NO stands for nitric oxide. It is one of the most valuable molecules in the human body. It is a signaling molecule that regulates most biological functions. NO tells the blood vessels to dilate and relax, promotes good blood circulation, prevents atherosclerotic plaque from building on blood vessels, and is essential for oxygen to be transported from the blood into the cells of the body. Oxygen is vital for energy production and calorie combustion.
In the immune system, NO destroys disease-causing microbes, eliminating bad bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. The immune cells use NO as a strategic weapon to fight against diseases like tuberculosis. NO can inhibit viruses from multiplying and plays a vital role in keeping the immune response balanced. If there is not enough NO around, we will have a weak immune response.
In the nervous system, NO acts as a communicating molecule, plays a role in learning and remembering, improves blood supply in the brain, and protects neurons.
NO helps insulin to function effectively, supports the combustion of glucose, and when NO production is not optimal, insulin resistance develops. Obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome all have decreased levels of NO.
In the digestive tract, NO controls motility, which means keeping things moving. It plays a major role in preventing leaky gut by maintaining mucosal defense and barrier integrity. NO is involved in gut inflammation, too.
If you want to prevent or reverse cardiovascular disease, hypertension, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, dementia, erectile dysfunction, and enhance bone formation, tissue repair, or wound healing, then this is the topic for you.
We have two ways of producing NO. The first is in the lining of our blood vessels. If we have dysfunction of the lining of the blood vessels, that doesn’t occur so well. The second pathway is through digestion, but there are a few roadblocks that exist in our modern lifestyle that can hinder that production. Sadly, we can lose 85 percent of our NO as we age! But thankfully, there is hope. Stay tuned next month as we continue our learning journey of NO.
