has become an everyday reality. However, many of the supplements that people take daily end up in the toilet. The reason for this is that people in general take supplements as a precautionary step to ensure possible deficiencies. Most of theses substances then end up being excreted as a result of overdosage. On the other end, deficiencies occur because of a lack of the required minimum RDA. So the whole practice of supplementation can be a shot in the dark.

A TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE in South Africa today is the determination of amino acid levels within blood plasma. This technology requires a blood sample, which is then analysed and a metabolic report is then compiled and a nutritional and supplement regimen is then created from the results. For the Biochemical Clinician and Nutrition Specialist understanding the amino acids according to their functions are a most useful approach, and lead directly to recommendations for supplementation and metabolic interventions. This functional way of understanding and classifying amino acids builds on the "Glycemic Versus Ketogenic" system and greatly amplifies and clarifies amino acid functions.