L-Arginine has been a favorite of bodybuilders for many years, but is also being taken by many for its general health benefits and the fact that it is one of the best supplements to boost sex drive naturally and is nicknamed "natures Viagra"

Lets look at its health benefits in more detail

L-Arginine is what is called a semi-essential amino acid.

Our bodies cannot make it naturally, and we have to get it from our diets. L-Arginine is found in founds such as oily fish, nuts, seeds, raisins and chocolate.

You can also buy it in tablet form, either alone or in combination with other proteins.

What Does L-Arginine Do?

Lets look at its general affect on the body first and how it can boost sex drive as well

Many studies now prove that L-Arginine is useful in basic bodily functions, such as the secretion of hormones, boosting the immune system, and is a great anti-oxidant (helping the body remove free radicals and toxins) from the body.

L-Arginine is partially responsible for the production of nitric oxide in our body, which is a ‘vasodilator’ (helps veins expand or dilate).

L- Arginine & the Blood

Understanding this quality, doctors often use L-Arginine for cardiovascular ailments (high blood pressure, angina, and so on). Also, the same principle of vasodilation to help treat erectile dysfunction and even infertility as you need nitric oxide to create an erection

Other studies indicate that L-Arginine taken as a dietary supplement can aid in lowering the levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol, regulating our normal salt levels, and even assisting in the metabolism of fats.

A Bodybuilder’s Discovery?

Physical culturists and body builders are very fond of L-Arginine for their own reasons.

• It aids in the synthesis of proteins, and thus body mass

• As it’s a vasodilator it will aid in the rapid growth of muscle

• Its role in nitrogen retention also aids muscle growth

• Its immune system boosting keeps the bodybuilder more healthy

Bodybuilders regularly add large amounts of L-Arginine in their dietary supplementation.

Is it Possible to Get Plentiful L-Arginine Naturally?

The answer is yes. If you eat plenty of raw seeds and nuts (such as pistachio, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds (or their products, such as tahini), organic and natural raisins, you can add grams of usable L-Arginine to your diet.

The old Arabic sexual manual,

The Perfumed Garden, was referring to foods with high L- Arginine thousands of years ago to increase sexual potential potency.

The sages that wrote that work did not have the luxury or aid of modern chemistry, but nevertheless they had a great power of observation.

Certain foods produced certain effects and getting more Nitric oxide from L-Arginine has been medically proven to help make sex drive

The fact is Nitric oxide insufficiency can stop the penis from becoming erect.

Nitric oxide is critical to the erection process as impulses from the brain and nerves cause the release of nitric oxide.

This causes the muscles of the penis to relax and blood flows into the spongy tissue of the penis to create an erection.

Nitric Oxide declines with age and many men who are getting older do not need to take Ciallis, Viagra or other prescription drugs they simply need to increase their production of nitric oxide and get an increase of nitric oxide and L- Arginine does this.

A study published in 1994 showed an 80 percent improvement in the erectile function of men given 2.8 grams of argentine a day after just two weeks.

Dosages of up to 3 grams are taken by many people now to aid with all the above and can be taken without prescription.

All men getting older may like to consider this supplement for their all round health and sexual well being.