Is nitric oxide for sex safe? In this article we discuss expectations vs reality, plus how to use it safely. We’ll give you our take on the best natural source to increase nitric oxide in a healthy way.
Not long ago I got an email from someone I ‘follow’ in the marriage niche. I try to stay connected as well as possible so I can be up-to-date on the latest research in my field.
That’s why I mention this email.
It was about a new product (and the research) on how nitric oxide is used to help men and women enhance their sex life. Nitric Oxide – NO for short – is nothing new. But new research is helping us get a better picture of how it can how couples have better intimacy.
In this article I want to talk about how this might help you.
By the way, at the end of the article, I have a recommended product for you. You can assume that any links to products or services in this article is a link where I get a commission if you purchase. Your cost is not affected.
This post contains some affiliate links to products that I use and love. If you click through and make a purchase, I’ll earn a commission, at no additional cost to you. Read my full disclosure here.
Back to the Email
Here’s what Susan (the author of the email) wrote:
Blood flow is crucial for engorgement, tumescence, and erectile function in people across the gender spectrum. Men and women alike are impacted by a lack of blood flow to your genitals. Without blood flow, you can’t feel the pleasure or get the hard-ons that both sexes need for maximum sexual pleasure and satisfaction.
Nitric Oxide is what makes your veins relax so blood can flow. Nitric Oxide production diminishes as we age, the same way hormone production slows down.
Your veins get stiff and the blood stops flowing as well. You can’t think as well. You get heavy legs. You lose erectile function. You feel less pleasure.
When the NO is low, there is less blood flow to your entire body, including your genitals. That means less genital function and degrading performance over time.
That piqued my interest.
I did some research and found some interesting facts about Nitric Oxide.
Hopefully I’ll be able to answer your questions. Plus balance it between expectations and reality.
What is Nitric Oxide?
Nitric Oxide [N2O is the chemical formula] is a colorless gas (molecule).
It was proclaimed the “Molecule of the Year” in 1992.[6] The 1998 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded for discovering nitric oxide’s role as a cardiovascular signalling molecule.
Why is this significant? Especially regarding your sex life?
As you’ll see in later in the article, NO helps blood flow by relaxing blood vessels.
Nitric Oxide Function
NO improves the communication between various cells. Not just in the delivery of oxygen, but it enhances the connection of nerves and brain cells. This is one of the reasons it is good for memory and learning.
Our immune system is set up to fight sickness. Cells release nitric oxide to destroy harmful agents like bacteria, virus and elements that cause infection.
Body builders have been using NO for years to enhance muscle growth. Anytime you can get oxygen to your cells, you will experience health benefits.
But how does all this work?
Nitric Oxide in the Body
Simply put, NO helps blood vessels to dilate allowing more blood to flow through them. It works by relaxing the vessels, which can stiffen as we age (mainly due to diet, not just aging).
As the blood vessels relax and blood flow increases, oxygen is allowed to reach critical areas of the body. In this case, the penis and vagina.
But Nitric Oxide is more than a libido booster.
Your health actually depends on adequate supply of it!
It protects the integrity of endothelial cells.
Endothelial cells are cells that line the inside of blood vessels. These are the cells that secret the greater amount of Nitric Oxide.
The body naturally produces nitric oxide, which helps to expand blood vessels. This helps to increase the amount of oxygen in the blood, as well as decrease plaque buildup and reduce clotting. Nitric oxide is produced in the body by the cells lining the blood vessels.
It is a gas that is released into the bloodstream and relaxes the smooth muscle cells in the vessel walls, which helps to widen the vessels. This action increases blood flow and decreases blood pressure.
Nitric Oxide Killers
Not only is NO necessary for erectile function, we need it to increase blood flow throughout our body.
What happens if NO decreases?
If nitric oxide in our body decreases, it can lead to a variety of problems including high blood pressure, heart disease, and erectile dysfunction.
Some things that may reduce nitric oxide levels or interfere with it’s production in the body include:
- Certain medications, such as those used to treat high blood pressure or heart conditions
- Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- A diet high in processed foods and low in fresh fruits and vegetables
- Chronic stress
- Lack of sleep
- Exposure to environmental toxins, such as pollution
- Aging
- Inflammation
- Certain infections
- Certain genetic factors
Since NO is so vital for a healthy life (and sex life), do your best to avoide the things you can control on this list. Specifically reduce smoking, alcohol, processed foods, and toxic chemicals.
To aid NO production, make sure you get plenty of rest, eat a healthy diet, and control inflammation.
Nitric Oxide Side Effects
As with any supplement (and anything you take into your body) you need to be aware of any side-effects. Even healthy substances can become toxic if taken too often or inappropriately.
Same with NO.
I’ll break this down into two segments: Common Side Effects and the Not-So-Common Side Effects.
Common Side Effects include:
- Changes in blood pressure
- Change in blood sugar levels
- Nausea
- Skin irritation
- Increased urge to urinate
Not-So-Common Side Effects
- Reduced potassium levels
- Irregular heartbeat
- Chest discomfort
- Dizziness
- Head pain
- Throat dryness
- Trouble breathing
Note: If you have chronic heart failure, taking NO may worsen your problem. You should always talk to your physician before taking any supplement.
For more information on the side effects of NO go here, here and here.
