Dr. Oz suggests taking L-Arginine...anyone tried it yet?

Jana9559
Jana9559 Posts: 29
edited October 4 in Food and Nutrition
On a recent episode of Dr. Oz, he suggested we take L-Arginine to help build bigger muscles. It's a building block for muscles. Has anyone tried this and is it helpful? I'm thinking of trying it since I notice it's getting harder for me to gain muscle.

Replies

  • MissFit0101
    MissFit0101 Posts: 2,382
    I don't know what that is, so I'll read this post later
  • rudegyal_b
    rudegyal_b Posts: 593 Member
    im takin it for other reasons, but ive only recently started lifting heavy so i guess i cant really tell if its that or the arginine...i dont plan on taking it past this bottle, but im curious to see what others say
  • Ebbykins
    Ebbykins Posts: 420 Member
    L-arginine supplements act as a blood flow support/workout aid, helping open vessels up, providing more pump, helping with pushing nutrients/water to get into the cell, but that's the key, if you don't have the macros/calories to go with, along with the right weight lifting program, then your wasting $$$.
  • coolcatcan
    coolcatcan Posts: 133 Member
    For me, it's in my protein/recovery shake. Glutamine is also great for that and I add an extra scoop to my shake (also helps with cravings). It has helped me greatly to tone up and build muscle and also in my post workout recovery. I drink GNC Wheybolic 60 and Intek Evolution Enhance Muscle Recovery shake. Both have these ingredients in them.

    Hope this helps.

    Good luck!
  • Ebbykins
    Ebbykins Posts: 420 Member
    PS You can get arginine naturally in red meat, peanut butter, eggs, seeds and other nuts.
  • spyork
    spyork Posts: 187
    L-arginine supplements act as a blood flow support/workout aid, helping open vessels up, providing more pump, helping with pushing nutrients/water to get into the cell, but that's the key, if you don't have the macros/calories to go with, along with the right weight lifting program, then your wasting $$$.

    Totally agree witht he above, i have used it in the past, if you have to open your blood vessels for health reasons then take it, if you want to try and add lean muscle through weight training a creatine supplement will give you more bang for your buck
  • MissFit0101
    MissFit0101 Posts: 2,382
    PS You can get arginine naturally in red meat, peanut butter, eggs, seeds and other nuts.

    I must get plenty of it if it's in PB and eggs :bigsmile:
  • Ebbykins
    Ebbykins Posts: 420 Member
    L-arginine supplements act as a blood flow support/workout aid, helping open vessels up, providing more pump, helping with pushing nutrients/water to get into the cell, but that's the key, if you don't have the macros/calories to go with, along with the right weight lifting program, then your wasting $$$.

    Totally agree witht he above, i have used it in the past, if you have to open your blood vessels for health reasons then take it, if you want to try and add lean muscle through weight training a creatine supplement will give you more bang for your buck

    Exactly, as well, just wanted to add that people who get cold sores easily should not supplement with arginine because it is well known for causing flare ups in people who are sensitive to it or are carriers of HSV.
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    Again Dr Oz shows he's a moron and you should not listen to him for nutritional advice

    Liu TH, Wu CL, Chiang CW, Lo YW, Tseng HF, Chang CK. No effect of short-term arginine supplementation on nitric oxide production, metabolism and performance in intermittent exercise in athletes. J Nutr Biochem. 2009 Jun;20(6):462-8.

    Greer, Beau K; Jones, Brett T. Acute Arginine Supplementation Fails to Improve Muscle Endurance Or Affect Blood Pressure Responses to Resistance Training. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research: July 2011 - Volume 25 - Issue 7 - pp 1789-1794.

