L-arginine is one of the many amino acids that the body needs to build protein. It is used to rebuild tissues as well. It can also aid in tissue repair and healing deep injuries. Among L-arginine benefits, it releases nitric oxide in the blood. Nitric oxide, in turn, widens blood vessels, which helps in certain circulatory diseases.
Notably, L-arginine occurs naturally in the body but many people take it as a supplement to support and boost its quantities. Especially, people with some medical conditions and older people require it in abundance. L-arginine is available in the form of oral medication, injections, or creams. It is suitable in low to moderate doses but high doses of L-arginine can have severe implications. Read on to know more about it.
L-arginine Benefits
There are a lot of L-arginine benefits that are yet not researched and proven, but among the researched ones, these are a few:
- Helps with growth hormone reserve test
- Reduces high blood pressure
- Corrects inborn errors of urea synthesis
- Treats heart diseases
- Helps treat erectile dysfunction (ED)
- Eases inflammation of the digestive tract in premature infants
- Controls blood sugar in people with diabetes
In addition, there are other potential L-arginine uses. Some of these are:
- Improves blood flow to heal wounds faster
- Enhances exercise performance
Despite the number of benefits offered by L-arginine, one must always consult a doctor before consuming it. There are also various manufacturers of L-arginine, so you must choose carefully and get all the available information on this before consumption.
L-arginine Side Effects
If not taken in the right quantity, L-arginine will make you face numerous side effects. It is also risky in cases of some underlying health conditions. There are a few side effects of the supplement, including bloating of gout, inflamed airways, pain in the abdomen, diarrhea, abnormalities related to blood allergies, low blood pressure, and worsening asthma. You should be extremely careful in case of any of these side effects arising.
Some of the more severe side effects are serious illness or even death in children when rare cases arise, worsening of herpes flares, difficulty controlling blood pressure during surgery, increased risk of death after a heart attack, negative interaction with certain medications, including the ones used for blood pressure.
Natural Ways to Get L-arginine
L-arginine is difficult to get only through food. But it is not impossible. In a way, this is beneficial because this prevents L-arginine from being consumed in excess quantities. At times, the problem with natural sources is getting enough L-arginine, especially when the body requires excess of it.
Some natural sources of L-arginine are protein-rich food. Animal proteins and red meat are good sources of L-arginine. Chicken and turkey breast, dairy products, and pork loin are other sources of L-arginine. For people who prefer or only eat vegetarian food, lentils, chickpeas, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, and soybean are good alternatives for L-arginine, though it is not nearly as high in protein as meat-based products.
Conclusion
Overall, L-arginine is a very important amino acid and is required in the body. But its consumption in the form of supplements has to be monitored well and side effects are to be kept in mind. Always consult your doctor when it comes to the consumption of L-arginine in order to be in the pink of your health.
