Nitric Oxide is a molecule produced by your body that helps to relax the muscles inside the blood vessels. This helps the blood vessels to widen and transport nutrients and oxygen through the blood more efficiently.
When there is a limited supply of nitric oxide in the body you start to feel a lot of the damaging effects such as muscle cramps, shortness of breath and numb feet or hands.
Benefits of Healthy Nitric Oxide Production
Cardiovascular Health
Hypertension (high blood pressure) causes a strain on the heart and a major cause of hypertension is the body’s inability to produce nitric oxide. Through increasing nitric oxide production blood flow can improve so the heart doesn’t have to over-work to push blood throughout the body to deliver the necessary nutrients and oxygen where it is needed. The pressure on the walls of the arteries will lessen, allowing for them to strengthen and reduce the risk of weak, leaking or rupturing vessels.
Sexual Health
Erectile dysfunction is caused by a lack of blood flow to the penis. A critical part of the physical ability to begin and maintain an erection lies within the nitric oxide pathway. With an increase in nitric oxide production, the arteries inside the penis are more relaxed allowing for better blood flow to the area needed to create an erection.
Improved Exercise
When there is a healthy supply of nitric oxide in the body, your muscles can work harder during a workout. How does this work? With a wider blood vessel allowing for better blood flow, your muscles are receiving a better supply of oxygen and nutrients needed for higher performance.
Prevent Aging of the Brain
Nitric oxide not only delivers a healthy dose of blood around the body but it also allows a healthy dose of blood and oxygen to the brain. Studies show that Alzheimer’s disease may be caused by a constricted blood flow to the brain. Keeping a healthy production of nitric oxide in the body will help protect your brain from the damaging effects of lack of oxygen and nutrients.
Different Nitric Oxide Boosters
L- Arginine
This is an amino acid that is a precursor to nitric oxide, meaning that it is synthesized, or turned into, nitric oxide in the body. This amino acid cannot be effective in producing nitric oxide if the enzyme that does the leg work of this conversion loses its ability to function properly. This enzyme is best improved by regular exercise and eating foods high in antioxidants.
L- Citrulline
This is another amino acid that actually produces more l-arginine in the body than taking l-arginine itself. This is because the body doesn’t absorb l-arginine as well as it does l-citrulline. Because l-citrulline produces more l-arginine in the body, it is directly related to the production of nitric oxide in the body.
Nitrate
Nitrate is a nutrient found in foods such as beets, spinach, and other dark leafy greens. Eating these foods can increase nitric oxide in your body if you have sufficient healthy bacteria in your mouth. This bacteria plays a vital role in the conversion of nitrates into nitric oxide.
How to Increase Nitric Oxide Production
You can increase your levels of nitric oxide production in the body by exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet rich in vegetables and leafy greens. Sometimes this can be difficult because we are so busy.
This is where supplementation can help to bridge the gap to increase your nitric oxide levels.