First things first.

Protein. Pretty much everyone is familiar with the concept that proteins are the building blocks of life. The word itself is derived from the Greek word, protos, meaning first. Protein is the basic material of all living cells. We take in proteins, break them down into amino acids, then re-form them into specific proteins required by our bodies. Opinion varies as to exactly how many amino acids exist, but 27 have been identified. These are:

Alanine, Arginine, Asparganine, Aspartic Acid, Carnitine, Citruline, Cysteine, Cystine, GABA, Glycine, Glutamine, Glutamic Acid, Histidine, *Isoleucine, *Leucine, *Lysine, *Methionine, Ornithine, *Phenylalanine, Proline, Pyroglutamate, Serine, Taurine, *Threonine, *Tryptophan, Tyrosine, and *Valine.

In the human body they link together to form an astonishing 50,000 unique proteins, and a further 20,000 enzymes. Some of these proteins are used to construct muscles, bones, organs, glands, hair, nails and connective tissues. Some are required for the protein structures in genes, enzymes, hormones, neurotransmitters and body fluids. They are all required for the correct utilisation of vitamins and minerals. The eight marked with a * are commonly called "essential" amino acids, that is to say that they cannot be synthesised within the body and have to be obtained from outside sources, ie, diet or supplementation. Some of the others also fall into this category under certain body conditions such as illness or stress. The rest are made from the essential amino acids. For example, tyrosine, which is vitally important in the thyroid process, is made from phenylalanine. All of the amino acids perform a variety of highly specific functions, and a deficiency of any of them can have far reaching effects on health. Cysteine acts as an antioxidant, arginine stimulates human growth hormone, lysine promotes production of antibodies, hormones and enzymes, phenylalanine is involved in the production of dopamine and adrenaline, and tryptophan participates in the biosynthesis of the neurotransmitter serotonin, without which we sleep badly, suffer nightmares and become depressed. Deficiency states successfully treated with the appropriate amino acid include osteoarthritis, menstrual pain, headaches, insomnia, depression, drug and alcohol addiction, allergies, ulcers, anaemia, high blood pressure, fatigue, sexual disinterest, Parkinsons' Disease, liver damage, skin lesions, weakness, oedema (fluid retention), depigmentation of hair, artherosclerosis, pain, impotence, poor memory, obesity, mania and aggressive behaviour, vision problems and even epilepsy.

The good news about this daunting array of vital nutrients is that, contrary to popular belief, these proteins are widely available in plants, and not just in animal produce. Unless you are existing on a terrible diet of refined and processed foods, or have serious absorption problems, there is not much likelihood of any significant deficiency. However, absorption problems are commonplace in all chronic health conditions, and deficiency states cannot necessarily be ruled out.

Next in the chain of nutrition come minerals. We all know what minerals are, more or less, but what you may not know is that you need adequate mineral levels present in your body in order to utilise vitamins and, indeed, many other substances. If you've ever taken a multi-vitamin and mineral preparation and gained no benefit from it, or even felt worse whilst taking it, there's a strong possibility than you are deficient in some of the minerals. You have to replenish your mineral levels first. Mineral deficiency states are incredibly common, and the reason for that is that plants cannot make their own minerals - they have to be present in their soil to end up in the plant, and thence in us. Considering the extent of over-farming that has happened over the last century, much of our planets' soil is depleted of minerals. It only takes 5-10 years to drain the minerals out of the soil - ask any farmer. This problem was identified as long ago as 1936, when the US government produced Senate Document 264. To quote:
"The alarming fact is that foods (fruits, vegetables and grains) now being raised on millions of acres of land that no longer contain enough of certain minerals are starving us - no matter how much of them we eat. No man of today can each enough fruit and vegetables to supply his system with the minerals he requires for perfect health because his stomach isn't big enough to hold them."

Another quote from this document:

"It is bad news to learn from our leading authorities that 99% of the American people are deficient in these minerals, and that a marked deficiency in any one of the more important minerals actually results in disease. Any upset of the balance, any considerable lack of one or another element, however microscopic the body requirement may be, and we sicken, suffer, and shorten our lives."

And that was back in 1936 ! Mineral levels in natural foods have declined, and are still declining. Farmers do put back in some minerals, but only those necessary to ensure faster plant growth; a lot that we need to get from plants is not replaced by farmers and therefore never reaches us. Food refining removes up to 90% of trace minerals, too. Cooking further destroys mineral content. In addition to these two facts, our mineral needs have actually increased, due the levels of pollution and toxins that we now have to cope with. Eating organic is the best we can do, and even that may still be contaminated by air-borne pollutants, toxins, herbicides, insecticides, and passing pollen from GM crops. Nutrition really is a huge health issue now.