L-arginine | What is this? How and when to take?

Benefits for the body

L-arginine participates in important vital processes of the body and activates the production of creatine, a source of energy for cells. Supplements based on this substance are included in the diet of athletes, especially those involved in bodybuilding. The drugs help restore muscle tissue after training and build it up, accelerate the healing of injuries, activate the production of growth hormone and collagen, and increase endurance. But not only athletes benefit from taking supplements with this substance. Preparations based on it also help you lose weight.

The benefits of arginine will be discussed in more detail in the video:

Arginine and its meaning Live Healthy with Elena Malysheva

Arginine benefits blood vessels, heart, kidneys, liver and gastrointestinal tract. It has the following beneficial properties:

• reduces blood pressure and cholesterol levels;
• normalizes the functioning of the heart and digestive tract;
• promotes the removal of toxins from the body;
• strengthens the walls of blood vessels;
• participates in the production of the happiness hormone, therefore improves mood;
• eliminates erectile dysfunction;
• slows down the growth of tumors.

This substance also produces a mild psychotropic effect and helps women stabilize their emotional background. It also normalizes the growth of nails and hair.

Positive properties of L arginine for women

The amino acid activates the formation of growth hormone during night sleep. Somatotropin is a real godsend for girls, as it reduces the amount of subcutaneous fat and causes rejuvenation of the body. Representatives of the stronger sex also need it because:

• has an anabolic effect;

• prevents the development of catabolic processes;

• accelerates wound healing;

• strengthens bone and connective (cartilage, tendons) tissue, preventing injury to the athlete.

Women also need L arginine as an antioxidant. By neutralizing free radicals, it reduces hair loss and improves the condition of the skin:

• smoothes wrinkles;

• increases the elasticity of the dermis;

• brightens the complexion;

• eliminates cellulite.

Indications for use

L-arginine can be taken by athletes and people who want to lose weight, as well as for cardiovascular diseases and reduced immunity. But the main indications for use are:

• protein deficiency due to physical and emotional fatigue;
• immunodeficiency;
• chronic fatigue syndrome;
• anemia;
• diabetes;
• joint diseases;
• recovery after infectious diseases or surgery;
• infertility;
• pathologies of physical development;
• tumors.

Amino acid-based supplements are also recommended for elderly people. The substance normalizes the functioning of organs and systems in an aging body.

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To strengthen the cardiovascular system

L-arginine should be taken for cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and ischemia. The substance dilates and tones the blood vessels of the heart, strengthens its muscles, and also:

• prevents the formation of blood clots and plaques;
• reduces cholesterol levels;
• saturates the blood with oxygen.

Attention! Arginine reduces the number of angina attacks.

To improve the functioning of the reproductive system

Amino acid supplements improve the functioning of the reproductive system in men and women. Dietary supplements help in the treatment of infertility, normalize blood circulation in the pelvic organs, and also:

• eliminate inflammatory processes;
• increase libido;
• increase sperm activity.

Taking medications also increases the likelihood of conception.

Interesting! Seminal fluid consists of 80% arginine.

To strengthen the immune system and increase vitality

The amino acid has an immunostimulating effect, increases strength, endurance, and mood. To improve vitality, it should be taken in combination with vitamin complexes.

For weight loss

L-arginine can also be taken for weight loss. The amino acid supplies nitric oxide, accelerates metabolic processes, and promotes the burning of fat deposits. With its help you can lose weight without risk to your health.

But you need to take arginine correctly. The following recommendations for use must be observed:

• drink the supplement on an empty stomach 1 hour before training or before bedtime;
• follow a protein diet.

To increase muscle mass, you can drink lysine and arginine at the same time. The daily norm is 1.5 g.

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To fight inflammation and infections

The amino acid helps to recover from infectious diseases, as it improves immunity. It also inhibits the multiplication of the virus during exacerbation of herpes.

Attention! A treatment regimen for herpes infection should be developed by a doctor, since incorrect use of the amino acid can lead to the opposite effect.

For edema

Preparations containing the amino acid normalize the functioning of the heart and kidneys and, accordingly, relieve edema.

Arginine sports nutrition

Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid that is a donor of nitric oxide.
Despite the fact that the amino acid Arginine is produced in the human body, it is often not produced enough. Therefore, many consider it irreplaceable and use it as a dietary supplement. The use of the product can give very good results for muscle palping. Thanks to nitrogen synthesis, which is a key function of arginine, growth hormone is stimulated and muscle mass increases. Also, thanks to it, arginine is credited with other functions, such as improving erectile function, improving blood supply and muscle nutrition, and lowering blood pressure. However, it is worth understanding that this is the result of an increase in the concentration of nitric oxide in the blood, and not arginine itself.

