Posted by Raw Revelations on Aug 4th 2022
What Are The Benefits Of Nitric Oxide Supplements?
Humans have been worried about their health since time immemorial. However, it wasn´t until the 50s that people started using science as a guide to keep their minds and bodies in top shape, giving more relevance to healthy diets, staying fit, and taking the right dietary supplements.
In the 21st century, we now have a greater understanding of how our bodies work on a cellular level, and how certain components are beneficial for our health if taken regularly and in the right doses. That is the case with nitric oxide supplements.
Why is Nitric Oxide Important?
Nitric oxide is a gas produced by many cell types in our bodies. The endothelium, our blood vessel lining, produces nitric oxide from certain arginine amino acids, causing what is known as the “endothelial-derived relaxing factor”. This relaxing factor regulates vascular tone, expanding blood vessels and increasing blood flow. The gas is also associated with lower levels of plaque growth and blood clotting, making it essential for cardiovascular health.
Now, modernity with all its benefits also brings a lot of negative environmental factors that can affect nitric oxide production in our bodies. For example, the ubiquitous high-cholesterol foods send signals that tell endothelial cells to decrease their production of nitric oxide. Other factors such as smoking, emotional distress, and high blood pressure also have a negative impact on the production of this essential molecule, increasing capillary inflammation and the risk of chronic artery injury.
No wonder why researchers have focused their attention on foods, products, and routines that help minimize the impact of these environmental factors, such as nitric oxide supplements.
4 Functions Of Nitric Oxide
Nitric oxide has at least four main roles in our bodies, making it an incredibly important molecule for bodily functions that depend on its vasodilation properties.
Regulating Blood Pressure
As our hearts pump blood, it creates pressure inside our arteries. If the pressure is too high, it forces our heart to work harder trying to distribute blood to every corner of our bodies, leading to other problems if pressure is not kept in check. A diet that includes fruits and vegetables is usually associated with a decrease in blood pressure. Scientists found that fruits that contain nitrate and flavonoids were responsible for these benefits. Beetroot is a perfect example of a superfood filled with nitrates and precursor compounds that serve as raw materials for the production of nitric oxide.
Enhancing Physical Performance
Muscles need higher concentrations of oxygen and nutrients while exercising. Wider blood vessels help deliver these vital components at higher rates, which enhances endurance and overall athletic performance. Here, nitrates also play an important role, and when components like l-citrulline reach the bloodstream, they increase the production of nitric oxide during exercise, while boosting its bioavailability. These components make for great pre-workout supplements.
Decreasing Muscle Soreness
L-citrulline also helps decrease post-exercise muscle soreness. When we are unaccustomed to doing certain exercises or activities, we might experience discomfort within the next 24-72 hours. The discomfort we experience is related to micro-tears that trigger inflammation. This is a completely natural process that is tied to muscle growth. The muscle tissue breaks and then is built back stronger, allowing us to gain muscle mass and definition. This process can be painful and slow. However, as with all inflammatory processes, a higher concentration of oxygen can help reduce their effects and duration. The vasodilation properties of nitric oxide help blood vessels increase the concentration of oxygen at the muscular level.
Managing Type 2 Diabetes
People with type 2 diabetes have problems producing nitric oxide. This contributes to higher blood pressure levels which, in time, can cause other concerns related to heart and kidney health issues. Nitric oxide supplements help increase the production of this vital molecule, giving the patient a better ability to manage blood pressure. Nitric oxide has also been linked to increased insulin sensibility and provides better blood sugar management potential.
How Do Nitric Oxide Supplements Work?
Since nitric oxide is a gas produced by our bodies, you won't find this element in foods or supplements. The best way to increase your body´s output of this essential molecule is to augment your intake of foods that contain precursors that trigger its production. Beetroot and beet juice are known to contain high concentrations of nitrates, while l-arginine is found in nuts, seafood, and seeds.
The problem with l-arginine is that an enzyme called arginase breaks it down too quickly for it to be completely absorbed. Data shows that only 60% of l-arginine is absorbed by the body in optimal conditions. L-citrulline, a precursor to l-arginine, boosts the bioavailability of the amino acid by inhibiting the effects of the arginase enzyme.
This means that many seek to enhance the production of nitric oxide by drinking beet juice, taking l-arginine supplements, and l-citrulline supplements. However, they are not as effective when consumed separately, and organic ingredients yield better results overall as they provide other vital nutrients and vitamins from fresh sources.
Our Beet Plus nitric oxide supplement is a potent beet juice blend that contains heirloom beetroot, herbs, and spices with high concentrations of antioxidants and nitric oxide precursors. It also contains Velox, a performance blend proven to increase L-arginine and nitric oxide production with a combination of l-citrulline and other amino acids that enhance the bioavailability of l-arginine and nitric oxide.
If you have questions related to increasing nitric oxide production or how our patented formula might improve blood circulation, feel free to contact us at 951-677-2222.