Why take l-arginine on an empty stomach? Learn about the various uses of l-arginine and how you should take it for maximum benefits.
One of the most important amino acids for your heart health is l-arginine. Made naturally by the body, it serves as a precursor to nitric oxide, a molecular that helps with circulation.
Nitric oxide works by relaxing and dilating blood vessels, which helps improve blood flow and keep arteries healthy. Furthermore, many common foods contain l-arginine, which helps the body receive it through dietary intake.
While the body naturally makes the amino acid, certain factors affect how much it makes. For example, age, genetics, and medical conditions can all negatively affect the amount of l-arginine in the body.
On the bright side, there are various benefits linked to l-arginine. Some of these benefits include healthier blood pressure and cholesterol levels, as well better heart health overall.
The key behind the benefits of l-arginine is the aforementioned nitric oxide, which is essential in maintaining healthy blood vessels.
L-arginine Supplements
When the body doesn’t produce enough l-arginine on its own or you need an extra boost with circulatory and heart health, taking supplements can help. Each supplement comes with its own recommended doses which depend on how much l-arginine per serving they contain.
The numbers usually fall somewhere in between 5 g to 20 g per day. However, it’s important to talk with your doctor to know which amount is best for your health, especially if you’re already taking medications.
Taking too much l-arginine can result in blood pressure levels dropping too much or an electrolyte imbalance. If you want to be cautious, start with smaller doses and gradually increase the amount you intake without going over the recommended dosage.
The amount you take can change depending on whether you plan to use it for high blood pressure or workout performance. For example, while someone with hypertension may take between 5g-10g, someone that wants to enhance their workouts will take 4g-6g.
How to Take L-arginine
The best time to take l-arginine is in the morning and on an empty stomach. Taking it on an empty stomach increases its bioavailability, maximizing the results.
However, you can also take it before eating breakfast or add it to a breakfast smoothie. If you want to enhance your workouts, take the supplement half an hour before exercising.
In addition to helping to increase nitric oxide production, it can help get blood and oxygen more efficiently to your muscles. Though, the best times to take it is on an empty stomach in between meals if you want to experience the most benefits.
Lastly, l-arginine may help some people sleep better, so you can take it before going to bed at night. The amino acid also helps with growth hormone release when taken at night.
How Long to Take L-arginine
The effects vary between people and some may experience benefits soon after. However, it is common for people to see some results about two weeks after taking l-arginine supplements regularly.
By week 2 and 3, l-arginine benefits should be clear when it comes to exercise performance and blood pressure levels. While the wait may seem long, the benefits are definitely worth it – especially when you ask people who have taken L-arginine Plus.
This supplement delivers 5.11g of l-arginine and 1.01 g of l-citrulline alongside other ingredients that enhance the effectiveness of l-arginine. According to a multitude of reviews, L-arginine Plus is effective at promoting people’s heart health – just read the reviews for yourself.
Whether you decide to add supplements to your routine or not, it’s important to maintain a healthy heart. Make sure you eat health, exercise regularly, and if you need an extra boost, take L-arginine Plus and experience the benefits for yourself.