Collagen

The body needs Lysine for the production of strong and stable collagen.WPF As components of skin, joints (cartilage), tendons, bone, hair, nails, muscles, the heart and the lining of the cardiovascular system (endothelium), collagen and elastin heal the body and literally hold the body together. The eyes, ears, gums, stomach lining and lungs also need collagen and elastin. However, when there is more arginine than lysine in the diet, arginine can use the lysine transporter if it is unoccupied by lysine. As a result, the cell wall will no longer have lysine’s stabilising function; it will become thin and “dramatically” deformed due to the “special role played by (arginine) as an amino acid to bind to, disrupt and permeabilise lipid membranes.” These facts could explain why many people feel like they are “falling apart” on a low lysine, high arginine diet!WPF Arginine’s “special role” in disrupting cell membranes is due to its high nitrogen content. Whereas most amino acids have only one molecule of nitrogen and lysine has two, arginine has four. The high nitrogen content is what gives arginine the bitterness that we taste in unroasted nuts, seeds, chocolate and grains. Importantly, the body identifies bitterness as poison – perhaps our taste buds can sense that too much arginine relative to lysine is a problem. Lysine, on the other hand, tastes slightly sweet.

Q: What are Leyla's notes on Collagen? A: The body needs Lysine for the production of strong and stable collagen.WPF As components of skin, joints (cartilage), tendons, bone, hair, nails, muscles, the heart and the lining of the cardiovascular system (endothelium), collagen and elastin heal the body and literally hold the body together. The eyes, ears, gums, stomach lining and lungs also need collagen and elastin. However, when there is more arginine than lysine in the diet, arginine can use the lysine transporter if it is unoccupied by lysine. As a result, the cell wall will no longer have lysine’s stabilising function; it will become thin and “dramatically” deformed due to the “special role played by (arginine) as an amino acid to bind to, disrupt and permeabilise lipid membranes.” These facts could explain why many people feel like they are “falling apart” on a low lysine, high arginine diet!WPF Arginine’s “special role” in disrupting cell membranes is due to its high nitrogen content. Whereas most amino acids have only one molecule of nitrogen and lysine has two, arginine has four. The high nitrogen content is what gives arginine the bitterness that we taste in unroasted nuts, seeds, chocolate and grains. Importantly, the body identifies bitterness as poison – perhaps our taste buds can sense that too much arginine relative to lysine is a problem. Lysine, on the other hand, tastes slightly sweet.