You'll get all the information you need about essential amino acids in this article, including how they work, where they can be found in food, and the advantages of supplementation. Some can be taken as a supplement as a natural way to improve mood or athletic performance.ĭepending on several factors, they are categorized as essential, conditionally essential, or nonessential. They are required for essential processes like the synthesis of hormones and neurotransmitters and the creation of proteins. Compounds called amino acids, also known as the building blocks of proteins, are responsible for numerous essential functions in your body.