Food Sources High in L-Citrulline for Healthy Blood Flow
L-citrulline is a nonessential amino acid, meaning it is already made in the body, and it is found in many foods such as legumes, milk, fish, and meat. As a precursor to the amino acid L-arginine, it boosts the production of nitric oxide in the body.
Nitric oxide helps blood vessels dilate, improving blood flow and lowering blood pressure. As a result, taking in more citrulline has multiple benefits — primarily supporting cardiovascular health, athletic performance, and erectile function.
A proper diet combined with supplementation can go a long way in boosting your wellness!
Key Takeaways:
- Learn the food sources that are rich in citrulline and aid nitric oxide production.
- Find out how supplementing with citrulline can improve circulation, heart health, and athletic performance.
- Discover why MicroActive® Citrulline found in Quality of Life’s Citrulline-SR is so effective and stays in the blood stream longer.
Table of Contents:
- The Food Source Powerhouses of Citrulline
- Melon
- Pumpkin
- Cucumber
- Beets
- Leafy Greens
- Supplementing with Citrulline-SR
- The Difference Between Arginine & Citrulline-SR
- Quality of Life’s Citrulline-SR Featuring MicroActive® Citrulline
The Food Source Powerhouses of Citrulline
Citrulline is abundant in several food items that would be beneficial to incorporate for anyone looking to increase nitric oxide production in the body, improve blood flow, maintain blood pressure in normal ranges, and improve cardiovascular health. Below are a few of the food sources that are known to be powerhouses for citrulline.
Melon
The name citrulline comes from the Latin term for watermelon, Citrullis vulgaris. So, needless to say, citrulline is most notably found in watermelon. However, it is found in many different types of melon, all high in antioxidants, very hydrating, and abundant in vitamin C. In addition to red and yellow watermelon, citrulline is also present in melons like cantaloupe, casaba, mouse, and horned melons. All of these have a host of minerals and offer many heart-health and blood pressure benefits.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin is a good source of citrulline. It contains the plant compound beta-carotene, which makes pumpkins an excellent source of vitamin A and serves as an antioxidant, helping aid nitric oxide production.
Cucumber
Cucumbers are an excellent source of citrulline. Similarly to watermelon, they are extremely hydrating, containing more than 90% water. They are abundant in antioxidants and vitamins and assist with blood flow.
Beets
Beets are a food that contain citrulline as they are rich in nitrates, making them readily available to be converted into nitric oxide. Beets are not only linked to heart health and circulation, but a number of other health benefits as well like cognitive function and athletic performance improvement.
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens like kale, spinach, lettuce, and cabbage are full of nitrates, and they are then converted to nitric oxide inside the body. Eating these types of greens can help to maintain proper levels in the blood and tissues, supporting blood pressure and heart health.
Supplementing with Citrulline-SR
It isn’t always possible to obtain all the nutrients needed from diet alone. That’s where supplementation comes in, and citrulline is a great option for anyone looking to improve circulation, cardiovascular health, athletic performance, and erectile function.
Unfortunately, standard citrulline products are not absorbed completely and don’t stay in the bloodstream long. Citrulline-SR features MicroActive® Citrulline, a special form of citrulline that has reduced particle size for better absorption and releases citrulline slowly over 10 hours to keep blood levels steady.
The Difference Between Arginine & Citrulline-SR
Many people reach for arginine supplements because this amino acid boosts production of nitric oxide in the body — and nitric oxide helps relax the blood vessels. But that’s not the best strategy. This is because arginine is broken down by the enzyme arginase before it can reach the bloodstream. As a result, barely any arginine you ingest is actually absorbed. That’s where citrulline comes in!
Citrulline helps your body make arginine. Research shows that supplementing with citrulline raises arginine levels 2.3 times more effectively than taking arginine itself. But conventional citrulline products have two problems. First, they contain large citrulline particles that can’t be absorbed completely. Second, their contents are released all at once, so they don’t stay in the bloodstream long.
Luckily, there’s Citrulline-SR from Quality of Life!
Quality of Life’s Citrulline-SR Featuring MicroActive® Citrulline
Citrulline-SR features MicroActive® Citrulline, a special micronized form of citrulline that is better absorbed than regular citrulline. Because it delivers sustained release over 10 hours, Citrulline-SR consistently elevates blood levels of the compound.
Made through a proprietary process, MicroActive® Citrulline is more bioavailable than regular citrulline for two reasons. First, MicroActive® Citrulline has a very small particle size of less than 10 microns, so it can easily pass through the luminal membrane of the small intestine. Second, MicroActive® Citrulline is encased in a special sustained-release matrix that gradually releases the citrulline over 10 hours, allowing it to stay in the bloodstream longer than regular citrulline (20 out of 24 hours at the 2-capsule daily dose).
Citrulline-SR unleashes the true power of citrulline with MicroActive® Citrulline. This special form of citrulline has been micronized for superior absorption and is released slowly over the course of 10 hours, so stays in the bloodstream long enough to exert its benefits.
When you combine proper diet, exercise, hydration, and effective supplements you can achieve amazing results! Quality of Life has one simple mission: to improve your quality of life.
