Nitric Oxide (or NO) was the “Molecule of the Year” in 1998 is essential to combating stroke and heart attacks. Dr. Louis Ignarro was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine for identifying the properties of nitric oxide. This video speaks to the relationship of nitric oxide and L-arginine. L-arginine is an AMINO ACID that is necessary for a healthy heart and brain. Dr. Louis Ignarro says NO can act as a natural statin. You can read more in his book, NO More Heart Disease.
Research indicates that Nitric Oxide delivered by L-Arginine can do the following:
- Helps dilate blood vessels and prevents the narrowing of the arteries and controls blood pressure.
- Causes blood vessels to dilate for sexual function in both male and females. Helps Erectile Dysfunction. See also: acetyl-l-carnitine, propionyl-l-carnitine.
- Stops blood platelets from clumping and clotting together which helps prevent strokes.
- Aids other organs such as kidney and bladder function.
- Increases learning, memory, and sleep.
- Helps fight infections, controls inflammation and rheumatism.
- The Journal of the American Medical Association published a study that proved nitric oxide helps build strong bones.* (See here)
Supplements are available to purchase and are usually taken away from food. I would chew it if possible first. This is suppose to release the NO before it goes into the gut. There are some medical interactions, so be sure to contact your doctor first.
This is a GREAT video on how to stop heart disease in its tracks! It’s definitely worth the view!
Benefits of Nitric Oxide for the Heart Dr. Joe Prendergast, who is mentioned in the video has written a book that can help you better manage heart disease.
Lastly, beets as well as hawthorn berry (see my post here) has proven to be some of the best natural ways to boost nitric oxide levels as well. I would make sure the beets are organic because much of the production today contains GMOs.
Also here are tips from the Reader Digest on putting the amino acid L-ARGININE into your body besides the supplements: (Read more Reader’s Digest here. )
- Eat more foods that contain the amino acid L-arginine, from which Nitric Oxide (NO) is produced. This includes beans, soy, almonds, walnuts, oats, and such cold-water fish as salmon, tuna, and mackerel.
- Cut your intake of saturated fat. Just one meal high in saturated fat can temporarily cut endothelial function almost in half.
- Exercise. The increased blood flow that occurs during exercise encourages the endothelium to make more NO. Over the long term, if you exercise every day, your endothelial cells not only release more NO but also make more of the enzyme that converts arginine into NO.
Here is some great research on nitric oxide:
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23539501
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23376235
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23044353
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22783310
- http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=645806
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3018552/
- Science Direct
- Science Direct
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