Your Guide to Nitric Oxide: What Every Athlete Should Know About Nitric Oxide
The role of nitric oxide in promoting muscle growth has only just begun to be understood. Unlike other supplements like protein or creatine, most people have no idea what nitric oxide (NO2) is, how it works, or if it can help them achieve the body they’ve always dreamed of. Even bodybuilders, men and women who dedicate their lives to getting ripped don’t know that NO2 can add pounds of rock-hard lean muscle, increase your strength and improve recovery time.
What is nitric oxide?
Simply put, it is a compound made of one nitrogen atom and one oxygen atom. With the help of the amino acid arginine, a group of enzymes known as nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and a chemical reaction, the body produces NO2 along with citrulline. Therefore, to increase NO2 levels in the body, it is best to take a supplement that provides a generous supply of these three essential amino acids. Doing so will give your body the most important precursor to NO2 (l-arginine) and important precursors (aspartic acid and citrulline) to increase arginine production. Therefore, your body’s supply of Argentina increases dramatically.
Nitric oxide is responsible for a large number of processes within your body and acts as a hormone, a neurotransmitter, and an intracellular messenger. For our purposes, the most important aspect of this compound is its role as a messenger that regulates blood flow, one of the most important processes in the body and a critical process for building muscle mass and improving athletic performance.
NO2 is usually produced within the endothelial cells that line the inside of blood vessels. When muscles contract, these cells are stimulated and NO2 is synthesized and released. Once released, the compound diffuses into the neighboring smooth muscle tissue of the blood vessels, causing them to widen (called vasodilation). The results of this dilation are increased blood flow to the area, giving the muscles that pumped-up feeling.
That pumping feeling is very important. Blood, which carries vital nutrients (amino acids, glucose, oxygen and creatine) flows to the muscles, which is the body’s way of preventing decreased performance and muscle function. These nutrients are necessary for muscle maintenance, growth, and energy generation, which is important during workouts. The blood also carries away carbon dioxide and lactic acid, byproducts of metabolism that tire muscles and ultimately inhibit performance.
Increased blood flow improves muscle growth, strength development, and decreases recovery time. Nitric Oxide is the catalyst behind the muscle pump and is the natural compound in your body responsible for helping your muscles perform at peak efficiency. Improving your body’s natural ability to produce nitric oxide can significantly increase your athletic performance, reduce the chance of injury, and maximize your body’s muscle-building potential.