Necessary for the production of protein, L-arginine also helps rid the body of ammonia (a waste product) and stimulates the release of insulin. In addition, L-arginine is used to make nitric oxide (a compound that relaxes the blood vessels).
Although some studies suggest that L-arginine may benefit certain health conditions, other research shows that L-arginine may have harmful effects on some individuals.
Health Benefits of L-Arginine:
Studies indicate that L-arginine may help with the following conditions:
1) Angina
Several small studies show that increasing intake of foods high in L-arginine may help ease symptoms, increase exercise tolerance, and improve blood vessel function in people with angina. Learn about other natural approaches to angina treatment.
2) Erectile Dysfunction
There's some evidence that L-arginine may benefit men with erectile dysfunction. In a 1999 study published in the journal BJU International, for instance, 50 men with erectile dysfunction took either 5 grams of L-arginine per day or a placebo. After six weeks, more men in the L-arginine group showed improvement compared to those taking the placebo.
Like the drug sildenafil citrate (Viagra), L-arginine is thought to enhance the action of nitric oxide and—in turn—relax the muscles surrounding blood vessels supplying the penis.
As a result, blood vessels in the penis dilate, increasing blood flow, which may help maintain an erection. The difference in how they work is that Viagra blocks an enzyme called PDE5, which destroys nitric oxide, and L-arginine is used to make nitric oxide. Unlike Viagra, L-arginine is taken on a daily basis for erectile dysfunction. Also read Natural Remedies for Erectile Dysfunction.
3) Congestive Heart Failure
L-arginine may improve cardiac performance in people with congestive heart failure, according to a 2000 study published in Clinical Cardiology. However, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) caution that L-arginine should not be used in place of standard treatments prescribed by a healthcare provider.
Other Common Uses for L-Arginine
Proponents claim that L-arginine can also benefit:
colds, dementia, hair, high blood pressure, intermittent claudication, interstitial cystitis,
male infertility, migraines, preeclampsia, sexual dysfunction in women
Some people also use L-arginine to boost the immune system, improve athletic performance, and shorten recovery time after surgery. L-arginine is also used for bodybuilding.
Studies show that L-arginine may be effective for managing inflammation of the bladder, relieving leg cramping and weakness caused by blocked arteries (a condition known as intermittent claudication), and improving kidney function in kidney transplant patients taking cyclosporine. What's more, taking L-arginine in combination with ribonucleic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid) may reduce recovery time, protect against infection, and promote wound healing after surgery.
According to the NIH, there's not yet enough evidence to rate the effectiveness of L-arginine in treatment of migraines, dementia, high blood pressure, male infertility, and the common cold. It's also unknown whether L-arginine can boost the immune system and/or improve athletic performance.
Additionally, L-arginine appears ineffective for prevention of heart attack and treatment of preeclampsia.
SEE ALSO: Look Up Remedies by Health Condition | The 15 Most Popular Weight Loss Supplements | 8 Ways to Fight Cold Sores Naturally | Yoga, Garlic, and 15 Other Ways to Lower Blood Pressure
Caveats
Although L-arginine may be safe when taken in the short term, it can cause a number of side effects (including indigestion, nausea, headache, bloating, diarrhea, gout, blood abnormalities, allergies, airway inflammation, worsening of asthma, and low blood pressure).
Higher doses of L-arginine can increase stomach acid, so it may also worsen heartburn, ulcers, or digestive upset caused by medications.
Due to safety concerns, L-arginine should be avoided by diabetes patients and people who have suffered a heart attack. In addition, L-arginine may aggravate symptoms in people with herpes.
As with other supplements, L-arginine hasn't been tested for safety in pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and those with medical conditions or who are taking medications. You can find out more about how to use supplements safely here.
Using L-Arginine For Health
In most cases, the body maintains an adequate supply of L-arginine on its own. However, severe burns, infections, and injuries can deplete the body's supply of arginine. Under these conditions, it is necessary to ensure proper intake to meet the increased demands.
If you're considering the use of L-arginine in treatment or prevention of a specific health condition, make sure to consult your doctor before taking any supplements.
