Nitric Oxide supplements are a big deal right now, mostly because they’ve been touted as the ‘newest tool’ to help increase the results of your workouts.
But what is the best Nitric Oxide supplement for vascularity?
Everyone is looking for ways to get more extreme results from their workouts. Peak performance is more crucial than ever. And nowadays, most people aren’t content to just get into ‘good shape.’
Those who are serious about fitness want to be jacked, so that they can actually compete and roll with the heavy-hitters in the fitness space.
But, people are also a lot more leery of steroids nowadays, mostly because of their dangerous side effects.
Steroids are also illegal.
5 Best Nitric Oxide Supplements: First Look
For this reason, more and more serious gym-goers are looking for legal, safe, and natural supplements to help them maximize their workouts.
And this is where Nitric Oxide comes in.
Nitric Oxide is a molecule that comes from the aminos acids L-arginine or L-citrulline. When arginine is absorbed into the body, it changes into NO (nitric oxide).
Nitric Oxide is a powerful neurotransmitter, and basically helps the blood vessels to relax. It also contributes to better circulation.
Nitric Oxide is attractive to body-builders and gym-goers, however, because this widening of the blood vessels (also called vasodilation), contributes to delivering more nutrients and oxygen to the working muscles during exercise.
This enhances performance, and (in theory) helps weight-lifters to build more muscle at a faster rate.
Today, we’re going to pull back the veil, and look at the absolute best Nitric Oxide supplements available on the market today.
This can be a convoluted, confusing space. And in this post, you’re going to learn exactly what to look for.
Let’s dig in and get to work.
Top 5 Options: Best Nitric Oxide Supplement for Vascularity And Workouts
In this section, we’re going to break down the 5 best Nitric Oxide supplements in the industry.
These supplements offer the best ingredients and the best results for the best prices, and all of them are centered around delivering more Nitric Oxide into the body to help boost vascularity and workout results.
Let’s dive into it.
1. No2 Max - Best Overall NO2 Supplement
CrazyBulk’s NO2 MAX is a supplement designed to deliver an extreme energy boost, enhanced performance during workouts, increased strength, and pre-workout energy.
It works by increasing natural Nitric Oxide levels within the body. In short, it helps more nutrients to be carried to your muscles faster, thereby giving you more energy, better recovery, a mind-blowing pump, and increased strength and stamina.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Increased strength
- Increased blood flow and oxygen throughout the body
- Reduction in workout recovery times
Cons
- A bit on the expensive side
- Must exercise and watch your diet to see maximum effectiveness
- Must workout to experience muscle-growth benefits
Click Here To See The Full List Of CrazyBulk’s NO2 MAX Ingredients!
Who Should Take This Product?
People who want to maximize their strength, energy, endurance, recovery, and performance during and after workouts through the use of a safe, natural Nitric Oxide supplement should absolutely look into NO2 MAX from CrazyBulk. It’s just one of the best NO2 supplements in the game.
Who Should Avoid This Product?
People who already have low blood pressure should always avoid taking Nitric Oxide supplements, as these types of supplements have the potential to lower the blood pressure even further, which could be dangerous.
Also, since this product contains L-arginine, it is recommended that people should avoid it if they have liver problems, kidney disease, asthma, and/or a guanidinoacetate methyltransferase deficiency.
It’s always a good idea to consult your doctor before taking any Nitric Oxide supplement, just to be sure.
Conclusion
CrazyBulk is a well-known and trusted brand that delivers consistently high-quality supplements, and NO2 MAX is no exception. This is, hands down, our favorite premium NO2 supplement on the market.
2. Jacked Factory N.O. XT Nitric Oxide - Best Premium NO2 Supplement
Jacked Factory claims that they’ve created “The world’s first scientifically-dosed nitric oxide boosting supplement.”
But are their claims correct?
