While doing research for our previous Nitric Oxide post, one thing that came up over and over was the question:
“Where can I buy Nitric Oxide?”
I couldn’t help but think “What a silly question – you can’t BUY Nitric Oxide”. But then I typed that exact question into my search bar. The results were rather surprising and a little disheartening. It seems that yes, indeed, you CAN purchase Nitric Oxide. Nitric Oxide supplements are a booming industry, and it’s not surprising. Nitric Oxide has been heavily referred to as a “miracle molecule”.
However, products like this one seem to play on the consumer’s lack of knowledge and society’s desire for a ‘miracle pill’.
Despite the fact that there are Nitric Oxide products available for purchase, it is not possible (yet, anyways) to formulate Nitric Oxide in pill form.
Yes, you read that correctly. Allow me to reiterate:
You cannot buy Nitric Oxide.
Nitric Oxide is synthesized within the body. While this process is still being researched and understood, research has shown time and again that amino acids are essential to this process, specifically L-Arginine & L-Citrulline. These two amino acids are usually the main ingredients in “Nitric Oxide” supplements.
When it comes to nutrition, it is always more beneficial to consume essential nutrients from food sources. Using supplements should be just that – a supplement to increase levels when it is not possible for any number of reasons to get the nutrients you need from food alone.
Check out this list, courtesy of AnabolicMen.com, of food items that are high in the essential amino acids that impact Nitric Oxide production.
Cocoa/Cacao
Several studies have documented that cocoa, especially the raw kind, increases nitric oxide production and lowers blood pressure.
There is also evidence of cacao healing the endolethium (the thin layer of cells that lines the interior surface of blood vessels) by increasing the amount of cells that repair it.
The crucial part in choosing right kind of cacao is the quality. If possible you should always buy raw unprocessed kind, because the ones they sell on markets are so overprocessed that they shouldn’t be even called chocolate anymore.
Watermelon
Watermelon contains a lot of the amino acid L-Citrulline that is one of the best natural compounds to increase nitric oxide, proven by countless of studies.
Pomegranate
If I would have to choose the best food for nitric oxide production and testosterone levels, it would be pomegranate.Pomegranate has been performing perfectly in every single study that it has been researched for, producing effects such as reducing arterial plaque thickness by 30% and increasing testosterone levels by 22% in peer reviewed studies.
Walnuts
Walnuts are packed with vitamin E which helps your arteries and testosterone levels.Also it has been recently studied and proved to increase nitric oxide production and also to lower blood pressure, significantly.
This is probably due to the high amounts of L-Arginine found in walnuts, which has been linked to an increase in nitric oxide production.
Brown rice
Rice might seem like a food that has nothing on it. Actually I thought so for years myself.
Recently though I stumbled into this one study that showed a significant increase in nitric oxide levels after the subjects had consumed brown rice.
Shortly after that I found another one which stated that brown rice also relaxed arterial walls and improved bloodflow significantly.
Spinach
Spinach is known to have one of the highest nitrate contents of all plants, which means that it’s a pretty awesome food to eat if you are looking to increase nitric oxide production.
Oranges
Oranges and orange juice contains high amounts of vitamin C, which has been shown to protect your precious nitric oxide molecules from free radicals.
So ideally there would be no point in increasing your nitric oxide levels without consuming vitamin C and antioxidants at the same time, because without the vitamin C, your beloved nitric oxide would just oxidize away before really doing anything in your body.
Beets
Beetroot is one of those foods that contain nitrates.The thing that really makes beets so amazing is the fact that it is one of those foods that has highest nitrate count in all of plants, and at the same time beets are capable to lower your estrogen levels by acting as a methylator.
Cranberries
There are countless of health benefits that link back to cranberries.
Possibly one of the less known ones is the fact that cranberries increase nitric oxide production, while lowering blood pressure significantly at the same time. This was found out by a study conducted back in the year 2000.
Garlic
Researchers say that garlic is a potent activator of NOS (nitric oxide synthase), and produces same kind of effects as Cialis or Viagra.
In one study it was noted that garlic decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 8 points on subjects with high blood pressure. That’s a very impressive result from a food, as it shows to be working even better than most of the high blood pressure medications.
Black tea
Black tea contains caffeine which acts as a vasoconstrictor, and that’s the main reason why black tea is not something you usually see on a list of foods that increase nitric oxide. But despite black teas caffeine content, it still has some major vasodilating effects.
Many studies claim that black tea significantly increases nitric oxide production and lessens the arterial stiffness.
On top of that there is this study done back in 2009 which claims that more black tea = more bloodflow.
Cayenne pepper
Cayenne pepper contains high amount of capsaicin, the compound that makes all chili’s hot.
One study noted that capsaicin has a dose dependent effect, meaning that more the subjects consumed capsaicin, the more their nitric oxide levels increased and arteries relaxed.
Honey
One animal study claims that honey significantly increases nitric oxide production.
This is probably caused by either the high enzyme content, or the high nitrate content that honey has.
Pistachios
Like almost all nuts, pistachios are also packed with L-Arginine, a precursor of nitric oxide, that is known for its ability to increase nitric oxide production significantly.
Salmon
Wild salmon is a very good source of co-enzyme Q10, enzyme that can be spotted on moisturizer adds for women.
Co-enzyme Q10 is not only great for soothing wrinkles, it’s also a very good nitric oxide booster as it has been shown in dozens of studies to increase nitric oxide production significantly.
Kale
Kale is also a very good source of co-enzyme Q10 which boosts nitric oxide.
Kale also has very high nitrate content which makes it very good nitric oxide booster.
Theres also many other health benefits linked to kale, such as increased testosterone levels and improved arterial health.
Animal organs
One of the greatest foods that every man should be consuming are the animal organs.
The organs contain high amounts of cholesterol and healthy fat-soluble vitamins that boost your testosterone levels.
Those organs are also very good source for co-enzyme Q10 that increases nitric oxide levels, so it’s a win-win situation if you eat organs!
Onions
Onions are not only good for your testosterone levels, as they have been shown to increase nitric oxide production in 2 different studies.
They are also a very good source of vitamin C, which as explained above protects your nitric oxide molecule from free radicals.
Onions also contain a compound called quercetin, explained briefly here. Querceting is well known for its ability to boost nitric oxide levels.
Shrimps
Shrimps are one of the best sources of dietary L-Arginine, as mentioned above L-Arginine is an amino acid and precursor of nitric oxide.
By consuming shrimps you are essentially increasing the amount of L-Arginine in your body which then converts into nitric oxide.
Peanut butter
Nuts are high in arginine and peanut butter is filled with what? Peanuts of course! Now what could be any more easier than consuming some tasty peanut butter to increase nitric oxide production? Nothing. Except perhaps eating a watermelon…
Anyhow consume some peanut butter, preferably organic kind with unprocessed peanuts to increase your nitric oxide levels naturally.
When you get your nutrition directly from its source – like we were meant to – the positive effects are profound. See for yourself by incorporating the above foods into your daily diet. When you do, we’d love for you to come back and comment on your results!
Sources:
Boost Nitric Oxide Levels to Improve Health, Dr. Whitaker
4 Ways to Increase Nitric Oxide Naturally for a Better Workout, Sex & Heart Health, Natural Society
Boost Nitric Oxide Naturally, Anabolic Men
What is Nitric Oxide and How Does it Work?, Nutrition Express
Nitric Oxide – Miracle Molecure, Time for Aloe
Studies shed new light on how Nitric Oxide is produced, Vanderbilt University
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