SEE ALSO: Benefits of Alpha-Ketoglutarate | Pycnogenol: Benefits and Uses | Lysine for Cold Sores | Look Up Supplements A-Z
Sources
Blum A, Porat R, Rosenschein U, Keren G, Roth A, Laniado S, Miller H. "Clinical and inflammatory effects of dietary L-arginine in patients with intractable angina pectoris." Am J Cardiol. 1999 May 15;83(10):1488-90, A8.
Bocchi EA, Vilella de Moraes AV, Esteves-Filho A, Bacal F, Auler JO, Carmona MJ, Bellotti G, Ramires AF. "L-arginine reduces heart rate and improves hemodynamics in severe congestive heart failure." Clin Cardiol. 2000 Mar;23(3):205-10.
Chen J, Wollman Y, Chernichovsky T, Iaina A, Sofer M, Matzkin H. "Effect of oral administration of high-dose nitric oxide donor L-arginine in men with organic erectile dysfunction: results of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study." BJU Int. 1999 Feb;83(3):269-73.
Maxwell AJ, Zapien MP, Pearce GL, MacCallum G, Stone PH. "Randomized trial of a medical food for the dietary management of chronic, stable angina." J Am Coll Cardiol. 2002 Jan 2;39(1):37-45.
National Institutes of Health. "L-arginine: MedlinePlus Supplements". November 2010.
Schulman SP et al. "L-arginine therapy in acute myocardial infarction: the Vascular Interaction With Age in Myocardial Infarction (VINTAGE MI) randomized clinical trial". JAMA. 295.1 (2006):58-64.
More than 9 in 10 Americans are deficient in vitamin E, putting them at higher risk for brain damage
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/049598_vitamin_E_DHA_brain_health.html#ixzz3mfThNzqY
Supplements and nutraceuticals
"Super tea" has 10 times more antioxidants than regular green tea
http://www.naturalnews.com/051323_matcha_green_tea_antioxidants.html
I've been drinking Matcha for 7 years. The focus factor from the L theanine alone is amazing. I prefer imperial/tea ceremony grades. Doo Ri organic 2nd growth is my favorite. Culinary matcha is gross and not tasty, very very bitter. This is an expensive habit folks.. Be forewarned.
Please watch out for hi fluoride content (even organic do your research) and sourced closer to Fukiahima plant. I forget the region but this is Very important. I feel Chinese matcha to be inferior to Japanese too. fYI
As reported by Fox News, the antioxidants in green teas have long been known to dramatically improve heart health and brain function, but now researchers have found that matcha, a powder made from young green tea leaves that are placed in shade two to four weeks before harvesting, contain several times more antioxidants.
"When it's shaded for that long, you up the chlorophyll, you up the antioxidant level, and it just completely changes the profile of the plant," Dr. Mariza Snyder, author of The Matcha Miracle, told Fox News. "After they harvest, they steam, dry, then grind it with a stone grinder. You're consuming the entirety of the leaf."
Snyder estimated that the antioxidant content of matcha is several times that of regular green tea. Moreover, chlorophyll, which she described as blood for the plant, is detoxifying. The tea has a taste that is very similar to that of regular green tea.
"It has a really wonderful mouth-feel... a very vegetable type of taste, and it's very savory," Snyder said.
Several health benefits
As further reported by Fox News:
Matcha originates from Japan, where only royalty, Buddhist monks, and the samurai drank it. Samurai would drink it before battle to get hours of sustained energy— it can give four to six hours without a crash, like coffee can.
The level of antioxidants in matcha are 14 times the level contained in wild blueberries and are especially beneficial due to EGCG, an enzyme that may also boost heart health, decrease bad cholesterol levels, stave off some cancers and type 2 diabetes, and improve concentration. Also, Matcha contains L-Theanine, an amino acid that may act to improve mental alertness. And one cup a day is all a person needs, Snyder said.
She said the most traditional way to make matcha is to stir it with hot water, being careful not to boil it, in order to preserve its antioxidant effects.
