Erectile Dysfunction is a condition related to men’s health and impacting millions globally. Core of ED is the interplay between vascular signaling and blood flow. When men get older, they start having trouble getting or keeping an erection. There are treatments available in the market but some people want long-term and natural solutions. 

So, people are preferring Nitric Oxide (NO) supplements. But:

• Do you know what NO and how they work? 
• Do you want to understand the role of NO to treat ED?

Nitric Oxide (NO) is a very important and signaling molecule produced by nerves and endothelial cells in penile tissue. In actuality, NO is a gas that the human body naturally produces. This gas plays a crucial role in the blood flow in the body. Your body releases NO in the penis when you feel sexually aroused. So, it helps blood vessels widen and relax allowing more blood to flow into the penis. This increased blood flow causes an erection. In case, if your body can’t produce enough nitric oxide so blood vessels won’t respond properly. It will lead to trouble getting an erection. Scientists are working on finding ways to boost nitric acid production in the body.                                                                                                                                            

We will break everything in simple steps to help you understand it. This blog is not any medical advice as it’s for educational purposes only. 

Working of Nitric Oxide supplements:

You need to understand that nitric oxide supplements are not all about Nitric Oxide. They are used to make your body function natural. Following are the main ingredients in Nitric Oxide supplements: 

1. L-Arginine: It is an amino acid which is also known as the building block of protein. It is a key ingredient in many supplements which is used by our body to produce nitric oxide. In one study, about 5 grams of L-arginine was given to men daily and 1 in 3 men experienced improvement in their erections. So, this supplement is good to begin with for men who have low nitric oxide levels.  

2. L-Citrulline: It is also an amino acid that turns into L-Arginine in the human body. But some studies have proved that it might work better than L-Arginine to increase NO. In a study, it was found that men with mild ED got better erection hardness and sex frequency. 

3. Beetroot or Nitrate Rich foods: Leafy green vegetables, beetroot or spinach etc are high in nitrates which turn into NO in your body. Moreover, Beetroot juices and powders are known as natural nitric oxide boosters. 

4. Antioxidants (Vitamin C, Vitamin E): Antioxidants protect NO from being broken down quickly so it is useful to keep stable NO levels in your body. 

5. Pine Bark Extract (Pycnogenol): This natural plant is used together with L-arginine and helps to increase NO production in the body. 

Supplements have a noticeable effect on many men but not for all men. It can help men with mild to moderate ED by improving their blood flow. 

Benefits: These NO supplements are good if you are suffering from mild or occasional ED due to poor blood circulation or hypertension. So, these supplements are the best alternative to support your heart and blood vessel health. But remember, if there are other reasons for your ED like medical condition, nerve damage or low testosterone, then these supplements are not enough. Doctor’s consultation is highly recommended. 

Lifestyle strategies to enhance NO production:

Studies have proven there are several lifestyle changes that you can adapt to support NO production and vascular health. 

1. Physical activities like cardio and resistant training can help to improve endothelial and NO functions. 
2. By reducing sleep, stress and alcohol consumption, your NO and endothelial function can be improved. 
3. Healthy diet, fruits, veggies, whole grains, beets, spinach can be helpful for NO synthesis and vascular health. 
4. Stay in touch with your doctor as many health conditions can also affect your bedroom performance. So your healthcare provider can assess that condition and treat it. 
5. Weight management helps to improve NO production and blood circulation. 

Side effect of these supplements: 

Generally, NO supplements are safe but some men may feel some side effects like upset stomach, low blood pressure, dizziness, headache, flushing etc. Moreover, if you are taking any other medicine like blood pressure, heart problem etc, consult with your doctor first as combining with NO supplements can be risky. 

If you are taking NO supplements, then you can see results in about 1 to 3 weeks but it depends on several other factors like diet, sleep, health condition, exercise etc. 

When should you see a doctor? 

We recommend you to stay in touch with your doctor before taking any supplement but if you are facing some issues often, you should discuss with him again. There are the common conditions when you should contact your doctor immediately: 

1. Regular ED
2. Diabetes, Heart problem or hypertension
3. ED under 40
4. Taking other medications

Your doctor can guide you safely according to your health condition. 

Conclusion: NO supplements work in a natural way to treat ED, support blood circulation, heart health and vascular functions. These supplements may not work for all men but it must be considered to treat mild erectile dysfunction. You must remember that supplements are just a way to treat problems, they are not magic pills. You must have a healthy lifestyle to get full results. So, if you are also struggling with ED silently, talk to your doctor, it is treatable. Discuss openly to get all options to treat your condition naturally and medically.