What is Nitric Oxide?

Nitric Oxide also known as N.O. is produced by nearly every type of cell in the human body, but most importantly in the bloods vessels.

So what do nitric oxide boosters do?

N.O. supplements don’t contain nitric oxide, but instead contain the building block ingredients (or substrates) that are designed to give your body a nudge to produce more nitric oxide. These supplement ingredients include L-arginine, L-citrulline, Norvaline, NADH and others. Nitric oxide is made by the blood vessels’ lining, or endothelium. The endothelium is sensitive to the physical and chemical conditions inside our blood vessels. When the endothelium senses heart-healthy conditions, such as physical activity and low cholesterol, it releases more nitric oxide. Nitric oxide expands the blood vessels, increasing blood flow and decreasing plaque growth and blood clotting. Additionally, the brain gets a significant boost from N.O. Boosters as a reduction in nitric oxide production can lessen blood flow to the brain, as well as possibly increase inflammation and oxidative stress, and thus may contribute to cognitive problems.

What does Nitric Oxide Do?

One of the strongest activators of N.O. is L-citrulline and a version called Citrulline Malate not only increases nitric oxide production, but can also decrease muscle soreness. Delayed onset muscle soreness also known as D.O.M.S. is what you feel a day or two after your workout that makes you really sore and usually feels the strongest 24–72 hours after exercise. For example as you train with weights, ammonia is released from the muscle breakdown process and creates muscle fatigue. The ingredient Citrulline Malate increases nitric oxide production, which increases blood flow to active muscles which in turn clears waste products that are related to muscle fatigue, such as lactate and ammonia. But most notably Nitric oxide has gotten the most attention due to its cardiovascular benefits. There are also research studies that suggest supplementing Citrulline increases arginine in the blood more than supplementing arginine itself.

Nitric Oxide Benefits

A few studies have shown that nitrate supplementation through beetroot juice can be effective at increasing endurance and overall power. One study found a link between 15 days of beetroot juice supplementation and an increase in power max during moderate–intensity cycling tests. Nitric Oxide plays a key role in controlling the circulation of blood and regulating activities of the brain, lungs, liver, kidneys, stomach and other organs.. As our bodies age, the blood vessels and natural nitric oxide system become less efficient due to free radical damage, lifestyle, and poor diet, causing our veins and arteries to deteriorate.

Additionally, Nitric oxide plays a large role in sexual function and arousal by relaxing smooth muscle tissue in the genitals and allowing them to fill with blood. One small double-blind study showed that yohimbine and arginine, a precursor amino acid to nitric oxide, had positive effects at increasing arousal for postmenopausal women. This is also how medical vasodilators work like Sildenafil (also known as the main ingredient in viagra) work by relieving hypertension, boosting nitric oxide, and increasing blood flow. Nitric Oxide boosting has shown to help sexual health in both men and women.