L-Arginine – Benefits, Food Sources, and Side Effects
L-Arginine is an essential amino acid that may play an important role in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and boosts your overall health. Also, it has been promoted as a better treatment for erectile dysfunction in men. But did you know that the body cannot create the amino acids on its own; rather it will get it from the foods we include in our daily diet?
One of the most important amino acids, L-Arginine has been recommended as a treatment for many more health conditions including dementia, male infertility, diabetes, and the list goes on. Usually, your body can produce arginine from the food sources, so the deficiencies are very rare!
What Does L-Arginine Do?
- Stimulates the production of nitric oxide and widens the blood vessels, thus improving blood circulation all over the body
- Speed up the healing of wound and injuries
- Detoxifies your body and helps kidneys in removing waste
- Boosts your immune system and enhances the metabolic rate
Food Sources Enriched With L-Arginine
- Turkey
- Pork Loin
- Chicken
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Soybeans
- Peanuts
- Spirulina
- Dairy
- Chickpeas
- Lentils and more
These are the few food sources that are well-known are producing more amino acids in your body. It’s far better to get arginine from high-protein foods, rather than opting supplements. But nowadays, people take arginine as a dietary supplement as it comes with all-natural ingredients and provides better results. However, L-Arginine may have a few side effects such as nausea, diarrhea and stomach ache etc. Also, don’t exceed the recommended dosage level while taking supplements!