Can the nonessential amino acid arginine improve your sexual health?
Scientists have confirmed that arginine could have a serious impact on total body wellness, including boosting sexual performance and treating erectile dysfunction (ED).
You produce arginine naturally and it is crucial to proper functioning of the pituitary gland – a small gland at the base of your skull that controls hormone production as well as other glands in your body.
Arginine is important to proper cell division and also plays a role in protein synthesis.
Arginine and Sexual Health
Human semen is made up of 80% arginine; it is responsible for blood flow to the penis (enabling erection) and the clitoris (facilitating clitoral response).
Being deficient in this protein building block can cause a ripple effect in sexual performance, resulting in erectile dysfunction (ED) and infertility.
As we age, our natural production of arginine begins to slow. Scientists believe low arginine levels may be connected to many areas of aging, including overall sexual health. 
During a three-month study analyzing the connection between arginine and sexual dysfunction, Seminological Laboratory in Bulgaria found that more than 90% of subjects suffering from ED experienced normal erections by the time the trial concluded.
The results gradually increased the longer each participant took arginine mixed with pycnogenol, an enzyme that stimulates nitrus oxide production which in turn improves blood flow.
A reduction in blood flow is one of the primary markers for erectile dysfunction. Daily consumption of 5mg of arginine caused sexual performance to climb from 2% in the first month to more than 90% by the end of the 12 weeks.
Ultimate in Cardiovascular Wellness
Studies linking arginine to heart health are in the initial stages but results are promising and researchers are intrigued. Arginine’s ability to improve blood flow ultimately benefits all areas of the cardiovascular system.
Benefits of Arginine to Your Heart
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• Increased blood flow throughout the body
• Improved circulation that relieves angina
• Lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels
• Lower risk of preeclampsia in pregnant women
• Prevention of atherosclerosis (thickening of the arterial walls)
• Prevention of plaque buildup around the heart.
Boosting heart health with an amino acid our bodies produce naturally may help heart disease patients avoid overusing nitro-glycerin. Many patients gradually build up a tolerance to nitro-glycerin, making it ineffective in increasing blood flow.
Diabetics, Wounds and Arginine
A French study published in the American Journal of Physiology — Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, showed that arginine stimulates wound healing in diabetics.
80% of lower body amputations for diabetic patients are due to infections that set in as wounds refuse to heal. This simple addition to diabetic wound care could eventually lead to further advancements in treating these cases more effectively.
A combination of arginine and proline stimulated blood vessel growth and reduced inflammation in diabetic rats with wounds that would not heal. Supplying necessary oxygen and nutrients directly to the site is the key to repairing the damaged tissue.
Healthiest Foods High in Arginine
• Crustaceans, mollusks, tuna and tilapia
• Sesame, sunflower and pumpkin seeds
• Spinach, seaweed, watercress, mustard greens and mung beans
• Roasted turkey, chicken and duck
• Gelatin – plain, with sugar or artificially sweetened
You can also find arginine in nuts, chocolate, raisins, eggs and oatmeal. There are many supplements available but the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t monitor those for content and efficacy. Ingredients and dosing often differ depending on the brand, which can make it difficult to pick the most effective product.
Your body prefers safe, natural food that is easy to process. Food is always better than a pharmaceutical choice when the option is available.
Whether you use arginine and sexual health or to give your heart a much-needed boost, this amino acid is safe and effective.