We took a pretty hard look at the ingredients in this one, and it turns out that it’s legit. We liked the ingredient breakdown, we loved the fact that it’s CGMP manufactured, and we loved the fact that this supplement comes with a money-back guarantee.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Ingredients used are backed-up by solid science
- Still a little bit on the expensive side
- L-Citrulline is a bit under-dosed
- Won’t work alone. Must work-out and diet to see benefits
Who Should Take This Product?
If your goal is to build more muscle, get powerful pumps at the gym, boost strength, and have ‘fuller’ muscles, then this is a product that you may want to check out. If you’re searching for the best nitric oxide supplement for vascularity, this is most definitely a supplement that’s in the running as a top contender.
Who Should Avoid This Product?
As usual with NO2 supplements, if you tend to have low blood pressure, you probably shouldn’t take use them, as they can lower your blood pressure even further.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a premium NO2 supplement that’ll bring you real results, that’s formulated scientifically to deliver the kind of vascularity, strength, stamina, and fullness you’ve been looking for, then N.O. XT by Jacked Factory may be the perfect option for you.
3. Nitric Oxide Organic Beets - Best Beetroot NO2 Supplement
Beets are incredibly rich in dietary nitrates. And since your body can convert these nitrates into Nitric Oxide, it only stands to reason that beets, beet juice, and other beet products would serve as the foundation for products intended to help you increase your Nitric Oxide intake, and Nitric Oxide Organic Beets, from Snap, is no exception.
This product can be used to make a smoothie, and works to: optimize Nitric Oxide production, support healthy circulation and heart health, decrease your blood pressure, and provide you with natural stimulant-free energy.
But does it work?
Well, we looked into it, and broke down the ingredients. And we’re happy to say that we were more than pleased with the results.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Helps to lower blood pressure
- Contains no stimulants, sugar, or caffeine
- Promotes better circulation
Cons
- May not lower your blood pressure without proper diet and exercise
- Some people don't like the taste
Who Should Take This Product?
If you’re looking for a smoothie powder specifically designed to give you more energy and lower your blood pressure, while boosting your workouts and helping you to max out at the gym, then this supplement is absolutely worth a try.
Who Should Avoid This Product?
If you already have low blood pressure, you should probably avoid taking Nitric Oxide supplements unless you clear it with your doctor. This also may not be the supplement for you if you’re not interested in working out and dieting along with it, as it seems to require these activities to really make a difference.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a smoothie powder that’ll boost your Nitric Oxide levels to help you power-through your workouts with increased energy and vascularity, then this is the workout powder you need to try next.
4. Cellucor C4 Extreme Energy - Best NO2 Supplement For Pre-Workout
The Cellucor C4 Extreme Energy Pre-Workout Powder Energy Drink contains caffeine, Creatine, Nitric Oxide, and Beta Alanine. It’s also fruit-punch flavored.
It’s basically designed to help delay the onset of fatigue, which will result in helping you to achieve improved power and performance at the gym.
If you’re looking for excellent value in a NO2 supplement, Cellucor C4 Extreme Energy delivers.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Helps give you a fantastic pump
- Caffeine will really keep you awake and give you energy
- You’ll still have extra energy even after your workout
- Taste is a bit on the 'synthetic' side
Who Should Take This Product?
If you want a seriously amped-up workout and don’t plan to go to bed for a while, this is the perfect product for you.
Who Should Avoid This Product?
If you tend to have low blood pressure, you should avoid this product. You should also avoid this product if you’re sensitive to caffeine, as it contains enough to wake you up and keep you awake for several hours.
Conclusion
Cellucor C4 Extreme Energy is a highly rated NO2 supplement that a lot of people stand behind. Of course, it’s not the bees knees for everyone. But if you want a quality workout mix and want to buy it in large quantities while also getting a good deal, you really can’t be it for the value.
5. Kaged Muscle L-Citrulline Powder - Best Value NO2 Supplement For The Money
Kaged Muscle L-Citrulline Powder is a vegetarian, Kosher Certified NO2 supplement that’s designed to maximize muscle pumps, drive nutrient-rich blood to your muscles, and contribute to even greater muscle growth.
