9 Nitric Oxide Benefits For Your Sex Life & Muscle Growth
By Jonathon Cooper
Lab/QC Manager
Bearded, muscled singer, guitarist, pianist, drummer.
Summary:
-
Nitric Oxide helps dilate the wall of your blood vessels increasing blood flow through vasodilation.
- Benefits of nitric oxide supplements include: increased energy, boosts endurance, decreases muscle soreness, improves recovery time, supports heart health and your immune system.
- Good for your sex life! Nitric Oxide helps your blood vessels relax, increasing blood flow to your sexual organs.
You may have heard a lot of talk lately about the performance-enhancing benefits of nitric oxide. However, if you are unfamiliar with this supplement, you may find yourself wondering what nitric oxide is and what it does for the body. Nitric oxide is a molecule produced in the blood vessels' lining, the endothelium.
It relaxes muscles along the inside wall of the blood vessels, allowing them to dilate, leading to increased blood flow; this process is called vasodilation.
Aiding in vasodilation is the most important function of nitric oxide as it helps improve circulation.
The endothelium is sensitive to chemical and physical conditions in our blood vessels, so when it senses the need for increased blood resulting from conditions such as low cholesterol or physical activity, it increases the production of nitric oxide.
Nitric oxide is a key player in many cellular activities:
- It regulates blood pressure
- Acts as a neurotransmitter
- Increases blood flow and oxygenation of the brain
- Reduces inflammation
- Supports mobility in the gastrointestinal tract
- Increases endurance and strength.
Nitric oxide is then critical to your overall health because it allows blood, nutrients, and oxygen to travel throughout the human body effectively.
Nitric oxide supplementation has then become popular as it can not only increase overall health, but its ability to improve circulation has made it increasingly popular with athletes, bodybuilders, and exercise buffs as a way to boost athletic performance too.
Read on to learn more about how nitric oxide supplementation works, the benefits it can provide, and ways that you can incorporate nitric oxide into your diet.
How Do Nitric Oxide Supplements Work in The Body?
The two most common types of dietary supplements meant to increase nitric oxide are L-arginine and L-citrulline, which are both amino acids. The body converts these into nitric oxide.
L-arginine is an amino acid naturally found in red meat, dairy products, poultry, and fish. The average person typically consumes about 5 grams of L-arginine per day. L-citrulline is also an amino acid, and it is commonly found in meat, nuts, legumes, and watermelon.
If your body is deficient in natural nitric oxide, or you want to take advantage of the benefits nitric oxide supplementation can provide, L-arginine and L-citrulline supplements can be purchased as a pill or powder.
There are natural ways to increase your nitric oxide through the foods we've mentioned above, but with our busy lifestyle sometimes it's difficult to eat a complete diet, this is where supplements can help! A remarkably innovative new ingredient called S7 harnesses the power of multiple fruit and vegetable extracts to deliver nitric oxide benefits, but more on that later.
Natural Sources of Nitric Oxide
Having a nitric oxide deficiency can result in various health issues. Luckily, in addition to taking supplements, you can easily boost nitric oxide (NO) levels in your body by altering your diet. By eating foods that are high in nitrates, which are then converted to nitrites, and then nitric oxide, in the body, you can significantly boost NO levels in your body. High-nitrate foods that you should consider adding to your diet include:
- Red Beets
- Leafy Greens (leafy greens such as arugula, spinach, chard, and lettuce have been shown to be the best nitric oxide booster.)
- Celery
- Bok Choy
- Carrots
- Mustard Greens
- Broccoli
- Eggplant
- Leeks
- Fennel
- Cucumbers
- Turnips
- And Pomegranate Juice
- Eating garlic and citrus fruit can also improve your body's nitric oxide manufacturing process, helping your body more effectively use the nitrates you are already consuming.
Plant based Nitric Oxide Supplements
Earlier we mentioned getting nitric oxide benefits by eating specific foods, an innovative new ingredient called S7 delivers clinical tested results through a plant-based formula.