"You put in three ounces of water... then you just whisk in this 'M' and 'W' motion, like a zig-zag back and forth," Jessica Lloyd, co-founder and COO of Panatea, a matcha company based in the U.S., told Fox News. "It becomes this frothy, almost espresso shot amount of liquid."
Matcha also comes in different grades. The ceremonial grade is delicate and is intended to be whisked and consumed as a shot with milk, either hot or cold. Culinary-grade matcha, however, is bolder and can be mixed in with baked foods and smoothies.
Make it a latte
"We try to incorporate matcha into a lot of different food and beverage options here," Michelle Gardner, owner of Chalait cafe in New York City, told the news network. "We want to show off the versatility." Offerings at her cafe include matcha Greek yogurt, matcha-infused salad dressings and a matcha latte.
Cost-wise, matcha is a bit more expensive than regular green tea bags, but that's only because making the powder is more labor intensive; one tin takes about an hour to make.
Matcha experts say you should pick the most vibrantly colored tea, which indicates a higher level of chlorophyll, for a better taste and quality.
Some, like Lloyd, have said drinking matcha has improved their overall health.
"Our skin was better, our focus was more in tuned, our energy levels were higher and more sustained," she said of her experience with co-founder and husband, David Mandelbaum. "We realized that this was a superfood that really made us feel better."
Carrageenan and your gut microflora
http://www.naturalnews.com/050120_carrageenan_gut_flora_immune_system.html
Super human strength created by superfoods and herbs
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/036654_superfoods_herbs_strength.html#ixzz3mfW5kN00
Cod Liver Oil: The Number One Superfood
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Dandelion gets scientific acceptance as an antioxidant and "novel" cancer therapy
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Review: The Best Tasting Green Superfood Powder Products
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The Health Ranger Answers Common Questions About Nutritional Supplements (transcript)
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/024076_health_supplement_food.html#ixzz3mfGonMA2
Interview with Alan Friedman from Good Cause Wellness about Antioxidants, Agave Nectar and Chia Seeds Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/022916_chia_seeds_Good_Cause_Wellness.html#ixzz3mfGNN1Bo
Astaxanthin, the "King of the carotenoids." Astaxanthin is one of humanity's most powerful fat-soluble antioxidants. It's derived from a unique algae that turns red as it starts synthesizing truly amazing phytochemicals that have extraordinary abilities to help support good health.*
So many people experience reliable benefits from this supplement that we put together a really special bundle just for Natural News readers, valid from today through Sunday night:
The new booklet, Astaxanthin: Seafood's Ultimate Supernutrient, by William Sears, M.D., is included at no charge when you purchase any of the astaxanthin products offered at this link:
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Astaxanthin: The Little-Known Miracle Nutrient for Inflammation, Anti-Aging, Athletic Endurance and More
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/023177_astaxanthin_antioxidants.html#ixzz3mfMAFPx4
Astragalus "super herb" protects, supports immune system function
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/027223_ASTRAGALUS_immune_system.html#ixzz3mfFw2Eee
Chicory is especially great for your liver and digestive tract
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/044013_chicory_root_healthy_digestion_constipation_remedies.html#ixzz3mfHtre1U
From Headache to Jaundice: Sky-Blue Chicory Cures Liver Ailments
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Choline
This “Forbidden” Food Super-Charges Your Brain
http://greenvalleynaturalsolutions.com/BVP/bvp-l-2-MOB.php?SC=NATBVP09171559A
The mineral selenium proves itself as powerful anti-cancer medicine
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/016446_selenium_nutrition.html#ixzz3mfJIxtab
Boku unveils Matcha Green Tea with extraordinary nutritional profile; 500% more antioxidants than goji berries
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/035173_Boku_green_tea_antioxidants.html#ixzz3mfIafJwY
Top Superfood Formulator Living Fuel Earns NaturalNews Recommendation for "Living Fuel Rx" Product Line
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/023448_Living_Fuel_superfoods.html#ixzz3mfEWXSMA
B2) Clean Water
Your body is composed of about 75% water and it’s common to mistake the hunger urge for the thirst urge. It amazes me how people don’t drink enough water in general and how many people drink tap water without any filtration. You must filter your water. Tap water is not considered safe and is harmful to your health. Chlorine and fluoride are the two biggest harmful additives in tap water. Research of city water systems have repeatedly shown that pharmaceuticals are present in tap water as well. But don’t think this is just because of people flushing pills down their toilets! Americans ingest a lot of pharmaceutical drugs. The body flushes these out through the urine and feces. These waste products go into the water system and therefore contaminate it. Municipal water treatment facilities do not have any type of filtration for pharmaceutical drugs.
