Nitric Oxide and Blood Flow: What You Need to Know

Nitric oxide is a tiny molecule that every tub and powder in the supplement aisle claims to contain. Not one of them actually does. It's a gas. It disappears in seconds. You could fill a tub with it, but by the time you'd scooped it out and put it in a pill, there'd be nothing left. Yet, this ephemeral molecule is crucial: it’s the signal your blood vessels rely on each time your blood pushes past.

The Gas That Signals Your Blood Vessels

Nitric oxide is a signaling molecule. You can't see or taste it, and no supplement can actually contain it — but your blood vessels produce it continually. It is key for keeping blood vessels open, which allows blood and oxygen to reach our muscles. This is why nitric oxide sold in supplements promises to support everything from blood flow to stamina. But no powder or capsule can truly deliver it. Nitric Oxide can't be bottled or stored. It's a gas that lasts a few seconds. It escapes any container in mere moments. The products you see in stores are actually just raw materials that claim to stimulate your own body to manufacture nitric oxide. Those raw materials are often beetroot and citrulline. Again, these are not nitric oxide. They are the raw materials your body uses to produce nitric oxide. Specifically, citrulline is an amino acid that converts to arginine, which then converts to nitric oxide. Beetroot, with its high nitrate content, is also a source of nitric oxide. Once ingested, nitrates convert to nitrites, which become nitric oxide.

What’s behind all the nitric oxide hype?

There’s a big market for sports and fitness products in the supplement industry. It’s a domain that includes everything from creatine and protein powders to multivitamins and pre-workout supplements. This is because being able to train harder and longer, without getting as tired, is a common goal for many people. But the hype around nitric oxide goes beyond the supplement aisle. There is a trend of people looking to dozens of supplements, powders, or pills to unlock more power and energy. But the products you see on the market are just a nod to nitric oxide. They make claims about nitric oxide, but you can't actually bottle nitric oxide. The molecule is ephemeral. It only appears in your arteries for seconds.

Your Body Makes Nitric Oxide

Your body is designed to produce nitric oxide every time blood pushes through your arteries. It is an intrinsic part of our biology. Your blood vessels make nitric oxide, which in turn triggers them to relax and open up. This allows more oxygen to reach your body. Nitric oxide production is deeply intertwined with our overall health. It allows blood vessels to expand and relax, which improves circulation and oxygen delivery. A free flow of oxygenated blood means more energy to reach your muscles. When this system works properly, you're able to train harder with reduced fatigue. Your body has everything it needs to keep moving, to keep working, and to keep building muscle.

Stimulating Supplements — but Just in the Raw Ingredients

The supplements you see promising more nitric oxide are typically based on L-citrulline, one amino acid that converts to arginine. But the burden of converting more nitric oxide, from consuming these supplements, still depends on your body’s ability to convert these raw materials into the nitric oxide molecule. Few supplements can be carried out to boost nitric oxide production. L-citrulline and beetroot are common in supplements, but they’re not the same as the nitric oxide your body craves. Most of the supplement industry builds around the idea of supplying your body with more raw materials to produce nitric oxide. Raw materials are necessary, but they still have no direct way to release nitric oxide. This is a question of how does nitric oxide benefits. It’s also worth noting that nitric oxide production among specific raw materials remains a contested topic. No significant evidence suggests which supplement can increase nitrogen oxide production. The general supplement category has little to offer.

The Pre-Workout Tub

Pre-workout supplements are legions of power. They help us train harder and longer, without getting as tired. Many contain L-citrulline and beetroot — but these aren’t nitric oxide. They are the precursors your body uses to make nitric oxide. Some, like arginine, have been shown to increase nitric oxide production in the short term. Pre-workout powders and blends promise to let us push beyond our limits. They deliver what seems like a sudden boost of power. However, these supplements do not produce nitric oxide. They contain the same amino acids and nitrate compounds that your body eventually converts to nitric oxide. This process, though, is highly dependent on your physiology and biocompatibility.

Your Next Workout

Want to improve your body’s nitric oxide production? You just need to remember that nitric oxide is a gas and can't be bottled. You don't need a pill or powder. Nitric oxide is produced in humans by the body's own end processes. Work on improving your diet and exercise regularly. Your efforts will improve your body's nitric oxide production.

• Healthy Diet: diet rich in fruits and vegetables, especially those with lots of antioxidants. Leafy greens, citrus fruits, and berries can all help increase nitric oxide levels.
• Exercise Regularly: Exercising boosts your nitric oxide production. It stimulates blood flow and encourages your body to produce more nitric oxide.
• Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Dehydration can reduce nitric oxide levels.
• Get Enough Sleep: A good night’s sleep helps your body regenerate nitric oxide.
• Supplements: They still can't deliver nitric oxide. They supply your body with raw materials to produce nitric oxide, but the conversion process is still up to your body.

Nitric Oxide Isn’t the Game, it’s the Name

It is worth noting that nitric oxide is a crucial vessel-dilating molecule, not the fuel we need to train harder. Your blood vessels produce nitric oxide every time your heart pumps. Nitric oxide helps oxygen reach muscles, giving us energy to do the physical work we want.