If you are concerned about your cardiovascular health you could be a great candidate for an L-Arginine supplement. L-Arginine works directly to relax blood vessels, thus lowering blood pressure. L-Arginine is able to relax the blood vessels by aiding in the production of higher levels of nitric oxide. Arginine also helps in the fight against cardiovascular disease through its restorative ability when it comes to the production of nitric oxide. The uses of L Arginine supplements by those suffering from symptoms of cardiovascular disease are commonly able to see a decrease in the discomfort that they feel because of their condition.
L-Arginine is an amino acid that aids in the body's ability to fight off diseases by improving the function of the immune system. The benefits of having an immune system that is working at an optimum level are clear. In the case that you sustain an injury, an optimally functioning immune system accelerates the ability that your body had to heal wounds. Studies have shown that L Arginine can actually play a role in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. L Arginine has the ability to reduce blood pressure by lowering the LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) level in the body.
L-Arginine stimulates the production of growth hormones, so its natural presence in the body is necessary for small children to grow into adults. This natural presence of L Arginine in the body also puts to ease the minds of many individuals who are hesitant when it comes to taking a synthetic or less natural nutritional supplement. L-Arginine supplements are not performing any function in the body that is un-natural, they are simply filling in where natural production is lacking.
L-Arginine provides specific advantages to men who are good candidates for supplementation. The connections between heart health and sexual performance are simple. Poor heart health means that the heart has to work harder to pump blood throughout the body and this includes blood flow to the penis. Poor penile blood flow is the most common cause of erectile dysfunction. L-Arginine is beneficial because it aids in the production of nitric oxide which in turn improves blood flow.
Disadvantages and warnings
The main disadvantages of L-Arginine are related to the individual health of those who are considering L-Arginine as a supplement. L-Arginine does provide heart health benefits. In some cases L-Arginine might make a heart condition worse. L-Arginine has the ability to activate an enzyme in the liver that breaks down other medications. If you have heart disease, chances are that you are on a medication that is aiding in your treatment and to have the effectiveness of that medication compromised could have consequences.
Possibly the worst supplement (or over the counter substance) that you could take if you have a cardiovascular disease or have been on an L-Arginine supplement is the supplement Ephedra. Ephedra contains large amounts of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine which significantly increase blood pressure. Add L-Arginine to this cocktail and for those who have heart disease, these drugs can have the negative side effects of rapid heartbeat, nervousness, headache, insomnia, and even heart attack and subsequent death.
Other potentially dangerous drug and L-Arginine supplement combinations include St. John's wart and some report the drug Coumadin (although recent indications are there is no danger for some formulations). For more specific dangers pertaining to the use of L-Arginine contact your doctor and be sure to review your medical history with him.
The goal in taking any supplement is to find the dosage amount and frequency of taking that supplement that provides your body with the greatest sustained benefit. Naturally, before deciding on the dosage that you will take of any supplement, you should first do some research to determine what the safe range or recommended dose information for that supplement is. You really can have too much of a good thing when it comes to dietary supplements. If for any reason you are unsure of your ability to handle the recommended dosage amounts, consult with your doctor. If you are on any medication or are receiving treatment for cancer or any other disease, you should not begin a dietary supplement routine until you have discussed your options with your doctor.
As you begin setting your L-Arginine dosage goal, you should be taking your own body's needs into consideration. But something that you should also keep in mind with an L-Arginine supplement is how much of the supplement is absorbed by the various organs of the body before it has a chance to reach all off the vessels. In the case of L-Arginine this point is specifically important as there are many body types that will absorb the supplement by more than half as it passes through the intestines and liver. In fact, a large part of the supplement ends up being excreted from the body in the form of waste. This is why when planning dosage amounts, it is important to take absorption into consideration. If you do not take a higher dose of L-Arginine, it may not be enough to do you any good as a very low does will simply be swept out of the body before it has a chance to provide any kind of benefit. Your dosage should be enough for the L-Arginine to eventually enter into the cells where it can be converted into nitric oxide thereby providing the heart health benefits.
Another thing that you should take into consideration is the amount of L-Arginine you consume through your diet. Most individuals will naturally consume between 1-2 grams of L-Arginine in a given day (closer to the 2 gram mark if you eat a lot of red meat). This needs to be taken into consideration as the total amount of L-Arginine consumption is best limited to 9 grams a day, however some recent uses show 20 grams of quality Arginine have produced good results. Many experts take this every day consumption of L-Arginine into consideration when recommending dosage levels for L-Arginine and recommend that no more than 6 grams be supplemented in order for the patient to stay within a healthy range. Experts also suggest that a minimum of 4 grams of L-Arginine be supplemented in order to increase nitric oxide production after the body's natural absorption process. If you consume a lot of red meat, 4 grams a day may be more than enough, if you do not, then 4 grams of L-Arginine might not be enough. These examples provide the reasoning behind why it is best for individuals to set their own dosage goals. No two people are alike and therefore no two digestive systems or chemical make-ups are alike and differing supplement levels make perfect sense.
Another interesting factor to take into consideration as you are planning how to incorporate your supplement into your everyday life is when during the day the supplement will do you the most good. L-Arginine is a supplement that has the most beneficial effect when it is taken right before bed. This is because the body produces fewer nitric oxide cells when it is not moving (a.k.a. while you are sleeping). This is why most people experience heart attacks at night o tint he early morning hours. The L-Arginine can be working to provide your body with the nitric oxide that it needs during the time when it needs it most. For those who wish to supplement their dosage twice a day; half of the grams recommended should be taken at night and the other half can be taken in the morning.
Eric Glenn has sinced written about articles on various topics from Acai Berries, arginine and Vitamin and Mineral Supplement. is the successful owner of multiple global health and wellness businesses and frequently advises clients and customers on health, nutrition and. Eric Glenn's top article generates over 3600 views. to your Favourites.