subject: NO(Nitric Oxide) and Other Body Building Supplements [print this page] NO(Nitric Oxide) and Other Body Building Supplements
NO or Nitric Oxide is one of the body building supplements that is universally popular. It is a natural substance that is produced in many of the body's cells from L-Arginine. Probably its most important function is in the blood circulation system. Some of its functions are:
It controls the blood flow to the tissues
It dilates the blood vessels
It controls the way in which oxygen is carried and released by the blood
It helps prevent platelets sticking to the walls of blood vessels and causing a thrombosis
Other functions are that it destroys tumour and virus infected cells and kills microscopic parasites.
The interest in nitric oxide for the body building fraternity is its ability to boost muscle gain and growth. It boosts the endurance level of the muscles as well as weight lifting capabilities. It also promotes alertness and enables a faster pace of the nervous system and the body. It makes the blood thin and lowers the high glucose content to enable a swifter flow of the blood.
As I mentioned, L-Arginine increases nitric oxide. So does exercise! However, there is a problem: exercise also produces free radicals. These react with nitric oxide and effectively reduce the amount of NO. The solution to this is to take plenty of anti-oxidants, and have these scavenge the free radicals. Certain anti-oxidants that have proved to be especially effective are:
Vitamin E
Grape seed extract
Quercetin
Selenium
and two that are particularly good are:
Lipoic Acid, which is not only a free radical scavenger, but also promotes the production of nitric oxide
Vitamin C, which is a free radical scavenger, and also stabilizes nitric oxide as well as some of its supporting chemicals
Other supporting body building supplements that are very helpful are:
Folic acid
Vitamin B2
Vitamin B3
Co-enzyme Q10
Acetylcholine
Fish oils containing Omega 3
For the purpose of promoting general health and building muscle,
Flax seed oil is a must. It is also sometimes called Linseed oil. It is very important that it is cold pressed and kept in a refrigerator.
If you are in serious training here are some of the benefits it will give you:
It shortens recovery time
It increases stamina and energy levels
It shortens healing time for strains and sprains
It shortens healing time for bruises
It lowers high blood pressure
It helps prevent atherosclerosis
It eases symptoms of arthritis
It makes it easier to burn fat
It improves the absorption of calcium
It helps improve insulin function
It has a strengthening effect on toe- and finger nails
It improves eyesight
It helps to improve liver function
It helps to reduce hair loss
There are, of course a great many other important nutritional supplements, but the above are mostly those pertaining to successful body building.
