Should I take amino acids instead of protein?
                                
                                
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                                    5 min read                                
                            
                                According to a 2021 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, ingesting free amino acids results in more rapid absorption than intact protein, but does this mean you should take amino acids instead of protein? The relationship is more nuanced, as amino acids are the individual building blocks, while protein provides a complete nutritional package essential for overall health and muscle synthesis.