NOS
NOS is a gas produced by the body that dilates the blood vessels and transports nutrients to the muscles, making them look fuller which is ideal for bodybuilders.
According to Healthline, nearly every type of cell in the body produces nitric oxide, which is one of the most important molecules for blood vessel health. (1)
Foods such as dark leafy greens, citrus fruits, watermelon, dark chocolate, beets, poultry, beef, seafood, nuts and seeds and organ meat such as liver and kidney can increase nitric oxide levels.
Benefits may include
- Improved exercise performance
- Fuller looking muscles
- Reduced blood pressure
- Enhanced endurance
- The removal of byproducts from high protein diets
- Relief from erectile dysfunction
Benefits
1) Improved exercise performance
When weight training, muscles need more oxygen for optimal performance. Nitric oxide can increase blood flow and enhance oxygen supply. The increased oxygen and nutrients distributed to the tissue may help stimulate growth. (2)
2) Fuller looking muscles
Nitric oxide helps to increase blood flow and nutrient distribution by widening the blood vessels. The increase in muscular fullness which results is known as a muscle pump.
3) Reduces blood pressure
According to Kristen Unger from Healthfully, nitric oxide is a vasodilator. In the cardiovascular system, the compound acts to relax the walls of blood vessels throughout the body, which increases blood flow and helps prevent the development of high blood pressure. (3)
4) Enhanced endurance
Nitric oxide can increase the amount of oxygen in your muscles, reduce lactic acid build-up and allow you to continue training as usual. After a workout, you may experience fatigue which is caused by a lack of oxygen. It produces a build-up of lactic acid. Lactic acid build-up results in a burning sensation and can hinder your training. You may have to stop the exercise, and it can also prevent you from progressing. Nitric oxide can help increase your endurance.
5) The removal byproducts from high protein diets
The blood removes the byproducts of metabolism, including carbon dioxide and lactic acid. Lactic acid fatigues muscles during training and can hinder your performance. Consuming nitric oxide can help remove lactic acid from muscle tissue.
6) Helps with erectile dysfunction
The chambers inside the penis need to fill with blood for it to become erect. Nitric oxide can help relax muscles and increase blood flow which may help with erectile dysfunction. (4)
NOS works well with
- Carnitine to maximise performance
- Whey protein for muscle growth and recovery
Some things to consider
Taking nitric oxide is safe for most people. If side effects do occur, they tend to be mild and may include diarrhoea, stomach pain, bloating, or heartburn, headache, heart palpitations and nausea.
Some people should not take nitric oxide, including individuals with liver problems, certain genetic disorders and low blood pressure. Nitric oxide can worsen liver function so people with liver problems including cirrhosis and liver scarring, should not take nitric oxide. People with Guanidinoacetate Methyltransferase Deficiency should also avoid nitric oxide supplements. It is a rare genetic condition where a person lacks an enzyme that converts arginine into creatine, which is a waste product.
Nitric oxide can decrease blood pressure, so people with low blood pressure should not take it. According to Rachel Nall, RN, MSN, CRNA from Medical News Today, you should also avoid taking nitric oxide before surgery. (5)
Resources
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/nitric-oxide-supplements
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22260513
- https://healthfully.com/402682-what-are-the-benefits-of-nitric-oxide-supplements.html
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15866322
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326381