_______ Americans make up less than 5% of the world’s population, but take 75% of the world’s prescription drugs. _______
The Associated Press (AP) estimates that hospitals and long-term medical care institutions across the United States dump about 250 million pounds of pharmacologically active drugs directly into public sewer systems each year.100 The scale of the problem is so large that the EPA has classified pharmaceutical products as "major pollutants of concern."101 According to a report from CNN in September of 2008, forty-six million people across the United States were found to have trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in their water. The scary part is that the overwhelming majority of communities in the United States have yet to test their water for pharmaceuticals. For example, Chicago,
_______ Remnants of everything in your medicine cabinet can now be found in the water supply.
_______ Illinois amounts medication and a nicotine derivative in their city water. Many cities have also found carbamazepine, an anti-convulsant . Officials in Colorado Springs, Colorado, say found measurable of a cholesterol they have detected five pharmaceuticals, including a tranquilizer and a hormone in their water supply. While the comprehensive risks are still unclear, researchers are finding evidence that even extremely diluted concentrations of pharmaceutical residues can harm fish, frogs, and other aquatic species in the wild and impair the workings of human cells. Remnants of everything in your medicine cabinet can now be found in the water supply.102
According to the EPA, chlorine is added to the city water supplies in order to protect public drinking water from disease-causing organisms and pathogens. While chlorine does protect us from typhoid, cholera, dysentery, and giardiasis, certain microbial pathogens such as Cryptosporidium, are highly resistant to chlorine. Likewise, chlorine kills good bacteria in the digestive tract and reacts with other naturally occurring materials to form carcinogenic byproducts, such as trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids.103
“Fluoride causes more human cancer deaths, and causes it faster than any other chemical.”
- Dean Burke, M.D. of the US National Cancer Institute
Fluoride is commonly added to our water supply and unfortunately has nothing to do with treating the water. It’s added essentially as a pharmaceutical drug. While fluoride is a naturally occurring element (calcium fluoride), the fluoride that is added to our water supply is a byproduct of the fertilizer industry. Sodium silicofluroide , hydrofluorosilicic acid, or sodium fluoride, are added to your local city water supply and are classified as hazardous chemicals. Entire countries like Israel and many cities in the United States have stopped adding fluoride to their water supply (Albuquerque, New Mexico; Portland, Oregon; Wichita, Kansas; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Santa Barbara, California to name a few).
_______ The effects of fluoride toxicity are not immediate and can take 20 years or more to become evident. _______
The idea of adding fluoride to our water system was based on a flawed study done in 1940. It was shown that fluoride, when applied topically to the teeth, was a benefit to people. However, there is a big difference between topically applying fluoride to the teeth and ingesting it systematically over time. Research shows that fluoride is toxic and is a reactive element that damages body tissues, particularly the nervous system, after continuous exposure. Fluoride induces changes in cerebral morphology and biochemistry, which affect the neurological development of individuals as well as their cognitive processes, such as learning and memory. The effects of fluoride toxicity are not immediate and can take 20 years or more to become evident.104
In November of 2006, the American Dental Association (ADA) sent out an email to alert its members of their recommendation to parents to not use fluoridated tap water to make infant formula.105 Like iodine, chlorine and fluoride are halogens. It has been shown that increased exposure to chlorine and fluoride displace the healthy iodine from the body.
