Nitric Oxide
Nitric oxide or NO is a powerful arterial agent that relaxes blood vessels and improves cardiovascular health. Chronic inflammation of the vascular system, most often due to high amount of fructose, and particularly high fructose corn syrup and sugar, causes inflammation and can impair the production of NO. Thus, anything that reduces inflammation and increases the body’s production and utilization of NO would be beneficial. The creation of NO is no simple matter as several biological transformations are necessary: it involves the transformation of nitrates (found in food), to nitrites (through salivary bacteria), to NO (through stomach acid). Factors involved in NO cycle are as follows:
1. Intake of nitrates from food. High-nitrates food include: beets, spinach, celery, and lettuce. Most root vegetables contain nitrates, such as carrots and radishes; also green beans, cabbage, collard greens, and parsley. Vegetables grown in hothouses can contain 5-10 times more nitrates than those grown in the field. Organic vegetables, grown without fertilizers, contain less nitrates than vegetables grown with fertilizers. Hawthorne berries are high in natural nitrates and provide the heart with extra protection as well.
Some studies have indicated that the regular intake of garlic (about 4 garlic pills) + Vitamin C (1500mg) can increase NO levels by up to 200%.
Pomegranate juice seems to protect nitric oxide from oxidation and enhance its biological activity. It seems that probiotics also provide nitric oxide from nitrite and nitrate. Nitrate is lost via peeling, washing, and cooking of fruits and vegetables.
2. Proper conversion of nitrates to nitrites, which is accomplished though salivary bacteria and proper chewing. Hence, use of antibacterial mouthwash, or hydrogen pyroxide (which can be helpful in removing problematic oral bacteria) kills the bacteria necessary for proper nitrate-nitrite conversion. Hence avoid antibacterial mouthwash and hydrogen pyroxide, or use only on occasion, at night.
3. Ample amounts of Vitamin C in the system to naturally inhibit the conversion of nitrates to harmful nitrosamines. Supplementing with Vitamin C (particularly in the form of ascorbic acid) may not be the answer since a body that is too acidic is unable to utilize Vitamin C. The most utilizable form of Vitamin C is found in scallions, but any naturally-occurring form of Vitamin C, such as found in fruits and vegetables, is helpful.
4. Proper amounts of stomach HCL, which is needed to convert nitrites to NO. Hence, chronic cases of low stomach acid, or hypochloria, can lead to chronically low NO levels. (To remedy this, take HCL about 30 minutes after eating. The best form is liquid HCL, which can be purchased as drops, or better yet as HCL crystals which can be mixed in water. Be very careful to drink through a thin straw, avoid contact with the teeth, and immediately brush the teeth with baking soda or natural toothpaste.)
5. An important indirect precursor of NO is the amino acid arginine, which also increases plasma nitrate and nitrite and thus enables NO production. Another amino acid, citrulline, is converted to arginine, yet citrulline may support the NO cycle is ways that arginine does not. Hence, implementation with citrulline seems to be more beneficial than arginine.
6. Fish oil is particularly useful in reducing cardiovascular inflammation (as well as promoting many other health benefits). So, regular intake of fish oil (in liquid form, not pills) is advisable. To prevent oxidation, it is best to take fish oil with a natural anti-oxidant. Some doctors advise the intake of astaxanthin, which is a powerful antioxidant but has the problem of inhibiting DHT, which is powerful form of testosterone. For men under 40 this is not a problem, but with anyone having signs of low testosterone (and this also includes women, who need some amount of testosterone) such anti-oxidants are not advised. Using Vitamin C, or better yet, rice bran solubles (which contains all forms of tocopherols and tocotrienols) is preferred.
One way to take in most if not all of the necessary ingredients to help boost NO production is to "amp up" your Groil Sauce. What I do is take the regular Groil Sauce (which, by the way, already contains beet juice crystals) and I, a) double the amount of beet juice crystals, b) add a teaspoon of spinach juice powder, and c) add L-citrulline powder. Hence, the "NO-enhanced" Groil Sauce is made by combining: Fish oil (salmon oil or cod liver oil), hemp oil, beet juice powder, barley grass juice powder, alfalfa grass juice powder, garlic, (cilantro, if available), (scallions, if desired),rice bran solubles, and a small amount of water. To add crunch, and to insure proper salivation, I eat the "NO-enhanced" Groil Sauce this with Quinoa chips and chew really well.
