L-arginine: side effects and benefits

Information on L-Arginine

L-arginine is a chemical compound and it fits into the groupof alpha amino acids. All amino acids can be characterized by a carboxyl, anamine and some component attached to the other components of the molecule. Thealpha in the name comes from the fact that all these different amino acids areattached to the first carbon atom in the molecular chain. According to theIUPAC nomenclature, its name is diaminomethylidene-amino pentanoic acid.L-arginine has an “L” in its name because it is chiral which means that theoption of coinciding with its own mirror image is not possible. L-Arginine isamong the most naturally occurring amino acids and it is an importantingredient in the process of building different types of proteins in the humanbody. It is vital for numerous different functions in the human body,especially for the early growth of children.

Foods High in L-Arginine

Human body can produce L-Arginine on its own, but those whosuffer from diseases, imbalanced diet or malnutrition need to consume as muchL-arginine rich food items as possible. L-Arginine can be found in milk, chickpeas, cottage cheese, soybeans, yogurt, different types of nuts, ricotta,granola, whey protein drinks, wheat flour, sea foods, wheat germ, beef, oatmealand pork.

Benefits of L-Arginine

L-arginine provides the human body with numerous differenttypes of health benefits as it aids various types of processes at the cellularlevel. It is very efficient in gettingrid of ammonia and aiding in the production of agmatine, urea, ornithine and nitricoxide. It can also be of great help whenit comes to the stimulation of the human growth hormone in the pituitary gland.L-Arginine is very efficient in solving numerous different reproductiveproblems and dealing with various different sorts of sexual disorders. It curesthe infertility, increases the sperm count and improves the blood circulationinside the reproductive organs. L-Arginine can be of great help when it comesto healing damaged tissues, bone injuries and all different symptoms ofarthritis as well. L-Arginine is very efficient in boosting the immune system,enhancing the production of T-lymphocytes, reducing the blood pressure,increasing the muscle mass, reducing the fat deposits and decreasing the riskof various different heart diseases.

Side Effects of L-Arginine

L-arginine may be associated with a compromised pumpingability of the heart which may even be fatal in some cases. Those who sufferfrom asthma should avoid using L-Arginine supplements.