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Nitric Oxide Supplements: Are They Worth a Try?

Nitric oxide supplements are becoming more and more popular among bodybuilders today.  But what really is nitric oxide?  What are its effects on the environment?  What are nitric oxide supplements?  What are the effects of nitric oxide supplements to the human body?  What are the top rated nitric oxide supplements available in the market?  These are the hazy questions that we will shed light on in this article.

What is Nitric Oxide?

Nitric oxide (NO), also known as nitrogen monoxide, is a gaseous chemical compound that is known to be an air pollutant produced mainly by the combustion in car engines and coal-burning in power plants.  It is also an important messenger molecule that is involved in many physiological and pathological processes within the bodies of mammals.

What are its Effects on the Environment?

It is known that large amounts of nitric oxide are detrimental to the ozone layer.  Here are some effects it has on the environment:

• Helps form acid rain when converted to nitric acid
• Contributes to global warming and ozone layer depletion
• Hampers the growth of plants
• Can mix with other pollutants to form toxic chemicals

What is its Importance in the Body, especially in Muscle Building?

Although it is widely known to be an air pollutant, nitric oxide can also be beneficial.  In fact, it plays a role in our body.  It is an important signaling molecule in mammals’ bodies, including humans’.  A signaling molecule is a chemical involved in transmitting information between cells in the body.  And since it plays a role in the mammalian body’s biological processes, it somehow indirectly affects the buildup of muscles.

The benefits of nitric oxide in the body include the following:

• Nitric oxide helps in the prevention of erectile dysfunction in men because it dilates the blood vessels causing penile erection.
• Nitric oxide carries messages to nerve cells from one body part to another.  It is said to be essential for biological processes like thinking, feeling pain, learning, etc.
• Proper supply of nitric oxide protects a person from atherosclerosis, a disease where arteries or blood vessels harden.
• Hemodyalisis. It is a method used for removing waste products in the body such as creatinine and urea.  It lowers the high glucose amount in the blood to ensure better blood flow.
• Nitric oxide helps the body in its healing process after suffering from cuts, wounds, abrasions, torn ligaments and muscle injury, especially after working out.
• Endurance level. Nitric oxide increases the endurance level of the person, helping him do more workout, and thereby increasing the chances of building more muscles.

What are the Top Brands Available?

Since the mid-90s, NO- containing products have been produced and released in the market.  The top brands include BSN NO-Xplode, 4Ever Fit AKG2 , Higher Power NO-XS, Olympian Labs A-AKG Powder and Optimum Nitric Boost among others.  For more product brands, you can visit http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/no2.html.

What are the Side Effects of Nitric Oxide Supplements on the Body?

Nitric oxide is a gas produced in the body when enzymes belonging to the group called Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) breaks down L-arginine, a type of amino acid, into L-citruline.  Although the body naturally produces nitric oxide, an overdose of it can lead to many side effects, some of which are mild but some are serious and life-threatening.  The following list enumerates the side effects associated with nitric oxide consumption:

• Small levels of NO can cause headache, nausea, diarrhea, irritation of the eyes and nose, fluid formation in lungs and shortness of breath.
• Breathing in high levels of NO can lead to rapid spasms and palpitations, swelling of the throat, reduced oxygen intake, a large buildup of fluids in lungs (death if too much fluid).
• NO, plus other ground-level ozone, can cause major respiratory problems.
• Can react with aerosols from aerosol cans and cause respiratory problems
• Can cause visual impairment

Is it Worth a Try?

There are claims of its benefits in muscle building but there is also a long list of possible nitric oxide supplements side effects.  Some bodybuilders say it’s very effective in muscle building but there haven’t been any concrete and conclusive studies to support that claim so you have to take their word for it.  Surely, it aids the circulation of blood and helps regulating activities of the brain, liver, lungs and kidneys but when it comes to bulking up and increasing muscle mass, there have been no studies done on it yet.  If you decide to take nitric oxide supplements, there are only two possible outcomes – either you end up satisfied with its benefits or you regret taking it because you suffer the side effects.  It is up to you to take the risk.

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