Action of arginine

Many have already become convinced of the high effectiveness of such a supplement as arginine. It has a number of advantages:

• Increased performance, endurance and productivity during training due to the tonic properties of the supplement.
• Dulling the feeling of hunger and increased digestibility of food, due to which you can achieve the best results during drying.
• Accelerated muscle growth, which will please bodybuilders who want to gain muscle mass and increase the volume of their muscles.
• Strengthening the immune system.
• Synthesis of growth hormone.
• Improving the functioning of the cardiovascular and nervous system. The product improves blood flow in the arteries and is a preventative against cardiovascular diseases. And in combination with lysine, the product can improve the functioning of the nervous system, relieve stress and help the body get rid of increased anxiety.
• Enhanced production of hormones that affect a person’s psychophysical state, which helps him achieve record results in competitions or during training in the gym.

Types of arginine

In our store, arginine is sold in four types, and you can choose the most convenient and most effective for yourself.

• Arginine in powder form
• Arginine tablets
• Arginine in capsule form
• Liquid form of arginine

Who is arginine suitable for?

Statistics show that arginine is one of the most popular supplements, both among athletes, bodybuilders and athletes, as well as among ordinary people maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle.

Also, there are situations in which taking arginine in the form of a dietary supplement is simply necessary:

• depression, nervous disorders
• cardiovascular diseases
• viral hepatitis
• weak immunity
• cholelithiasis
• liver diseases
• reproductive problems
• diabetes
• arthrosis
• arthritis
• obesity

Contraindications

Contraindications to taking arginine:

• pregnancy and lactation;
• children under 3 years old;
• teenagers during puberty;
• hypotension;
• asthma;
• individual intolerance to the components in the composition;
• severe diseases of the liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract;
• mental disorders.

Supplements should be prescribed with caution for endocrine pathologies, electrolyte metabolism disorders, and renal failure.

Attention! Before taking dietary supplements, you need to consult a specialist.

Dosage and rules of administration

According to the instructions, you should start using arginine in small doses, this reduces the risk of side effects. You need to increase the rate gradually. The daily dose of arginine is 6.1 g. Bodybuilders can take up to 9 g. The dosage of arginine in children depends on age:

• 3-12 years – 3-10 mg 2 times a day;
• over 12 years old – 12-15 mg.

When and how best to take arginine depends on the purpose of use. To activate growth hormone, children need to drink the supplement before bedtime, since this is when the child grows. To achieve better results in sports, you should take dietary supplements 30-60 minutes before training. For other purposes, arginine can be taken at night, as well as 1 hour before or after meals, up to 2-3 times a day.

Attention! Taking arginine should not be combined with eating fatty foods.

The amino acid is also not recommended to be taken for a long time. The course of taking arginine is 30 days. You can repeat it after 2 weeks.

Reception depending on the form of release

Arginine in capsules and tablets should be taken 2-3 times a day, 1-2 pieces. The liquid form should be diluted with water and taken 30 minutes before a meal or workout. The powder must be mixed with liquid (200 ml). The daily dose is 3 g, it should be divided into 2 or 3 doses.

What foods contain arginine?

Sufficient amounts of arginine can be obtained from food. Its highest concentration is found in nuts, pumpkin seeds, as well as meat and fish. It is found in peas, cottage cheese, eggs. It is worth noting that after heat treatment the level of amino acids in food decreases. In order for arginine to enter the body in sufficient quantities, such foods must be consumed in large quantities. For example, you need to consume six chicken eggs a day or 350 grams of pork. It is not always possible to follow such a meal plan. The menu, of course, needs to be varied, and for athletes who adhere to sports nutrition, it is advisable to include special supplements in the diet in the form of pure arginine, or in combination with other amino acids.

Side effects

Side effects after taking arginine occur when the dose is exceeded, as well as individual intolerance. They are accompanied by the following symptoms:

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
• dizziness, headache;
• tinnitus;
• weakness;
• decreased blood pressure (BP);
• fever;
• numbness of the limbs;
• increased excitability.

If you take the amino acid for a long time, this will lead to a decrease in immunity and activation of herpes infection.

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Reviews about the application

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L-arginine

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Based on the reviews, the following advantages were identified:

• amino acid-based preparations provide a pumping effect after training;
• help build muscles;
• tone and speed up recovery after physical activity;
• charge with energy.

Buyers consider the only drawback to be the bitter aftertaste of the powder.

