FACTS

Better sex and a stronger body. That's the promise of L-arginine, the natural form of arginine, an amino acid that for obvious reasons is growing more popular with each passing year.  Recently, some intriguing new studies have suggested that L-arginine may also enhance immune function and may even be an effective treatment for certain kinds of cancers.

Natural healers recommend L-arginine for men who have problems with sexual function, specifically with maintaining an erection long enough to engage in sex. L-arginine works by increasing blood flow to the penis, which results in harder erections. Alas, the effect is short-lived, so in order to use L-arginine to improve sexual performance, you need to take it bout 45 minutes before having sex. Not everyone finds that L-arginine works, but there are enough anecdotal reports by men who have benefited from L-arginine to take it seriously. Several studies have shown that L-arginine can also increase sperm count and may be a useful treatment for male infertility.

L-arginine is best known for its ability to stimulate the production of growth hormone, which is instrumental in shedding fat and building muscle. Body builders use L-arginine to bulk up and lose flab. L-arginine also has important medical used. For instance, it is used in hospitals to promote wound healing in patients after surgery, and for those suffering from severe burns.

According to several studies, L-arginine can boost immune function by stimulating the thymus gland, a timy gland that sits behind the breastbone. The thymus gland is where the important disease-fighting cells called T-lymphocytes (T-cells) are stored until they are called into action to defend the body against infection. Studies show that L-arginine can increase the number of T-cells, enabling the body to protect itself better against unwanted microorganisms. Several Japanese researchers have shown that in test tube studies, L-arginine in combination with human immune cells can also trigger the production of natural killer cells, one of the body's defenses against cancer. Animal studies show that L-arginine can inhibit the growth of many different types of cancerous tumors. Because of studies such as these, researchers are studying the use of L-arginine as a potential cancer treatment.

POSSIBLE BENEFITS

• Enhances sexual performance in men.
• May help to build muscle.
• Boosts immune function.

THE RIGHT AMOUNT

For its sex-enhancing benefits, take 3-6 grams of L-arginine on an empty stomach 45 minutes before having sex.

CAUTIONS

Although there is no solid evidence to confirm it, some researchers believe that arginine may trigger the onset of herpes infection. However, this may be avoided by taking it with 500 mg. of lysine, which can inhibit the herpes virus.

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