Arginine is sometimes referred to as essential amino acid and, at other times, it’s referred to as nonessential . This confusion happens because most of the time, your body can manufacture Arginine, and you don’t need to obtain it through your diet. However, there are times when dietary supplementation may be required, such as in the case of severe injury or illness. Therefore, Arginine is considered a conditionally nonessential amino acid because it plays an important role in cell division, the healing of wounds, and the release of hormones. It is also useful in enhancing the immune system. For this reason, Arginine might be important for people suffering from AIDS and other diseases that suppress the immune system. Arginine is also known to increase blood flow to the penis, making it a potential “natural” Viagra and has also been used in treating sterility in men by increasing sperm count.
Animal sources: eggs, beef, pork, wild game, chicken, turkey, wild pheasant, quail, tuna, salmon, shrimp, cod, halibut, smelt, milk, cottage cheese, yogurt
Plant sources: almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, pistachios, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, lentils, chick peas, kidney beans, garlic, onion, seaweed, spirulina (a type of algae), buckwheat, oatmeal