Amino acid

A type of small organic molecule.

Best known as the “building block” of proteins, amino acids serve as the precursor to several neurotransmitters in the brain. There are three broad categories of amino acids essential, non-essential, and conditional. Our bodies cannot produce essential amino acids, so they must be absorbed from food. Amino acid neurotransmitters are the most prevalent neurotransmitters in the brain. These include glutamate and aspartate, which can increase the electrochemical activity of neurons, as well as glycine and gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), which inhibit that electrochemical activity.

Find out more about diet and your brain

Find out more about how diet can impact your brain in the articles and videos below.

• Eating Healthy and powering your brain

  There has been a lot of different research an dtheouries foating arouns about which diets and foods are best.

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• Maintaining a healthy diet

  Eating healthy is great habit to have. We all have the best intentions to cook every night of the week.

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• Brain function mechanisms and machinery

  Associate Professor Liana Machado is a teacher at the University of Otago since 2003. She presents research conducted in her laboratory.

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