Nitric Oxide Benefits
Nitric Oxide doesn’t just help with your sex drive; it also has other benefits.
According to Healthfully.com, NO is known to help…
- Cardiovascular Health
- Learning and Memory
- Bone Remodeling and Healing
- Reduced Joint Pain
Healthline.com says it can also…
- Decrease Muscle Soreness
- Boost Exercise Performance
- Help Manage Type 2 Diabetes
Other benefits include:
- Help memory and behavior by transmitting information between nerve cells in the brain
- Assist the immune system at fighting off bacteria and defending against tumors
- Regulate blood pressure by dilating arteries
- Reduce inflammation
- Improve sleep quality
- Increase your recognition of sense (i.e. smell)
- Increase endurance and strength
- Assist in gastric motility
- Lower Blood Pressure
- Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease and Strokes
- Protect against Alzheimer’s
- Help Maintain Muscle Mass
There is a connection between heart disease (as well as high blood pressure) and erectile dysfunction (genital blood flow). Nitric Oxide is being used to treat these and other diseases.
The TTAC (The Truth About Cancer) says Nitric Oxide has been used as a cure for cancer.
According to a review published in a 2013 edition of the Journal of Surgical Oncology, “NO has been suggested to modulate different cancer-related events including angiogenesis, apoptosis, cell cycle, invasion, and metastasis. On the other hand, it is also emerging as a potential anti-oncogenic agent.”
The Role of Nitric Oxide in Weight Loss
One surprising beneficial effect of NO is weight loss. According to some studies, nitric oxide production has been shown to help with weight loss by increasing the amount of fat that is burned for energy and by increasing the amount of energy that is used by the body.
Nitric oxide (NO) is emerging as a central regulator of energy metabolism and body composition. NO bioavailability is decreased in animal models of obesity and in obese and insulin resistant patients, and increasing NO output has remarkable effects on obesity and insulin resistance.
How To Increase Nitric Oxide Naturally?
Because there is a natural decrease of NO as we age, it’s important to know how to increase the production of nitric oxide naturally.
Eating the right foods (see below) can help. But there are other things you can do as well.
Susan mentioned a few things in the email.
You can counteract the natural decrease in Nitric Oxide production by engaging in activities such as:
• Exercise
• Stress management
• Massage
• Hydration
• Smoking cessation
• Avoiding fried foods
• Eating healthy fats
• Avoiding sugar
You can also take NO supplements. I’ll give my recommendation in a minute.
But first, below are a few other things you can do:
Foods that Boost Nitric Oxide
There are many foods that increase NO. This is not a complete list, but here are major sources of high Nitric Oxide foods in incorporate into your diet.
- Arugula
- Kale
- Pomegranate
- Dark Chocolate or Raw Cacao
- Watermelon
- Beets
- Brown Rice
- Walnuts
- Green Leafy Veggies
- Purple Cabbage
- Peanut Butter
- Cranberries
- Garlic
- Cayenne
- Swiss Chard
- Onions
- Honey
- Seafood; specifically Salmon, Shrimp
One of the best ways to get this into your diet without eating all these veggies (although that is recommended – put them in your diet) is to get a fruit and vegetable supplement. One we recommend is Organic Super Green’s by Feel Great 365. Check Amazon for prices and information. (This is an Amazon Affiliate Link).
Here’s a great chart showing high NO foods
4 Drinks that Will Directly Boost Nitric Oxide
Red Wine
Beet Juice
Tropical Fruit Juices [lemons, limes, oranges, pomegranates, grapefruits]
Garlic Greens
There are other ingredients and ways to increase NO in your diet, but these are our top recommendations and a great place to start
Our Recommended Nitric Oxide Supplements
While there are many supplements and products on Amazon that might do the trick, many (if not most) of them are grown and treated with pesticides. Check out Amazon’s list of Nitric Oxide supplements. (This is an Amazon Associate link)
The one we really like is The 20 Flow.
The 20 is made in the United States with high-quality ingredients that are pesticide-free. It’s also gluten-free, sugar-free, and no soy or MSG. You can read about the ingredients here.
Expectations and Reality
Most products over-promise and under-deliver. Same with supplements. Same with Nitric Oxide for sex.
There is no ‘one cure.’
No ONE thing that will guarantee you have a great marriage.
No ONE thing to promise you a long and healthy life.
It takes many things to have a great marriage and a healthy life.
But there are things you can use to increase your odds.
Nitric Oxide will not guarantee you a great sex life. But it can help.
The 20 Flow
This new Nitric Oxide booster FLOW is just the first of a series of sexual and health-related supplements we will be bringing to you under this new company, The20.
The 20 Flow is made in the United States with high-quality ingredients that are pesticide-free. It’s also gluten-free, sugar-free, and no soy or MSG.
Nitric Oxide is a vasodilator. It relaxes and dilates your blood vessels so blood can circulate more easily and bring oxygen and nutrients out to the tips of your fingers and toes, right up into your brain, through your heart, and all the way down into your private parts.
Wrapping It Up
To have a healthy marriage we must maintain healthy lives. This includes a healthy sex life.
Taking care of our body is important.
Our encouragement is to eat healthily, get plenty of rest and drink lots of water. Those are the basics.
To make sure your cells are healthy, sometimes it’s necessary to take a supplement. Along with a good multi-vitamin, maybe it’s time to consider using Nitric Oxide.
