Introducing the HDAA

In the world of our body's inner workings, we're shining a light on something called High-Demand Amino Acids (HDAA). These are super important for recovering after exercise and keeping us healthy overall. We've learned that HDAA do more than just help make proteins; they also keep our energy levels up, help our bodies grow and heal, and manage how we use food for energy.

To understand how much HDAA we need every day, scientists have looked at how our bodies take in, make, use, and get rid of these amino acids. Sweat, which we might not think much about, actually plays a big part in losing these important compounds when we're active.

When we do our daily activities or face stress, our bodies use up more HDAA. This happens even more during exercise, recovery, busy lifestyles, and when it's hot. Our muscles might break down a bit until we get more HDAA from food or supplements.

Two of these amino acids must come from our food because our bodies can't make them. The other four can be made by our bodies, but sometimes we might not make enough, especially during intense exercise or if we're always on the move in hot places.

If our bodies don't get enough HDAA, we might feel tired, get muscle cramps, and recover more slowly. To stay in tip-top shape, our bodies need a steady supply of these amino acids. They do a lot, like helping with energy, growth, healing, and keeping our bodies strong.

After we exercise, it's important to quickly get more HDAA into our bodies because they can be absorbed right away. This helps our muscles and organs get what they need for recovery without waiting for a long digestion process. It's like a fast-track to feeling better after being active. So, making sure we get enough HDAA every day could change how we recover and boost our overall well-being.

Need to know more?

Listen to podcasts

  • Hugh Dunstan and Tim Roberts introduce and discuss the toles and benefits of HDAA in a new Podcast series entitled "The HDAA Revolution: Elevate Your Fitness and Wellness". Link to Podcast Series

Watch video presentations, interviews and discussions on HDAA

  • Webinar presentation
    • Prof Tim Roberts provides valuable insight to the benefits of histidine supplementation and the relationships with histamine production: Link to YouTube.
  • Hugh Dunstan speaks to us from the Boatshed to address six frequently asked questions associated with the use of HDAA for supporting exercise and recovery: link to YouTube Channel
  • Daniel Baden interviews Hugh Dunstan about the HDAA and how they work: link to YouTube Channel.
  • Andrew Sargent from CXDX talks with Hugh Dunstan about the importance of restocking with HDAA to support exercise and recovery: link to YouTube Channel

Research Summary

  • Find a more detailed summary of research information and links to scientific references here.
Read published overview articles
  • Read articles published in the ACNEM Journal about HDAA and their important roles in supporting metabolism and well being: