About Nitric Oxide

About Nitric Oxide

Nitric oxide is one of the most critical molecules in the human body for blood vessel health. Nearly every type of cell can form nitric oxide and act as a vasodilator, meaning it relaxes the inner muscles of your blood vessels, causing them to widen. In turn, nitric oxide increases blood flow and lowers blood pressure.

The human body’s ability to produce natural nitric oxide is essential for overall health because it allows oxygen and nutrients to flow around the body freely.

Nitric Oxide Benefits

Most of the benefits of nitric oxide in the body stem from the improved blood flow it provides; here are the key health benefits you get from using nitric oxide.

Muscle soreness often occurs after strenuous exercise and can be reduced with increased nitric oxide levels. One study with 41 people received citrulline malate an hour before doing max reps on a bench press and reported 40% less muscle soreness after 1-2 days than the placebo group.

The citrulline increases the rate that your body can produce nitric oxide, which increases blood flow and nutrient delivery to active muscles. It also helped remove waste products related to muscle fatigue such as lactate and ammonia.

Lower Blood Pressure

People with high blood pressure generally have an impaired ability to produce or use nitric oxide in their body. High blood pressure occurs when the force of your body against the walls of your arteries is constantly too high. Taking nitric oxide supplements can lower your average blood pressure and increase blood flow in your body.

If this goes on for too long, it can lead to health issues such as heart disease. Therefore, as well as lowering blood pressure, nitric oxide can improve heart health.

Boost Exercise Performance

As nitric oxide helps widen blood vessels, the increased blood flow helps improve the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to working muscles during exercise. This enhances exercise performance, endurance, and recovery.

Help Manage Type 2 Diabetes

People with type 2 diabetes have poor nitric oxide production. As a result, these people tend to have worse blood vessel health and are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure, heart disease and kidney disease. Nitric oxide supplements or natural ways to boost it could benefit people with diabetes.

A study of type 2 diabetic people who took L-arginine found an increase in nitric oxide production. The increase in nitric oxide also lead to improve insulin sensitivity, allowing for better blood sugar control and improving heart health and the immune system.