Many nitric oxide solutions are synthetic, whereas this formula includes seven plant based ingredients to increase your bodies nitric oxide production: green coffee bean, green tea, kale, broccoli, turmeric, tart cherry and blueberry.
S7 is natural, stimulant free, and improves nitric oxide levels by up to 230%. Mdrive has two formulas that include S7 plus a handful of other clinically studied ingredients like it.
Nitric Oxide Benefits
So why exactly should you be taking proactive measures to increase the levels of nitric oxide in your body? The fact is that nitric oxide supplementation has the potential to improve heart health and increase the effectiveness of your workout routine. Here is a look at just a few of the potential benefits nitric oxide supplementation can provide.
1. INCREASES ENERGY
Nitric oxide increases blood flow to muscles, ensuring that your muscles have enough oxygen and nutrients to sustain you through your workout. But with time, oxygen is depleted in the muscles, causing you to get tired. To counter this, nitric oxide increases glucose uptake by muscle cells, giving you a burst of energy to finish your workout.
2. BOOSTS ENDURANCE
Endurance is important if you want to increase your muscle growth. You need to train longer and harder, and nitric oxide can help you do this. When engaged in intense exercise, your body breaks down carbs, glycogen, and other molecules to create adenosine triphosphate, ATP, which is then converted into energy.
But this process uses a lot of oxygen and releases hydrogen ions, which then build up in your muscles, causing a drop in pH and interfering with muscle contraction. This is what causes that mid-workout burn that makes you want to give up. To prevent this, nitric oxide ensures that there's consistent blood flow to your muscles so you can train harder and longer without feeling fatigued. This is great for bodybuilders and endurance athletes.
3. DECREASES MUSCLE SORENESS
Some weight-training exercises are so intense that the body can't supply oxygen fast enough to produce energy. When this happens, lactic acid builds up in the muscles, causing exhaustion, extreme fatigue, body weakness, muscle cramps, and pain. Nitric oxide prevents this by increasing blood flow to the muscles, ensuring your body has enough oxygen to create energy.
4. IMPROVES RECOVERY TIME
After a tough workout, you're so exhausted you can't think of doing it again. However, nitric oxide ensures your muscles are replenished with nutrients and oxygen, and any lactic acid buildup is cleared. This shortens the amount of recovery time you need before the next workout session.
5. BIGGER MUSCLE PUMP
When weight-training, you get that tight feeling in your muscles that make them look bigger. Since nitric oxide is a vasodilator, it widens your muscles' blood vessels, allowing more blood flow. This will make your veins pop and your muscles bulge. A good muscle pump allows you to see the result of all your hard work, motivating you to work harder.
6 Boosts Immune System
Nitric oxide supplementation can also help boost your immune system. This is because certain types of immune system cells react positively to nitric oxide, and ensuring you have sufficient levels of NO in your body gives your immune system the tools it needs to fight off infections. In particular, nitric oxide can help immune cells communicate with each other and react more quickly to invaders.
7. Supports Heart Health
One of the biggest benefits of nitric oxide supplementation is that it has the potential to boost heart health. Nitric oxide appears to help the body better dilate and constrict blood vessels, helping to improve circulation and carotid artery blood flow. Taking nitric oxide supplements can also help reduce arterial stiffness, helping to improve overall heart health. However, it is important to note that the research that has been conducted so far on the connection between nitric oxide supplements and heart health has been conducted using animals, not humans, so more research needs to be done.
8. Reduces Blood Pressure
As we previously mentioned, nitric oxide is a vasodilator, meaning that it helps dilate blood vessels, allowing for more efficient blood flow. For this reason, nitric oxide supplementation can help decrease blood pressure. In fact, nitric oxide supplementation with L-arginine is so effective at reducing blood pressure that it has been shown to help prevent preeclampsia in pregnant women. If you struggle with high blood pressure, taking a nitric oxide supplement could help you get your blood pressure under control.
