Arginine is a conditionally nonessential amino acid, meaning most of the time it can be manufactured by the human body, and does not need to be obtained directly through the diet. The biosynthetic pathway however does not produce sufficient arginine, and some must still be consumed through diet. Individuals who have poor nutrition or certain physical conditions may be advised to increase their intake of foods containing arginine. Arginine is found in a wide variety of foods, including:*Animal sources : dairy products (e.g., cottage cheese, ricotta, milk, yogurt, whey protein drinks), beef, pork (e.g., bacon, ham), gelatin , poultry (e.g. chicken and turkey light meat), wild game (e.g. pheasant, quail), seafood (e.g., halibut, lobster, salmon, shrimp, snails, tuna)*Plant sources : wheat germ and flour, buckwheat, granola, oatmeal, peanuts, nuts (coconut, pecans, cashews, walnuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, pinenuts), seeds (pumpkin, sesame, sunflower), chick peas, cooked soybeans, Phalaris canariensis (canaryseed or ALPISTE)==Special Precautions of Arginine==*A known side effect of #redirect [[L-arginine is that it undermines the effect of lysine in suppression of viral infection. Therefore, for a person infected with viruses (eg. herpes virus), it is recommended to reduce L-arginine supplement dosage or not to eat foods high in L-arginine. Pregnant and lactating women are advised to be cautious with their arginine intake and dosage. Other side effects of l-arginine (when taken in high dosage and for long term) are thickening and coarsening of skin.*According to some human studies , arginine-HCL consumed at high doses (> 9 g/d) has been associated with side effects such as nausea, gastrointestinal discomfort, and diarrhea.==The benefits of Arginine are==Arginine is used to treat conditions that improve with increased blood flow, such as chest pains, erectile dysfunction, clogged arteries, vascular disease and headaches.*Helps promote a healthy heart and enhances your cardiovascular system by relaxing your blood vessels to ensure optimal blood flow. It also helps maintain blood pressure levels in the normal range.*Helps support your immune system.*Helps enhance men’s sexual health. L-arginine helps increase blood flow to the penis, helps boost sperm count and maintains a healthy volume of semen.*Helps keep your skin healthy. L-arginine is a component of collagen, the protein which gives your skin its elasticity and structure, and the appearance of smoothness and youth.*Helps promote healthy kidney function. Studies show that L-arginine helps enhance renal function.*Helps boost your exercise tolerance. L-arginine may help reduce the accumulation of ammonia and plasma lactate, which are byproducts of physical exercise.{{headers}}[[Category:Treatments]][[Category:X]]