Nitric oxide, NO, is a chemical signal that regulates the dilation and tone of your blood vessels. Your body manufactures NO from amino acids. You need a diet with an adequate amount of protein to synthesize plentiful NO. In turn, NO helps your body deliver all types of nutrients to cells throughout your body.
Nitric Oxide in the Body
Many cells in your body use nitric oxide as a biochemical signal. However, NO production by the endothelial cells lining your arteries have attracted the most attention from researchers. Your blood vessels constantly produce a small amount of NO to regulate blood flow. However, in response to rises in nutrient supply after a meal or during demanding exercise, endothelial cells produce a thousand-fold more NO to dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow.
Increasing NO through Diet
Vascular endothelial cells use the nonessential amino acid L-arginine to produce NO. According to the Mayo Clinic, some medical professionals consider L-arginine conditionally essential when your body cannot produce enough. This is seen in cases of low protein intake, some medical disorders or during injuries or illness when demand for L-arginine is high. The Mayo Clinic suggests that some people with disorders such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes can benefit from L-arginine supplementation to prevent arterial plaque buildup and enhance nutrient delivery to the extremities. Vitamins A and C may slow the breakdown of NO, increasing its effects.
Increasing NO through Exercise
According to a report in "Psychology Today," cardiovascular exercise can help improve your body's ability to produce NO both at rest and under demand. This helps prevent damage to the vascular endothelial cells that happens during the first stage of arteriosclerosis. By allowing blood vessels to relax, NO can help prevent high blood pressure.
Benefits
According to the Mayo Clinic, increasing NO production through a healthy diet, regular exercise and L-arginine supplementation can help in certain diseases. NO can help reduce chest pain, improve blood flow and exercise tolerance in cardiovascular diseases. NO may increase the rate of healing from injury, burns or during critical illness.
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