Do Nitric Oxide Supplements Help Build Muscle?
Today, it’s not surprising to see more workout supplements in fitness stores than actual workout equipment.
And among them, nitric oxide supplements are among the most widely used and marketed. So, do they work as well as they claim? Or they merely marketing gimmicks?
Whether you’re a bodybuilder, an athlete, a health-conscious person, or simply someone interested in learning more, we’ve got the right insights here for you.
Today, we’ll give you a full rundown on nitric oxide supplements. By the time you finish reading, you’ll know what it is, how it works, and which products give you the most desirable results.
Let’s begin!
What is Nitric Oxide?
First things first, what is nitric oxide, and why does it sound like it belongs in a chemical lab?
Simply put, nitric oxide is one of the compounds in our body that widens blood vessels. This action, in turn, releases vital hormones like human growth hormones (HGH), insulin, etc. So, it’s definitely a crucial part of your body’s entire system.
Nitric oxide is present in almost every organism you can think of – from bacteria and fungus to plants and animals (humans included). So, it belongs in organic environments as much as it’s found in laboratories.
How Does It Work?
The way nitric oxide works is through vasolidation – a process that widens the walls of blood vessels by relaxing the inner muscles (1).
Once relaxed, they make way for better blood circulation. Consequently, better circulation means that the oxygen, blood, and nutrients in your body get to travel efficiently to all the intended destinations.
The result is a fit and fabulous body that’s ready for activity.
What Are Nitric Oxide Supplements?
So, if this molecule is already present in the body, what are nitric oxide supplements?
Our bodies don’t always run on optimum efficiency owing to factors like lifestyle, diet, fitness level, and body composition (to name a few).
Besides these external factors, deficiencies or medical conditions within the body may also affect the presence of nitric oxide. This means you can’t expect everyone to have the same levels of nitric oxide in the body.
If you’re someone interested in bodybuilding or related pursuits like fitness and athletics, low nitric oxide is bad news. Similarly, you may not experience any deficiency but still want to enhance its effects on your body for building mass.
That’s where nitric oxide supplements come in. These supplements contain either L-arginine or L-citrulline, amino acids that serve as nitric oxide supplements. The general consensus is that L-arginine helps in building muscle because it’s the same protein-building block found in meats.
How Does Nitric Oxide Help Build Muscle?
So, there’s no doubt that nitric oxide is a vital compound used in the body. But there are many other chemicals and compounds that work in the body. How will this one help me as an athlete, bodybuilder, or fitness enthusiast?
Nitric oxide is a crucial molecule in making your body run at full efficiency. But it’s important to note that it doesn’t directly generate muscles for you. Rather, it enhances the systems that help you build muscles and mass.
There are a few factors to unpack here. The right nitric oxide supplements will create the best conditions for exercising, working out, and building resilience. These enhancements naturally lead to the accumulation of more strength, endurance, and mass. So let’s look at each aspect in a bit more detail.
Enhanced Exercise Sessions
Nitric oxide supplements aren’t necessarily energy boosts. But their effect on your body is pretty similar.
It can regulate both your blood pressure and circulation to improve the performance and delivery of each session. During the workout, you may feel that you’re more energized and in the zone. This benefit is also closely connected to the next two advantages.
Tolerance To Fatigue
One of the most important effects of nitric oxide is the efficient delivery of oxygen to your muscles. The enhanced supply of oxygen in your blood vessels means you can exert more energy and perform more physical feats.
That’s great news for anyone who wishes to get more reps in your existing regimen. You can work out harder for longer without experiencing the early fatigue.
Better Post-Workout Recovery
Nitric oxide supplements can also reduce post-workout soreness and increase recovery rates. The same logic mentioned above applies here too. With enhanced oxygen, your cells and muscles can recover with much better efficiency than before.
Heart-Boosting Effects
When you’re hitting your reps, your respiration and blood circulation is usually at their peak. That means your heart is pumping blood and oxygen over time.
Nitric oxide supplements used in the right dose can potentially improve carotid artery blood flow. The effect is that you get a more effective workout session, and you feel much better doing it.
Related Health Benefits
Nitric oxide supplements may also help lower your blood pressure and assist in managing diabetes. Now, these benefits aren’t directly connected to building muscle.
But any medical condition that prevents you from working out will indirectly lower your performance.
So, keeping healthy and avoiding these common conditions will, in the long run, allow you to develop a more muscular and fit body.
Which Nitric Oxide Supplement Should I Use?
There are many nitric oxide supplements available both in gym stores and online outlets. And picking the right product for you can be confusing. So, here are a few things to consider when choosing a nitric oxide supplement.
- Easy to administer/consume.
- Presence of L-arginine
- Free of flavors and sweeteners
- Affordable with positive reviews.
There aren’t many supplements and products that fit the bill when you consider all those requirements. But the Crazybulk NO2-MAX comes closest in terms of ingredients and results.
The NO2-MAX comes with a whopping 1,800mg of L-Arginine along with traces of vegetable stearate, triacetin, and propylene glycol.
The added 80mg of calcium is also a bonus nutrient you get with this product. It’s also easy to consume because it comes in tablets.
One pill prior to your workout (twice a day) is quite enough to keep your body going at peak performance. A bottle of 60 tablets lasts you over a month, so the price is also pretty reasonable, given the benefits.
Closing Note
Nitric oxide supplements and products are excessively marketed as miracle products for endurance. But they’re only supplementing what your body already has and needs. It’s the timing, dosage, and associated regimen that matters the most.
So, ensure that you consider all related factors as you begin taking these supplements.
