I smoke and have been having cramps when I walk. My doctor says I should try arginine. What do you think?

Well, my advice is stop smoking. It is an unhealthy habit. If you do not stop smoking, then nothing will help you. You may try arginine, but you also need to eat healthy, exercise and reduce your weight.

Some studies show that smokers with peripheral vascular disease do benefit from arginine supplements. It is not known if the benefits are sustained.

Is there any evidence that arginine can prevent heart disease?

There is some evidence that daily intake of arginine may help prevent heart disease. However, these beneficial affects do not occur immediately and you must be on the supplement daily for many months and even years. It is believed that arginine prevents plaque formation and opens up blood vessels. If you have heart failure, then you are out of luck- Arginine has no benefit. Remember manufacturers advocate this supplement for many medical disorders but they only have one goal in mind- how to get you to spend money on their bogus supplements.

Which type of foods are rich in arginine?

Foods rich in arginine include brown rice, buckwheat, salmon, chicken, coconut, corn, dairy products, meats, oats, peanuts, raisins, sesame seeds, walnuts, and barley. There are also many arginine supplements. For people who eat healthy, there is ZERO need for arginine supplements

What is the exact role of arginine in the body?

Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid, meaning that the body also makes enough amounts so that even if you do not take any, you will be fine. Arginine has been in the news for the past decade because it is known to be a precursor of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a potent vasodilator but has a very short half-life- a few microseconds. There is a lot of information indicating that NO may help prevent heart disease, atherosclerosis, reverse erectile failure and resolve headaches.

The manufacturers of arginine now claim that it can cure almost everything under the sun, including the messed up economy.

Are there any differences in the fish oil supplements? Part 2

While the products did meet the labeled amount of omega 3 fatty acids, some products did contain traces of contaminant, which did not exceed standard sets by the US pharmacopeia. In simple words, the supplements did meet all the applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

So far, the FDA has not undertaken any action against any manufacturer because the contaminants do not seem to be a health risk. The study was more intended to let consumers know what is in the products- which is a requirement in the state of California and has nothing to do with health risk.

The final word- consumers should be careful where they buy their health supplement pills. While online food stores may appear cheap, you never know what you are getting. To play it safe, always buy your prescriptions and health supplements from bona fide stores with a good reputation

Are there any differences in the fish oil supplements? Part 1

Millions of people consume mega doses of fish oil every day. There is a very strong belief among the public that this food supplement is the “Holy Grail.” The exact number of people who buy fish oil supplements is not known but it is a billion dollar industry. Fish oil supplements are available almost everywhere. While most supplements are available in health food stores, today one can buy these supplements from retail grocery stores, pharmacies, online and in almost any alternative healthcare store. There are even some doctors who market their own formulas of fish oil supplements.

Now there is Consumers Report, which claims that not all fish oil supplements are equal. Experts indicate that poor quality product is a major problem because much of the health food supplement industry remains unregulated.