Did you ever notice that when you do high-intensity workouts, your muscles are pumped for a long time after the workout? It’s as if your muscles have expanded in size and look fuller. If yes, then you’ve experienced one of the many benefits of L-citrulline supplementation - increased blood flow and nitric oxide levels.
L-citrulline has been shown to enhance muscle pumps, support athletic performance, and improve blood pressure. In this blog, we’ll cover all things L-citrulline: how it works in the body, how to use it for maximum muscle pumps and athletic performance, scientific research behind the amino acid, and FAQs.
Citrulline supplements are often suggested for athletes and bodybuilders working to improve performance and boost energy. Citrulline helps remove toxic ammonia from muscles, which is one way it may improve muscle activity. Citrulline is also converted into arginine, which triggers the release of growth hormone and produces nitric oxide. Nitric oxide relaxes muscles and improves blood flow.
Compared to L-arginine, L-citrulline may be an alternative approach at nitric oxide induced increases in muscle blood flow that may provide an anabolic approach to exercise training. Nitric Oxide (NO) is a key molecular and cellular messenger in the body that, among other biological processes, is used to increase blood flow in the body through dilation of blood vessels. Arginine, a precursor to NO, has long been the standard means of triggering increased production of NO in the body.
The new research suggests citrulline may be a more effective way of elevating arginine levels and NO in the body. L-citrulline, often referred to as simply citrulline, is an amino acid first isolated in the 1930’s from watermelon. Your body produces citrulline, so it isn’t considered an essential amino acid that you must get from your diet. L-Citrulline is used as a sports performance and cardiovascular health supplement.
Citrulline may improve exercise performance and reduce post-workout muscle soreness, according to a study published in the “Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research” in 2010. In the study, 41 men performed sets of barbell bench presses. During some training sessions they took citrulline malate, and during others they took a placebo pill.
When they took citrulline malate, they achieved 53 percent more repetitions and a 40 percent decrease in muscle soreness in the days following training. A 2015 study published in the same journal, divided 12 men with advanced resistance training into two groups. The group taking citrulline malate finished significantly more repetitions of lower body resistance exercises than the non-supplement group.
L-citrulline is also used to alleviate erectile dysfunction caused by high blood pressure. A short-term citrulline supplementation could functionally improve atrial stiffness in humans by increasing vascular relaxation and increasing blood flow to the body.
A recent study suggests that L-citrulline can do more than just pump up your muscle in the gym, but it may be good in the bedroom as well. A study titled, Oral L-citrulline supplementation improves erection hardness in men with mild erectile dysfunction, published in Urology suggests that L-citrulline can also enhance virility. An interesting statistic is that about 30–40% of erectile dysfunction (ED) patients are non-responders to phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5) inhibitor therapy.
L-Citrulline: Ultimate Muscle Pumps
Did you ever notice that when you do high-intensity workouts, your muscles are pumped for a long time after the workout? It’s as if your muscles have expanded in size and look fuller. If yes, then you’ve experienced one of the many benefits of L-citrulline supplementation - increased blood flow and nitric oxide levels.
L-citrulline has been shown to enhance muscle pumps, support athletic performance, and improve blood pressure. In this blog, we’ll cover all things L-citrulline: how it works in the body, how to use it for maximum muscle pumps and athletic performance, scientific research behind the amino acid, and FAQs.
Answers You Want To Know
1. What are the health benefits of l-citrulline?
L-citrulline is an amino acid that can have various health-promoting properties. For starters, l-citrulline can help improve muscle pumps and exercise performance, allowing you to work out for longer periods of time with improved results. It can also help reduce fatigue, improve cardiovascular health, and support the immune system.
Additionally, l-citrulline has been shown to improve blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It has also been found to reduce inflammation both internally and externally. Lastly, l-citrulline may also be beneficial when it comes to kidney health as well as reducing symptoms of erectile dysfunction.
2. Are there any potential side effects associated with l-citrulline?
L-citrulline is a non-essential amino acid that plays an important role in blood flow, nitric oxide production, and muscle health. It's generally considered safe and well-tolerated, though some people may experience mild side effects such as nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and headaches while taking l-citrulline supplements.
However, long-term use of l-citrulline has not been studied extensively and is not recommended. If you are considering taking l-citrulline supplements, it's important to first consult with a healthcare professional before starting any supplement plan, especially if you have an underlying medical condition.
3. What is the recommended dosage of l-citrulline?
The recommended dosage of l-citrulline for adults is between 2-6 grams per day. For better effects, higher doses of 8-10 grams per day can be divided into two or three doses taken throughout the day. L-citrulline has been proven to be safe and well tolerated even in doses as high as 10 grams per day. However, it is still important to consult a healthcare professional before taking any supplement. This is to ensure that l-citrulline will not interact with any medications you might be taking or aggravate any existing health conditions.
4. Where can I find quality l-citrulline supplements?
Infinite Labs is the leading supplier of L-Citrulline supplements for athletes, bodybuilders and general health enthusiasts. The company has been around over a decade and provides a wide range of natural supplements to help customers reach their performance goals. Infinite Labs’ L-Citrulline supplement is one of their most popular products, offering an effective way to increase muscle strength and endurance while reducing fatigue during exercise.
Words From Us
L-citrulline supplementation has been shown to be an effective way of reducing muscle fatigue, increasing blood flow to the muscles, and improving exercise performance and endurance. However, the most exciting benefit of l-citrulline is the muscle pumps it gives your body. So if you have a gym workout planned or are looking for a supplement that can give you massive muscle pumps while working out, l-citrulline is your best bet.
