What Is Nitric Oxide? Benefits, Uses, and Side Effects

Originally posted on https://www.ageless-nutrition.com/nitric-oxide-benefits-uses-side-effects/ Nitric oxide is a gas, but like oxygen, it is a vital part of our body chemistry. It is a free radical, i.e., it has an unpaired electron, which is sometimes denoted by a dot in its chemical formula, i.e., NO Wikipedia. So much so that in 1992 when its significance was recognized as a chemical messenger within all mammals, it was announced as the Molecule of the Year by the American Association for the advancement of Science. It hit the headlines again in 1998 when three scientists were awarded a Nobel Prize for discovering that it played a vital role in the cardiovascular system by regulating our blood pressure and keeping our blood vessels healthy. How does nitric oxide help the body? Further research has shown that nitric oxide is vital to much of our body and keeps us healthy in many ways. It plays an active role in our immune system and nervous system, including our brain activity. Too much or too little of this molecule can affect many chronic conditions. Now research is focused on this molecule to discover its potential for medical treatments. Nitric oxide is produced within the body during the breakdown of food and is quite an unstable molecule that degrades reasonably quickly due to its free radical condition. For its presence to be increased, we need to introduce nitrates from natural sources such as green vegetables and beetroot. Let’s not forget about the amino acid, arginine , which is also an active part in the production of NO. What are the benefits of nitric oxide? Within the blood system, it is found to be released by the cells lining the blood vessels. This produces the effect of relaxing the blood vessels and therefore keeping them flexible and easing […]

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