Each serving of Kaged Muscle L-Citrulline Powder contains 2g of pure L-citrulline. It contains zero artificial flavors or colors. It’s been third-party tested, it’s been proven to be free of banned substances, and the label tells you exactly what’s in it, so that you can be sure you’re not putting a bunch of filler or garbage into your body.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Gives an amazing pump
- Ingredients are vegetarian and high quality
- Some people say that it also helps with ED
- Isn't strong enough for everyone
- Some people complain that it doesn't help them at all
Who Should Take This Product?
If you’re interested in a clean NO2 product with a positive reputation that may be able to help you increase your workouts, recovery time, and pump, then this could be the best powder for you.
Who Should Avoid This Product?
If you tend to have low blood pressure, this probably isn’t a product you should take unless you consult your doctor first.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for an affordable NO2 supplement that’ll help you to get a decent pump at a decent price, this may be the one for you. It tends to do better when you take a higher dose, so it isn’t incredibly strong. But it makes up for this in quality and cost-effectiveness. Most people who try this one really like it.
Learning More About the Different Types of Nitric Oxide Supplements
There are two common types of Nitric Oxide supplements.
- L-arginine- L-citrulline
They’re both a bit different, and understanding their differences is going to be important in helping you to choose the very best NO2 supplement for you.
Here’s what you need to know.
L-arginine Nitric Oxide Supplements
L-arginine is an amino acid that’s typically found in dairy products, red meat, fish, and poultry. Supplement manufacturers tend to use it to create NO2 pills, creams, and powders.
While L-arginine is effective at boosting Nitric Oxide levels in the body, it has also been shown that it may not be as effective as L-citrulline.
Plus, L-arginine, when taken in higher doses, has been linked to some gastrointestinal problems, such as diarrhea.
With that being said, you need to take pretty extreme amounts of L-arginine to trigger such issues. Most people never experience a side effect while taking supplements that contain L-arginine.
It is recommended that people should avoid L-arginine, however, if they have liver problems, kidney disease, asthma, and/or a guanidinoacetate methyltransferase deficiency.
L-citrulline Nitric Oxide Supplements
L-citrulline is also an amino acid, and tends to be found in foods like meat, legumes, nuts, and watermelon. Supplement manufacturers use it to create NO2 powders or pills.
L-citrulline is generally considered to be more efficient than L-arginine.
What To Pay Attention To When Buying Nitric Oxide Supplements
There are a number of things to pay attention to when buying Nitric Oxide supplements.
In particular, there are four main things to look at:
- Ingredients- Dosage
- Cost
- Customer Reviews
Here are the most important factors to consider.
Ingredients
Contrary to what some people may believe, Nitric Oxide supplements don’t actually contain Nitric Oxide. Instead, they contain substrates… which are ingredients that help your body to produce more NO.
The two best ingredients for this are L-arginine and L-citrulline. Beets are also an ingredient that’s well known to help produce NO within the body.
If a supplement doesn’t have some form of one of these ingredients contained within it, odds are good that it’s not going to work as well as a supplement that does.
Dosage
As a general rule, studies indicate that starting with daily dosages of 1.5 grams, and then working your way up slowly to about 5 grams or less, is considered the best approach.
Of course, you’ll need to experiment and listen to your body. If you don’t notice any benefits, increasing the dosage slightly (up to a max of 5 grams) can help you to find your sweet spot.
When looking at the dosages recommended by supplements, check and see exactly how much L-arginine or L-citrulline they’re recommending in the daily dosage guidelines.
Cost
Cost is obviously an important element to consider.
Nitric Oxide supplements can range from being inexpensive, to quite expensive.
But it’s also true that different people will desire different levels of performance.
If you need a more serious pump, you may want to try a stronger, premium-grade supplement—while you may be able to get away with a lower potency supplement if you’re a more casual gym-goer.
Customer Reviews
Nitric oxide supplements are everywhere, but how do you know what's the best supplement for your needs?
