I am a geek, for lack of a better term, and constantly working toward my health and performance improvements.
When we think of Nitric Oxide (NO), the first thing that comes to mind is usually pre-workout supplements. Folks are looking to have that excellent muscle pump and appear more vascular in the process. And that is true. Good pre-workout should include NOs, and they work.
Being a geek who has been experimenting with all trending supplements for the past ten years allowed me to understand better how they work, but with a different approach.
The human body is fascinating, but we need to address issues first to work correctly. Once we do, the next step is to optimize everything that we can to perform our best. Evidence proves that an optimal body enjoys the most benefits, leading to better health.
Nitric oxide is an essential molecule required for overall health. As a vasodilator, nitric oxide signals the blood vessels to relax, allowing them to expand. This effect enables blood, nutrients, and oxygen to flow freely to every part of your body.
Gavin Van De Walle, MS, RD – Healthline
Better blood flow with more nutrients and oxygen supply lead to greater overall performance in our daily lives. We often think that a good diet is all we need, but to ensure that nutrients get where they need to be is just as important and at what rate.
NO declines as we age, which is just how the aging process works. Poor nitric oxide production can contribute to arterial disease (plaque deposits), high blood pressure, and other risk factors for heart disease.
Evidence also suggests that high NO levels can increase the immune system. The latest one is around SARS-CoV, with 15 trials.
Reduced NO levels contribute to the undesirable progression of ED by aggravating vascular damage and modifying the homeostatic status, favoring thrombus formation. Apart from the vascular effects, modulation of the immune system, inhibition of platelet aggregation, and reduction in cellular adhesion are other physiological effects observed due to altered levels of NO due to ED. Moreover, the exogenous supplementation of NO exerts a direct antiviral effect against SARS-CoV, which makes it a promising approach to be investigated.
Pleiotropic Effects of Nitric Oxide on SARS-CoV-2 Infections
I have had my fair share of doctor’s visits, emergency rooms, and cardiovascular issues. Yet, no single physician, specialists included, ever mentioned the importance of nitric oxide to me.
How do we know if our NO levels are not sufficient? Well, I don’t think there’s a particular way to know that. Symptoms are a good start, but the problem is that they’re just like many others and not easy to pinpoint.
High blood pressure, memory issues, low stamina, and erectile dysfunction, might be signs of low NO in your body.
To increase NO production, start with regular exercise first and a diet rich in nitrates. Next, antioxidants maintain nitric oxide levels: Glutathione, Vitamins E & C, and Polyphenols (cocoa powder, nuts, berries, etc.).
As previously noted, trials helped me understand what works best for me. So far, a combination of Arginine, Citrulline, and Beat are the most beneficial.
We are all different. Just because something works for me, it does not mean that it will work for you.
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