    Walberg-Rankin J, Hawkins C, et al. The effect of oral arginine during energy restriction in male weight trainers. J Strength Cond Res. 1994;8:170–7.
  • Jana9559
    Jana9559 Posts: 29
    Ok, thanks. Just confused on what to take to help me building bigger muscles. Is adding whey protein another good option? I know it's usually found in powder form but what do you mix it with? Water or milk? I don't want to mix it with milk due to the added sugar in milk but wasn't sure if water would taste good.
  • Ebbykins
    Ebbykins Posts: 420 Member
    Ok, thanks. Just confused on what to take to help me building bigger muscles. Is adding whey protein another good option? I know it's usually found in powder form but what do you mix it with? Water or milk? I don't want to mix it with milk due to the added sugar in milk but wasn't sure if water would taste good.

    You need carbs to grow muscle, sugar in milk is your last concern when trying to gain muscle (unless your diabetic, then I would ask a registered dietician for help with this goal). Also whey will not help you grow (it can be a great aid to get calories/protein in), but you have to be eating above maintenance calories, and getting at least .5-1g of protein per lb of body mass as well as a balance of carbs/fat on the side. Calories and carbs are your friends right now. :)
  • Jana9559
    Jana9559 Posts: 29
    Well, then that may be my problem. I'm not eating enough carbs. The more I eat of them, the hungrier I get so I limit them as much as possible....most days. I just wish I knew exactly what I should eat....it should not be this hard to be a fit human being! Thanks for all your help!! :)
  • spyork
    spyork Posts: 187
    Ok, thanks. Just confused on what to take to help me building bigger muscles. Is adding whey protein another good option? I know it's usually found in powder form but what do you mix it with? Water or milk? I don't want to mix it with milk due to the added sugar in milk but wasn't sure if water would taste good.

    You need carbs to grow muscle, sugar in milk is your last concern when trying to gain muscle (unless your diabetic, then I would ask a registered dietician for help with this goal). Also whey will not help you grow (it can be a great aid to get calories/protein in), but you have to be eating above maintenance calories, and getting at least .5-1g of protein per lb of body mass as well as a balance of carbs/fat on the side. Calories and carbs are your friends right now. :)

    I agree again, nothing to add this time.
  • Lift_hard_eat_big
    Lift_hard_eat_big Posts: 2,278 Member
    L-Arganine as a NO booster/muscle builder is basically snake oil.
    Stick to lifting heavy, consuming high protein diet and creatine and Beta-Alanine if you feel you need to take supps. to pack on more muscle.
  • Jana9559
    Jana9559 Posts: 29
    Thanks, that's basically what someone else just suggested on my profile. I do lift weights and they are getting heavier and heavier, yet I see no muscle increase. I will keep at it and maybe try creatine. I haven't heard of the other supp you mentioned but I certainly won't try L-arginine. Thanks for your help.
  • Lift_hard_eat_big
    Lift_hard_eat_big Posts: 2,278 Member
    Thanks, that's basically what someone else just suggested on my profile. I do lift weights and they are getting heavier and heavier, yet I see no muscle increase. I will keep at it and maybe try creatine. I haven't heard of the other supp you mentioned but I certainly won't try L-arginine. Thanks for your help.

    If you truly are lifting heavy near your max potential, you may not be getting adequate protein intake or adequate rest.
  • Spirittomoveon
    Spirittomoveon Posts: 1
    L-arginine is useful as long as it is taken with l- citrulline. There are three of these amino acids which help to produce nitric oxide those being the two most commonly seen together as they work the best. L- ornithine is the other. I never used the last one however I daily take the others two. Anything you see with (L) to start stands for natural production meaning your body already produces it. However when you add a dose of 500+Mg of each to your daily diet it helps to improve your muscle fiber reaction. Opening the blood vessels and allowing more air to travel threw the blood stream. This is the same thing that happens with natural adrenalin . Only smaller doses of course. It does work for building muscle as your muscles will fatigue slower. It will not however make you bigger just by taking it. Don't listen to those that just read things in mags. Try it for yourself when it's safe and see what works. GNC carries the first two at a low price something like $12 for 3 months it is by for one of the better buys out there.
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