Nitric oxide or NO is a powerful arterial agent that relaxes blood vessels and improves cardiovascular health. Chronic inflammation of the vascular system, most often due to high amount of fructose, and particularly high fructose corn syrup and sugar, causes inflammation and can impair the production of NO. Thus, anything that reduces inflammation and increases the body’s production and utilization of NO would be beneficial. The creation of NO is no simple matter as several biological transformations are necessary: it involves the transformation of nitrates (found in food), to nitrites (through salivary bacteria), to NO (through stomach acid). Factors involved in NO cycle are as follows:
1. Intake of nitrates from food. High-nitrates food include: beets, spinach, celery, and lettuce. Most root vegetables contain nitrates, such as carrots and radishes; also green beans, cabbage, collard greens, and parsley. Vegetables grown in hothouses can contain 5-10 times more nitrates than those grown in the field. Organic vegetables, grown without fertilizers, contain less nitrates than vegetables grown with fertilizers. Hawthorne berries are high in natural nitrates and provide the heart with extra protection as well.
Some studies have indicated that the regular intake of garlic (about 4 garlic pills) + Vitamin C (1500mg) can increase NO levels by up to 200%.
Pomegranate juice seems to protect nitric oxide from oxidation and enhance its biological activity. It seems that probiotics also provide nitric oxide from nitrite and nitrate. Nitrate is lost via peeling, washing, and cooking of fruits and vegetables.
2. Proper conversion of nitrates to nitrites, which is accomplished though salivary bacteria and proper chewing. Hence, use of antibacterial mouthwash, or hydrogen pyroxide (which can be helpful in removing problematic oral bacteria) kills the bacteria necessary for proper nitrate-nitrite conversion. Hence avoid antibacterial mouthwash and hydrogen pyroxide, or use only on occasion, at night.
3. Ample amounts of Vitamin C in the system to naturally inhibit the conversion of nitrates to harmful nitrosamines. Supplementing with Vitamin C (particularly in the form of ascorbic acid) may not be the answer since a body that is too acidic is unable to utilize Vitamin C. The most utilizable form of Vitamin C is found in scallions, but any naturally-occurring form of Vitamin C, such as found in fruits and vegetables, is helpful.
4. Proper amounts of stomach HCL, which is needed to convert nitrites to NO. Hence, chronic cases of low stomach acid, or hypochloria, can lead to chronically low NO levels. (To remedy this, take HCL about 30 minutes after eating. The best form is liquid HCL, which can be purchased as drops, or better yet as HCL crystals which can be mixed in water. Be very careful to drink through a thin straw, avoid contact with the teeth, and immediately brush the teeth with baking soda or natural toothpaste.)
5. An important indirect precursor of NO is the amino acid arginine, which also increases plasma nitrate and nitrite and thus enables NO production. Another amino acid, citrulline, is converted to arginine, yet citrulline may support the NO cycle is ways that arginine does not. Hence, implementation with citrulline seems to be more beneficial than arginine.
6. Fish oil is particularly useful in reducing cardiovascular inflammation (as well as promoting many other health benefits). So, regular intake of fish oil (in liquid form, not pills) is advisable. To prevent oxidation, it is best to take fish oil with a natural anti-oxidant. Some doctors advise the intake of astaxanthin, which is a powerful antioxidant but has the problem of inhibiting DHT, which is powerful form of testosterone. For men under 40 this is not a problem, but with anyone having signs of low testosterone (and this also includes women, who need some amount of testosterone) such anti-oxidants are not advised. Using Vitamin C, or better yet, rice bran solubles (which contains all forms of tocopherols and tocotrienols) is preferred.
One way to take in most if not all of the necessary ingredients to help boost NO production is to "amp up" your Groil Sauce. What I do is take the regular Groil Sauce (which, by the way, already contains beet juice crystals) and I, a) double the amount of beet juice crystals, b) add a teaspoon of spinach juice powder, and c) add L-citrulline powder. Hence, the "NO-enhanced" Groil Sauce is made by combining: Fish oil (salmon oil or cod liver oil), hemp oil, beet juice powder, barley grass juice powder, alfalfa grass juice powder, garlic, (cilantro, if available), (scallions, if desired),rice bran solubles, and a small amount of water. To add crunch, and to insure proper salivation, I eat the "NO-enhanced" Groil Sauce this with Quinoa chips and chew really well.