome]

The Amino Acid Shooter is just that, straight amino acids. Up until the AAS, amino acids weren't the most pleasant tasting of supplements.

As for your second question, well, they don't have any protein in them. Imagine taking a molecule of glucose (C6H12O6), and providing one carbon molecule for someone. Would you tell them that it contains a certain fraction of carbs? Although it's not a perfect analogy, it's kind of along the same lines.

Also, we don't always necessarily want super fast absorption. Think of at night before bed. That'd be a poor time for straight amino acids; however, it would be ideal for casein protein.

[klosey]

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Also, why do amino acids have "0g of protein", I understand that amino acids are the building blocks of protein, but shouldn't an amino supplement claim to supply your body with the equivalent of Xg of protein after absorption?


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it has 0g of protein because ammino's are the parts that when together make protein,

its like having a crate fully of car parts you have everything there but it isnt a car its car parts,

[badblood909]

It's beyond me how the AAS can taste so good without being loaded with artificial flavors, it tastes so good.

As for Awesome and Klosey, when we ingest protein, it is broken down to amino acids, correct? Let's just ASSUME for the sake of the argument that 20g of protein supply us with 1000mg of all the amino acids.

In that case, if I take an amino supplement with 1000mg of all the amino acids, does that mean I just had 20g of protein? (or what is equivalent to that, as far as my cells and muscles are concerned).

[klosey]

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It's beyond me how the AAS can taste so good without being loaded with artificial flavors, it tastes so good.

As for Awesome and Klosey, when we ingest protein, it is broken down to amino acids, correct? Let's just ASSUME for the sake of the argument that 20g of protein supply us with 1000mg of all the amino acids.

In that case, if I take an amino supplement with 1000mg of all the amino acids, does that mean I just had 20g of protein? (or what is equivalent to that, as far as my cells and muscles are concerned).

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basically yes