Nitric oxide or NOS is used heavily in the bodybuilding world as it causes the blood vessels to dilate which can lead to massive muscle pumps.
This compound also naturally occurs in the body and releases human growth like factor and insulin which causes nutrients to be uploaded to muscle cells among many other wonderful things. L-citrulline and L-arginine are the most prevalent ingredients in NOS supplements.
Nitric Oxide has the name NO, and the atomic formula of H2O. This compound is a gas redundant of any color. It’s one of the main oxides of oxygen. Nitric Oxide is a highly reactive oxidant, i.e. it contains unpaired electrons, which are sometimes denoted as a dot in the chemical structure. When this reactive oxidation occurs, it creates free radicals, which destroy cells.
The human body naturally produces NO, but it gets depleted from foods that are high in nitrate, such as spinach. Foods that contain lots of these substances can also be sources for nitric oxide production in the body.
In normal body function, the body produces NO by the process of oxidation, through the oxidation of other substances. When you eat or drink something that provides you with sufficient amounts of oxygen, this process is triggered, and it releases excess nitric oxide into the blood stream, where it combines with oxygen to form nitric acid.
Excess nitric acid then causes the blood vessels to dilate and widen. This dilating effect can lead to increased circulation, and the release of nutrients to other tissues. The blood flow to these other tissues allows the cells to produce energy. The process helps your body produce ATP, which is essential to all metabolic processes in the body. When you have plenty of nitric acid in the blood stream, your body uses this excess to break down and use protein.
The amount of nitric acid in your blood stream depends on how active your body uses up its supply. If you exercise a lot and stay physically fit, the body will usually make its own NO, but if you aren’t active and healthy, it needs to get this through oxidative metabolism.
Excess nitric acid in the blood stream, called hyperoxaluria, occurs when the kidneys or liver fail to produce enough nitric acid in the urine. This condition is usually caused by too much protein intake but can also be caused by kidney problems.
When the kidneys and liver don’t make enough nitric acid, the body uses the oxygen in the bloodstream for making this acid. This may cause symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, and even fever. Excessive use of drugs that contain nitrates (such as certain antibiotics, antacids, and aspirin), excessive consumption of alcohol, and dehydration can also cause hyperoxaluria.
Although nitric oxide is neutral, it can cause problems when the body’s protective mechanisms start to destroy or attack free radicals. One way this happens is by producing superoxide dismutase, a substance that fights off other molecules such as hydrogen peroxide and oxygen.
Free radicals are created when cells metabolize chemical compounds that are produced in the body, such as those produced during digestion. These substances then accumulate in the blood and can cause damage to DNA and cause cell mutation.
Because the body doesn’t work well at neutralizing free radicals, the more nitric acid you have in the blood, the more it is able to destroy free radicals, thus causing the symptoms described above. If you don’t work out enough to flush the excess NO away, your body’s NO production increases, so you have an increased need for more nitric oxide and more damage to DNA.
Excess nitrogenase in the blood causes more damage to DNA because it leads to the formation of uric acid crystals, which can’t be broken down by the body’s immune system. This extra uric acid then accumulates in the kidneys and liver and eventually makes them work overtime.
When you have kidney stones, the uric acid crystallizes in the form of crystals and forms stones. If these kidney stones break loose and move through the urinary tract, they can block the ureters and cause a blockage.
These kidney stones become cysts. In some cases, they can become too big and become very painful and should be surgically removed.
Nitric Oxide & Bodybuilding
Nitric oxide supplements are effective when combined with a healthy diet and intense exercise to build muscle quickly. So how does the nitric oxide supplement actually produce new muscle growth? This is achieved by a release of nitric oxide during workout which relaxes smooth muscle cells which are the smooth muscles that fill blood vessels so that maximum blood circulation is achieved; this also helps with the growth of your new muscle cells.
NOS is a vasodilator, which means it relaxes the blood vessels. It can also be used to treat high blood pressure erectile dysfunction.
Some of these supplements can be taken orally, some must be used in the form of a powder supplement, while others must be applied topically. This is because the supplements that must be taken in the form of powder must first be mixed with other ingredients such as amino acids in order to prevent any kind of harmful side effects or interactions.
These supplements must also be taken properly to avoid the effects of side effects.
Nitric bodybuilding supplements are best consumed with a healthy diet and an intense workout schedule. Without the proper nutrients, the supplement may not be able to fully produce any type of positive results.