Just to refresh your memory, amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and our bodies get most essential amino acids from the protein we ingest. Arginine is one of those essential amino acids that is only essential on a conditional basis, meaning we need arginine at a certain age and only under certain circumstances. As adults, we get most of our arginine from dairy products and most meats including beef, poultry, seafood and wild game. If you’re vegetarian, you get most of yours from grains and vegetable substances like flour, granolas, oatmeal, nuts, some fruit juices and seeds. So what’s the big deal about arginine? First of all, arginine facilitates a reduction in body fat, while increasing lean muscle mass and may also inhibits the absorption of dietary fat. A study which aupplemented rats’ diet with arginine over a 12 week period apparently decreased body fat by nearly two-thirds of the rodents, and also promoted skeletal-muscle gain. Researchers have found arginine to also be helpful in stimulating a biochemical process called “muscle protein synthesis” that requires an excess of energy thereby forcing the energy acquired through the diet to be used towards adding lean tissue growth instead of fat. At very high intakes (about 250 mg per 2.2 pounds of body weight), arginine has increased growth hormone levels, an effect that has interested body builders due to the role of growth hormone in stimulating muscle growth. One way to judge if arginine is a supplement you may want to take is by evaluating the strength of your muscles. Of course, the first step is just increasing overall protein and exercise. If you have done that and you are still struggling to lose weight, then adding arginine makes sense as it clearly helps protein work better in your muscles. Arginine may also help your blood pressure and general circulation.