Post 62

Produce More Nitric Oxide in Your Body Naturally

What is Nitric Oxide?

Nitric Oxide, best known as NO is a combination of nitrogen oxide and nitrogen monoxide.  It is naturally produced and the most powerful vasodialator in the human body.  NO is responsible for a healthy vascular system, production of human growth hormone (HGH), balanced blood pressure, arterial health, heart health, erections in men, and the ability to build muscle.  

NO produces youthful vitality in both men and women, however in men it is critically important.  NO combines with testosterone and is required to be present, in order to create an erection. If either of these components is low or missing, the end result is erectile dysfunction (ED).  Medications have been developed to override the vital loss of NO, however, nitric oxide can be and should be, made within the human body.  Doing this naturally does not cause undesired side effects but rather, builds and balances many related health effects. 

Nitric Oxide widens and softens veins and arteries.  It reduces and clears arterial plaque while lowering high blood pressure.  In 1992, NO was named the miracle molecular for vascular health.  In 1998, the researches of this material won a nobel prize for its discovery.

Aside from vascular health, ED, and plaque reducig, nitric oxide production is a number one focus of body builders.  In order to achieve greater success in weight lifting and athletic performance, NO in product form, is a favorite pre-workout supplement which expands the veins, allowing more blood flow.  This effect however has a very short life.  The best way to achieve higher nitric oxide in the body is through the following foods that should be incorporated into the diet.  Create NO in your body for a long lasting total effect for your heart, veins, arteries, healthy blood pressure, to reduce arterial plaque, and to help correct erectile dysfunction in men.

How To Raise Your Nitric Oxide Levels

1. Number one on this list is Citruline, an amino acid.  The highest food source known of this critical nutrient is in the rind of watermelon. When summer rolls around, eat watermelon and always always- thoroughly clean and juice the rinds of watermelon.
2. Arginine- most people have heard of this amino acid. It is found in grains, protein powders, and athletic supplements.   Many men and women like to combine arginine and citruline or ornithine.  Arginine converts in the body to NO naturally and increases growth hormone.  Growth hormone declines after the age of 25 and continues to decline as we age.  Arginine increases human vitality by increasing HGH.  For men with Low-T, arginine binds to testosterone to increase and improve important hormone levels.  Men with Low-T have low NO.
3. Increase exercise.  Exercising daily will raise NO for several hours. Exercising end of the day, rather than in the morning, can also be helpful for improving evening vitality.
4. Piceatannol is a metabolite found in two foods-  resveratrol which is in red wine, and rhubard.  Piceatanol is a natural  nitric oxide booster.
5. Catechins-  found in tea.  Drinking 3-5 cups of green or black tea daily improves NO through the supplement of catechins.  Catechins also make veins more flexible.
6. Pinus Pinaster (registered US trademark Pycnogenol)   Pycnogenol is extracted from only a few natural food sources which include;  maritime pine, grape seed, witch hazel bark, and peanut skin.  In a recent study, pynogenol was as effective against erectile dysfunction as Viagra or Cialis.  Pycnogenol boosts the activity of eNOS which is the same enzyme which makes these two medications effective in an unnatural way.
7. Nitrate Rich Foods-  these foods containing nitrates convert the nitrates into nitritines.  Once eaten, these nitritines are converted into nitric oxide in the gut in the process of digestion. Foods high in natural nitrates increase athletic performance, protect against heart disease, reduce high blood pressure and improve conditions of vascular diseases.  One of the foods highest in nitrates is arugula, much higher than kale, but many foods contain these invaluable nitrates;  beans, eggplant, squash, garlic, onion, kale, arugula, mushrooms, carrots, beets, celery and rhubarb.
8. High Quality Fats-  increase your consumption of high quality fats including saturated fat such as coconut oil.  Your high quality fats include olive oil, grape seed oil, and hemp seed oil.  Reduce poor quality polyunsaturated fats which are considered inflammatory.
9. Vitamin D3 and Sunlight-  researchers from the University of Edinburgh found that when sunlight hits the skin, immediately nitric oxide is released in the body.  Vitamin D3 is responsible for producing over 2000 chemical reactions in the body and regulates up to 1000 human genes.  Sunlight exposure produces vitamin D through our skin.  Vitamin D3 using about 5000 mg. should be taken every day in order to promote healthy nitric oxide release. 
10. Quercetin blocks the activity of endothelin.  Endothelin is a powerful vasoconstrictor which constricts the blood vessels. By blocking endothelin, quercetin helps to boost nitric oxide.  One of the foods highest in quercetin is capers, but many other food sources are also rich in this nutrient including;  onions, parsley, any dark blue or red fruit, apples, cherries, raw hot green chile peppers, red leaf lettuce, kale, asparagus, romaine lettuce, spinach, sweet peppers, broccoli and snap beans.  The quercetin in these foods is most bioavailable and highest in those which are either raw or barely heated. Fruits also contain fructose however, so of these sources, choose the vegetables and capers for quercetin since fructose has been found to reduce nitric oxide.  High fructose corn syrup reduces nitric oxide.
11. Avoid fructose, avoid any foods containing high fructose corn syrup. Fructose is naturally found in fruits and has been found to reduce nitric oxide. When consuming fruit, eat only 1 serving per day and eat it only raw. Fruit in its limited and raw form, is a healthy food but should be confined to 1 serving.  When choosing your fruit serving, select one which is high in quercetin mentioned above.
12. Ginkgo Biloba-  this herb improves memory, thins the blood, increases vein flexibility, improves hearing and vision, and boosts the production of nitric oxide.
13. Icariin-  this is a flavonoid which is natural PDE5 inhibitor.  Both Viagra and Cialis work by inhibiting PDE5 using an unnatural medical pathway.  Icariin does the same thing naturally and is found in three herbs;  horny goat weed (epimedium), long jack (tongkat ali) and muira puama.  Muira Puama also is an excellent antidepressant which contains natural L-Dopa, the precursor to dopamine which promotes the pituitary to release human growth hormone or HGH.  HGH helps to stimulate better muscle tone in both men and women.
14. Maca-  significantly increases endothelial L-arginine nitric oxide activity.  Boosts testosterone and supports hormone production in both men and women.
15. Vitamin C-  lowers cortisol.  Nitric Oxide is sensitive to being destroyed by free radicals. Vitamin C is a free radical scavenger along with all antioxidants.  Vitamin C protects nitric oxide and boosts its production, increases testosterone levels, and supports a healthy immune system. Vitamin C can be taken as ascorbic acid in standard supplements or in natural forms like rosehips, acerola berry, and camu camu.
16. Korean Ginseng- an adaptogen herb which can be taken daily without break.  It is a vasodialator and total body tonic herb. Panax Ginseng has been found to be effective against erectile dysfunction.
17. Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA)-  vasodilator–  taking 300 mg. per day improves average blood flow by 44% and boosts nitric oxide
18. Aphrodisiac Herbs– these plants improve the production of NO including blue lotus flower, damiana, and tribulus. Yohimbe is also known as an aphrodisiac herb because it improves blood flow and works as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor- an antidepressant and nerve system stimulant.  Yohimbe is often combined with arginine or citruline in a natural treatment for erectile dysfunction.
19. Turmeric-  although this amazing Indian spice is excellent to reduce inflammation and prevent lesions in the brain, when the active ingredient called curcumin is separated away from its compounds in the rhizome, it reduces nitric oxide. Curcumin should be avoided as a supplement, sticking to turmeric, the natural whole food product instead.
20. Fasting- 24 hour–  an occasional 24 hour fast results in a 2000 point increase in the human growth hormone levels, which in turn stimulates healthy nitric oxide levels.