If you use city water, the town or city you live in is required by law to publish water reports on what is in the water (both the identity of the contaminants and their amounts). Simply do an online search for your community with the words “water report” with it to find the report. However, I want you to understand that they do not test everything in the water supply. I always recommend individuals test their own water (especially when the person is not convinced that they need to filter their water). Professional water analysis testing companies are able to test for heavy metals, microorganisms, water hardness, iron levels, sediment, radon, and even pesticides in the water.
While municipal water systems are not doing a good job filtering the water, I have to say that water from private wells isn’t much better. Due to environmental pollutants, it’s estimated that only 1% of the world’s water is truly drinkable.106 The concern I have with well water has to do with run-off from residential lawns and farms. The chemicals that are sprayed on the land such as pesticides, insecticides, and fungicides make their way into your well and you consume the tainted water.
Take Away Message
Regardless of whether you are using city water or well water, it is important to filter your water. Not All Water Filters are Created Equal
The popular Brita® water filter that I used in college has been shown to be one of the worst-performing water filters. In tests conducted by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, via ICP-MS instrumentation with parts per billion sensitivity using methodologies based on EPA 200.8, using nitric acid digestion, sample normalization, 4-point external standards calibration and in-run calibration checks. The Natural News Forensic Food Lab is pending ISO 17025 certification.
The Brita® only removed 14% of lead and about 12% of arsenic. At the same time, it actually increased the amount of aluminum in the water by almost 34%. Here are the actual results from the testing107:
Brita® Water Filter: Aluminum: increase of 33.9% Copper reduction: 8.6%
Arsenic reduction: 12.1% Strontium reduction: 3.6%
Cadmium reduction: 6.6% Cesium reduction: 9.5%
Mercury reduction: 74.6% Lead reduction: 14.1%
Uranium reduction: 10.0%
ZeroWater® Filter: Aluminum reduction: 100% Copper reduction: 99.1%
Arsenic reduction: 99.3% Strontium reduction: 100% Cadmium reduction: 99.2%
Cesium reduction: 100% Mercury reduction: 99.4% Lead reduction: 99.2%
Uranium reduction: 99.1%
You can see a big difference between Brita® and ZeroWater® gravity filters. Generally speaking for those that live in a house I recommend investing in a point of service unit that is hooked up directly to your sink at minimum.
My preference is to consider a whole house water filtration system that filters not only chlorine, but also fluoride (if present in your water), along with a point of service unit at your kitchen sink. Most water used in your house is NOT for drinking! It’s used for showering, bathing, washing dishes (dishwasher), and washing clothes.
Every minute you spend in the shower is equivalent to drinking one 8 ounce glass of tap water in regards to the amount of chlorine you are absorbing through your skin. This means that a 10 minute shower is equal to drinking 10 glasses of tap water if it’s not filtered. And that doesn’t even include the stream of chemicals you’re breathing into your lungs and directly into your bloodstream! Any filtration is good, but it’s important to note that only whole house water filtration systems remove the fluoride from your water.
_______ According to the EPA, the air inside your home is 2 to 5 times more toxic
than the air outside. _______
Dishwashers are also a concern because the chlorine and fluoride in tap water react with the chemicals in traditional dishwashing detergent. These chemicals convert into trihalomethane gas at a rate of one liter per minute and can permeate your home. It’s no surprise that the EPA has found the air in an average home is 2-5 times more toxic than the outdoor air and sometimes even 100 times more!108 Beyond filtration and purity of water, there are 3 essential aspects to water you must understand.
Three Essentials of Water
ORP (Anti-oxidation)
ORP stands for “oxidative reduction potential” and a negative ORP number shows that the element being analyzed is an anti-oxidant. A positive ORP number means that it causes oxidation. Oxidation is bad and damages organs, cells, and tissues. For example, oxidation occurs when a nail rusts or when an apple turns brown once it has been cut open.
pH (Alkalization)
Alkalinity and acidity refers to the pH of a substance (such as water). An acidic body allows for viruses, bacteria, inflammation, and other harmful things to thrive! An alkaline body does not allow for viruses and bacteria to thrive and drives down inflammation!
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