The use of aminocarboxylic acid in bodybuilding

Bodybuilders value AMK as a nitrogen donor. Once in the body, the compound is exposed to a group of enzymes called NO synthase (NOS). In the endothelium (inner layer) of blood vessels, these enzymes convert arginine into nitric oxide, which passes to neighboring smooth muscle cells that regulate the lumen of the arteries and relaxes them. As a result, blood vessels dilate, blood pressure drops, and the supply of oxygen and nutrients to tissues increases. This effect is very important for high-quality muscle nutrition.

In addition, if a bodybuilder, after taking L-arginine, begins to perform pumping exercises (that is, repeating the same type of movements, making minimal pauses), blood will rush sharply to the muscles and cause them to swell. Muscles pumped with blood are about 10% larger than normal. At the same time, the athlete feels a specific feeling of fullness; It’s even difficult for him to bend his arm, his biceps seem so “iron”. At this volume, blood is retained in the muscle tissue for a short time, but this time is enough to take a few successful photographs or perform in a competition. And although the answer to the main question of the article has been given, do not rush to turn the page, because aminocarboxylic acid still has a number of invaluable advantages. Thus, L arginine has a beneficial effect on:

• growth of lean muscle mass;

• neutralization of lactic acid, which provokes the appearance of sore throat after heavy physical exertion;

• increased performance;

• accelerating recovery after grueling workouts in the gym.

Alcohol compatibility

The amino acid should not be taken at the same time as alcohol, as ethanol destroys this substance. However, arginine is a hepatoprotector and protects the liver from the negative effects of alcoholic beverages. It can be taken during alcohol intoxication to quickly cleanse the organs of ethanol breakdown products.

Under conditions of intense physical and emotional stress, the body experiences a deficiency of L-arginine. To avoid deficiency, you can take a supplement containing this amino acid. But it is better to consult a doctor first, since only he can accurately develop a dosage regimen for the drug.

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special instructions

L-Arginine - what is it?

Wikipedia states that L-Arginine is an isomer of the aliphatic alpha amino acid arginine. Sports Wiki reports that the substance is used in sports nutrition as a nitrogen donor.

The amino acid is indispensable for children, since the child’s body is not capable of producing it, but for adults it is considered conditionally indispensable: as a rule, in weakened people and elderly people it is produced in very small quantities or not produced at all.

The benefits and harms of arginine

Amino acids are chemical components of simple protein molecules (proteins) and the starting material for the biosynthesis of vitamins, hormones, mediators, alkaloids, etc.

L-Arginine takes part in the formation of proteins and is considered the most powerful amino acid in immunology and cardiology.

Speaking about the dangers and benefits of arginine, it should be noted that sufficient intake of this amino acid into the body is especially important for men. Seminal fluid consists of approximately 80% of this protein building material, so arginine deficiency often leads to infertility.

Arginine stimulates sperm production, which is used by doctors in male infertility treatment programs. Men with reduced sperm activity are often recommended to take dietary supplements with zinc supplements.

Having the ability to relax the smooth muscles of the walls of blood vessels and increase their elasticity, the amino acid helps maintain their normal patency and ensures proper blood microcirculation.

In turn, the state of the cardiovascular system is closely related to reproductive function in men, where circulatory disorders are fraught with various kinds of sexual disorders.

For women, the substance is interesting primarily because, if you follow the rules of a healthy diet, it allows you to fight the problem of excess weight.

As in men, in women the product helps improve the health of the genital organs, prevents the appearance of benign and malignant neoplasms, cleanses blood vessels, reduces symptoms of depression , increases performance and overall endurance of the body.

Arginine is often called the “amino acid of youth.” This is due to the fact that it takes part in the production of many hormones. An organism deficient in arginine ages much faster.

The amino acid nourishes all tissues and organs of the human body, and also improves its blood supply and, in particular, the blood supply to the hair follicles. For this reason, cosmetologists often include it in hair health products.

A substance can cause harm to the body only in ultra-high doses and if there are contraindications to its use.

It should be remembered that a substance such as arginine works especially effectively when you give up psychostimulant drugs and alcohol, as well as with a normally organized sleep and rest schedule.

Arginine in food

What foods contain amino acids? Primarily in seeds and nuts. In 100 grams of pumpkin seeds, for example, its content is 5.353 grams with a daily requirement of 6.1 grams.

Peanuts, sesame seeds, almonds, pine nuts and walnuts are also rich in them. From 600 to 1400 mg of the substance is found in various types of meat (most of all in pork, chicken and chicken fillet), liver, low-fat cottage cheese, and chicken eggs.

Sources of amino acids include peas, chocolate, corn, raisins, oatmeal, gelatin, snails, anchovies, tuna, shrimp, crab, raw salmon fillet, white fish, and flounder.