All Things Nitric Oxide
I got interested in nitric oxide a couple of years ago when one of my buddies at work introduced me to Beet Elite powder. Disclaimer: They don't sponsor HTG. In fact, I think the product tastes terrible. I can only choke it down because I mix it with whatever electrolyte powder I have on hand. However, I still take it almost every day. Here's why:
The nitric oxide (NO) molecule does some pretty interesting things. It acts as a vasodilator, meaning it relaxes the walls of the blood vessels, reducing blood pressure. An increase in blood flow is the result of this vasodilation, and it delivers more oxygen and nutrients to the tissues around the body, helping to reduce fatigue and speed up recovery times. NO is a mild anti-inflammatory, which also helps speed up the recovery process post-exertion. Vasodilation isn't just incredible because it enhances your performance, though.
High blood pressure (hypertension) can lead to many health complications, such as kidney disease, sleep apnea, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, aneurysms, strokes, and vision problems, to name a few. When I started taking a nitric oxide supplement, I was working as an EMT and I was able to check my blood pressure every day before and after taking NO. My average systolic blood pressure went from 125mmHg to 115mmgh over a few weeks. (Systolic is the amount of force applied to your vessels while the heart is contracting. Diastolic is the residual force on your vasculature while the heart is at rest.) 125 to 115 just from drinking some beet powder? That's pretty significant.
Vasodilation isn't only good for your long-term health. It's especially helpful from a performance stand point as well because of the role it plays in temperature regulation. More blood can pass through the skin's surface rapidly when peripheral vessels dilate. This colder blood goes on to circulate the rest of your vascular system, helping your body maintain a lower core temperature. The body operates in a very small temperature range; anything too hot or cold will throw it off. If your core temperature goes too far to either end of the scale, you could have serious health complications or even death. So, maintaining a lower core temperature during a long workout will decrease the metabolic demands placed on your muscles, reduce the amount of sweating, and, in turn, reduce the loss of vital nutrients, sodium, and potassium. In short, this allows you to work harder for extended periods.
I like taking Nitric Oxide supplements; at the very least, it gets me to take creatine and drink 16oz of water every morning. This is a naturally occurring molecule though so you don’t have to take a supplement if you’re not into that. Your body can synthesize NO independently. Exercising, regular sunlight, breath work, and eating foods high in L-arginine, such as lean meats, nuts, seeds, beets, spinach, and arugula, are all things that promote the production of nitric oxide in your body.
Stay Pumped,
Your HTG coaches
