L-Arginine and Its Amazing Health Benefits

If ever there’s a substance in the body that reflects how healthy a person is, just knowing that they’re in good condition indicates they must have a good supply of it… I’m talking about the amino acid L-arginine. This essential molecule is produced at the kidney but if ill-health such as a nasty injury or infection occurs then it becomes limited, so a dietary requirement would be needed for its role in various vital functions.

Having said that, it is strongly recommended that everyone makes sure that they get at least an adequate supply of L-arginine in the diet and if necessary as a supplement, more on this later.

For optimum health a good diet of foods containing L-arginine is absolutely essential because this molecule is involved in: Cardiovascular function, the fixing and replacement of cells, involvement in the handling of efficient tissue repair: L-arginine helps molecular movement through biochemical

signalling mechanisms… in the late 1990’s 3 Professors of physiology were given the Nobel Prize in medicine and physiology for discovering this. Basically, they found that nitric oxide stemmed from L-arginine which supported good health and healing…

The other multiple health benefits involving L-arginine also include getting rid of ammonia a nitrogenous toxic waste product produced during metabolism. –Quite simply, we would become poisoned if this toxic waste by product was not removed. Then there’s the involvement L-arginine has in the making of the amino acids L-glutamate, L-proline and creatine. These are absolutely essential for the body’s metabolic requirements.

L-arginine is needed for muscle energy production produced by creatine, and then it’s essential for nervous function required for cognitive performances in memory, language, motor skills, learning.., collagen synthesis in connective tissue leading to healthy skin, hair, nails.., hormone health such as the production of growth hormone and sexual behaviour, producing erections … the list of health benefits goes on…

Here’s a list of some of the most L-arginine rich foods around.

Fruits

Avocado, grapes, kiwi, strawberries, bananas, watermelon and apricots are good examples.

Vegetables

Make sure you get the health benefits from a whole range of vegetables. Peppers, spinach, shallot, chives, onion, leeks, garlic, chives and seaweed are good supplies.

Eggs

It’s the yolks that contain plentiful arginine.

Seafood

Seafood such as salmon, trout and halibut are excellent supplies. Avoid some sea foods such as tuna because of the relatively high concentration of mercury as reported by the EPA (Environmental Protection agency).

Seeds and Nuts

A whole range of omega-3 rich sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds and nuts have abundance: Hazelnuts, almonds, pine nuts, walnuts and pistachios…

Drinks

Tea, black tea, wine and cocoa has arginine. So does coffee in small amounts, but go easy on this since it also contains caffeine.

Supplements

Supplements should be taken with care as too much arginine may cause adverse effects on the body resulting in poisoning.

A few more cautionary words

Side effects from excessive intakes include: allergies, nauseating, diarrhoea, blood pressure problems, asthmatic symptoms, cramps… Avoid giving arginine to very young children. Child bearing or breast feeding women should also avoid taking arginine. If in any doubt consult a physician.

The 4 Vital Factors that support Good Health

-Paul A. Philips

As you can see from the illustration opposite, there are 4 vital factors that provide good health and contribute to the prevention of disease.

I wouldn’t guarantee the good health of anyone that chooses not to pay heed to all 4 factors.

…So here is a brief overview of each vital factor… see more

Further:

L-arginine: Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects, and More