There are a lot of different products out there and many people don't know what to look for when they're looking at the labels.
So one good rule of thumb is to always read customer reviews before spending money on a supplement.
This can help you to avoid a lot of problems, and can empower you to settle on a product that will match your actual needs.
Best Ways To Increase Nitric Oxide Naturally
There are a number of ways to increase your Nitric Oxide levels naturally. Let’s talk about them.
Eat Vegetables High in Nitrates
Consuming vegetables that are high in nitrates and vitamin C is considered an effective method for improving your heart health and getting the Nitric Oxide you need.
Some examples of such vegetables include:
- Bok Choy
- Carrots
- Coleslaw
- Mustard Greens
- Broccoli
- Eggplant
- Garlic
- Citrus
- Fruits
- Wax Gourd
Increase Your Intake of Antioxidants
Antioxidants help to preserve your supply of Nitric Oxide by neutralizing ‘free radicals,’ which basically degrade the NO, thus shortening its lifespan within the body.
To accomplish this, consider beefing up your daily intake of:
- Vitamin E
- Glutathione
- Polyphenols
Frequently Asked Questions About Nitric Oxide Supplements
What Does Nitric Oxide Do?
Nitric Oxide is a molecule that causes vasodilation of the inner muscles and blood vessels. In other words, it helps to relax and widen the blood vessels, which causes increased circulation.
Are These Supplements Safe To Use?
As a general rule, NO2 supplements are safe to take as long as they’re taken in appropriate amounts.
You do, however, need to be careful of supplements that contain L-arginine. This amino acid, when taken in doses exceeding 10 grams, can cause some side-effect issues such as diarrhea and stomach discomfort.
Do I Need a Prescription to use Nitric Oxide Supplements?
No. You can order Nitric Oxide supplements online, or buy them at a local health food store. They’re widely available, and there are many different supplement options to choose from.
Can There Be Any Side Effects?
As a general rule, these supplements are considered safe. With that being said, taking too high of a dosage could potentially put your kidney function at risk.
But as long as you take the recommended dosages, you can be pretty sure that you won’t experience any side effects from taking high quality NO supplements.
These types of supplements are widely used and generally considered to be completely safe.
Which Type Of Nitric Oxide Supplements Are The Best?
As a general rule, NO2 supplements made with L-citrulline tend to work the best. They are slightly more efficient than L-arginine supplements, though L-arginine also works quite well.
Beet juice supplements can also be useful. Beets are basically a rich natural source of dietary nitrates, which means that they convert to Nitric Oxide well once digested.
What Can Doctors Prescribe For Nitric Oxide Boost?
There are some medications that can be prescribed to help give patients a Nitric Oxide boost.
Viagra is one such drug, designed to create Nitric Oxide within the body to promote the widening of blood vessels and the improvement of blood-flow to the penis.
Conclusion - Best Nitric Oxide Supplement for Vascularity
There you have it.
These are the 5 top options for the best Nitric Oxide supplement for vascularity and workouts available today.
They’re popular, they have great reviews, they get positive feedback…
And by all accounts, they seem to be highly effective in helping gym-goers to maximize their workouts, pump, workout duration, recovery times, and overall power.
FDA Disclaimer
The statements made in this post, regarding these featured products, have not been evaluated, tested, or approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The efficacy of said products has not been confirmed, either through FDA approved research, nor through any other FDA approved scientific studies. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition. All information presented here, in this blog post, should not be seen and is not meant as a substitute for, or alternative to, information provided by medical doctors and/or trained healthcare practitioners. Please consult your healthcare professional about potential negative interactions, or other possible side effects or complications before using any product featured here. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires this notice.
References
1. https://www.webmd.com/heart/arginine-heart-benefits-and-side-effects
2. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/nitric-oxide-supplements
3. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326381#how-they-work
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5368575/
5. https://www.webmd.com/diet/healthy-foods-nitric-oxide#1
6. https://www.menshealth.com/health/a19717792/nitric-oxide-supplements/