All those fancy nitric oxide boosters that cost an arm and a leg… they don’t work.
Here's the Science Based TRUTH:
- Arginine blood flow stimulators ("nitric-oxide" or "NO2" supplements) have been shown to increase vasodilation, but only in unfed people receiving enormous doses through an IV.
- Oral arginine supplementation doesn't affect blood flow.
- A dose as low as 10 grams has been associated with gastric upset when consumed orally. This dose has no significant effect on glycogen storage, even if it didn't cause diarrhea.
- Time release arginine is supposed to lead to a "perpetual pump" effect. New studies have shown this not to be the case.
- NO2 was shown to have no effect compared to a placebo on body composition or muscle strength.
- It's not possible for us to consume high enough levels of arginine to effectively increase nitric oxide levels.
But Wait, I Thought I Felt Something!
I’m sure some people are reading this and thinking, "But I know these products work because I’ve taken them and the pump is real!" While these perceived effects are potent, I promise you that based on the scientific evidence, this is merely a result of the placebo effect.
The placebo effect is when someone uses an inert substance, which should produce no effect, yet somehow still experiences an effect. This occurs frequently when pharmaceutical companies test a new drug. They give one group the real drug and another group an inert sugar pill. Interestingly, the group receiving the sugar pill often has a series of side effects like dry mouth, headaches, dizziness, adding ten pounds to their bench, etc. — all caused by their own minds!
One famous research analysis calculated the placebo effect to account for 75% of a drug’s effect, although this exact figure remains controversial. It’s amazing what dogma we can succumb to in the face of contrary reason and evidence, merely because we want to believe something...
The ONLY currently known way to boost Nitric Oxide is with dietary nitrates. And you can only get nitrates through…
Your diet.
Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the most important molecules in the body, involved in virtually every organ system. Perhaps its most important role is as a potent vasodilator (i.e. it makes blood vessels bigger). This is of huge importance because bigger blood vessels means more blood flow around the body without the pump (heart) working harder. Thus, insufficient NO can directly cause or contribute to multiple diseases.
Vegetables are the main source of nitrate, contributing around 85 % of daily nitrate intake. Most of the remaining nitrate comes from drinking water. Analyses of a range of foodstuffs indicate that the highest levels occur in green, leafy vegetables such as cabbage, lettuce, chard, and particularly arugula (rocket), while beetroot and rhubarb are moderate sources. Other vegetables such as carrots contain lesser amounts.
Nitrate rich vegetables before a workout have been shown to improve blood flow, recovery, and muscle building.
The catch?
You need a lot of them – about 500g of nitrate rich veggies an hour before your workout...
That’s fine though; just have a delicious salad or smoothie before your workout to maximize blood nitrate levels.
Green, leafy vegetables are consistently reported as one of the healthiest varieties of plant foods, including with regards to protection against heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Some have suggested that nitrate explains a lot of this benefit. Either way, the practicalities are clear: For most people looking to optimize their NO levels and overall health, the consumption of green, leafy vegetables regularly as well as beetroot and rhubarb can be recommended.
Super Natural Gains! ?
Sambo
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