9. Reduces Blood Clot Risk
Another way in which nitric oxide supplements can boost the health of your heart and circulatory system is by decreasing the chances that you will experience a blood clot. This is because nitric oxide can boost overall heart health and it can make blood platelets less sticky. This makes it less likely that your platelets will clump together and form a potentially deadly blood clot.
NITRIC OXIDE CAN IMPROVE YOUR SEX LIFE
Nitric oxide can do wonders for your sex life. It causes your blood vessels to relax, increasing blood flow to your sexual organs. Blood circulation is vital for erectile function in men, and in women, increased blood circulation to the pelvis and clitoris results in better lubrication and orgasm.
This is why using a nitric oxide supplement has become a popular choice amongst people looking to improve their sex lives. In particular, men specifically have found their sex lives improved when taking nitric oxide supplements.
Is Nitric Oxide Safe?
The many reported benefits of nitric oxide supplementation can seem too good to be true, and you may find yourself wondering if these supplements are safe. The good news is that, for most people, taking nitric oxide supplements does not cause side effects. When using nitric oxide supplements, side effects do occur, they are generally mild and include:
- Diarrhea
- Stomach Pain
- Bloating
- Heartburn
- Headache
- Nausea
However, people with certain health conditions including cirrhosis, kidney disease, or low blood pressure should avoid taking nitric oxide supplements due to the risk of potentially dangerous side effects. As always, it is important that you talk to your doctor before starting a new supplement to make sure that it is safe for your to do so.
NITRIC OXIDE CAN HELP YOU STAY DRIVEN
When taken correctly, nitric oxide is safe and effective at increasing circulation and aiding in muscle growth. It gives you the energy to train harder and longer, and it helps your muscles to recover faster. For more on the benefits of nitric oxide supplements and to learn more ways to stay driven and increase your strength and energy, and improve your health, check out more posts on The Driven blog below.
FAQ
Is nitric oxide good to take everyday?
The simple answer here is it depends. Trust your body and if you have questions you should contact your doctor. Considering that you can get nitric oxide benefits from eating vegetables you should be fine.
How do I know if my nitric oxide is low?
There are a few symptoms that may indicate low levels of nitric oxide, such as fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath. However, these symptoms are non-specific and could be related to a variety of other health conditions. The most accurate way to determine your nitric oxide levels is through a blood test that measures the levels of nitric oxide in your blood vessels.
Should I take nitric oxide before or after workout?
Taking nitric oxide before a workout helps increase blood flow and reduce the side effects of intense training.
What is the proper dosage for nitric oxide supplementation?
The two most common nitric oxide supplements are L-arginine and L-citrulline, with doses ranging from 500mg to 6g per day for L-arginine and 1.5g to 6g per day for L-citrulline. It is recommended to start with the lowest effective dose and gradually increase if necessary, under the guidance of a healthcare provider.
Do women benefit from taking nitric oxide supplements?
Yes, just like men, women can see the health benefits of taking nitric oxide supplements including reducing muscle soreness, improving exercise performance, and other benefits. Women need nitric oxide supplements because it promotes lean, strong muscles, supports healthy bones, and has many other health benefits.
Does nitric oxide help sexually?
Nitric oxide can help men sexually as it helps your blood vessels relax, increasing blood flow, and helpful for erections.
Can nitric oxide help with my prostate?
Yes, increased nitric oxide levels can promote blood flow, in turn helping bladder emptying through vasodilation. There are products specifically formulated to help me with their prostate health, check it out here.
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3 Responses
Douglas Henry
Trying to improve muscle growth and sex drive…
Simon kopke
Keen to try it , but does it really work
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Megan Frandsen
August 05, 2023
I’ve been researching the benefits of nitric oxide for some time now. This is one of the best and most easy to digest articles I’ve read on this topic. Thanks sooo much! I’m sharing! Nitric oxide is key.