- What is Arginine for?
- List of foods rich in Arginine
- Relationship between arginine consumption and herpes
- Arginine Supplement
Arginine is a non-essential amino acid, that is, it is not essential in normal situations, but it can be in some specific situations, as it is involved in several metabolic processes. Like other amino acids, it is present in protein-rich foods, such as ham, for example.
In addition, it is also common to find arginine in the form of dietary supplements, which can be used to relieve physical and mental tiredness and can be found in pharmacies, health food stores or online.
What is Arginine for?
The main functions of this amino acid in the body are:
- Help to heal wounds, since it is one of the constituents of collagen; Improve the body's defenses, stimulating the immune system; Detoxify the body; Acts in the metabolic process for the formation of various hormones, favoring the growth of muscle in children and adolescents; Help to relax blood vessels, improving blood circulation and reducing blood pressure.
In addition, it can also be used to increase muscle mass, since it is a substrate for the formation of creatinine. It also helps to repair the bowel after trauma or resection. Discover more functions of arginine.
List of foods rich in Arginine
The main foods rich in arginine are:
| Foods rich in arginine | Amount of Arginine in 100 g |
| Cheese | 1.14 g |
| Ham | 1.20 g |
| Salami | 1.96 g |
| Whole wheat bread | 0.3 g |
| Pass grape | 0.3 g |
| Cashew nut | 2.2 g |
| Brazil nut | 2.0 g |
| Nuts | 4.0 g |
| Hazelnut | 2.0 g |
| Black bean | 1.28 g |
| Cocoa | 1.1 g |
| Oats | 0.16 g |
Relationship between arginine consumption and herpes
Despite improving the immune system and helping to heal wounds, some studies have shown that consumption of arginine-rich foods can lead to recurrent herpes attacks or even worsen symptoms, as it favors the replication of the virus in the body. However, further studies are needed to prove this relationship.
For this reason, the recommendation is that people with the virus reduce the consumption of these foods and increase the consumption of foods rich in lysine. Know the source foods of lysine.
Arginine Supplement
Supplementation with this amino acid is widely used by athletes, as arginine can increase blood supply to the muscle, improving performance and increasing muscle mass. However, scientific studies are contradictory, as some demonstrate that this amino acid can increase blood flow during exercise and others do not.
The standard dose usually indicated is 3 to 6 grams of arginine before exercise.
