Arginine Foods and Bodybuilding
Generally, bodybuilders are interested in arginine foods for arginine’s ability to boost growth hormone (GH) levels. Arginine boosts GH levels by blocking the hormone that decreases GH levels, in effect negating the diminuitive effect of growth hormone inhibiting hormone (GHH). The result? An increase in GH and all the wonderful things that come with GH increase (more muscle, greater strength, less fat, etc.).
In addition, in the body, arginine produces nitric oxide (NO). NO has been shown to dilate blood vessels; dilated blood vessels are more open, allowing more blood to flow to the muscles, and, along with blood flow, greater amounts of oxygen, nutrients, muscle building hormones and water. NO, therefore, creates a greater muscle pump, increased strength, more muscle growth and, yes, fat loss!
While consuming arginine in tablet form is generally the most efficient way to delivery NO to the muscles, the use of arginine foods may also provide a GH boost benefit. By consuming arginine foods – that is, foods rich in arginine – one may experience the benefit of dilated blood vessels derived from the arginine ingested by the body, and converted to NO.
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