The most important molecule for male health and performance isn’t testosterone. It’s nitric oxide. 

Don’t get me wrong. You NEED testosterone to thrive as a man. But you can have all the testosterone in the world, but if you don’t have nitric oxide, you’re basically a rocket ship that’s ready to launch but doesn’t have any fuel.

That’s why in today’s article I’ll explain what nitric oxide is, why you need it, and how to boost it.

What Is Nitric Oxide? 

Nitric oxide is a molecule that’s so powerful for health and performance that it’s been called a “miracle molecule” and “the fountain of youth.” 

So what does nitric oxide do? 

Nitric oxide is a signalling molecule that tells your blood vessels and arteries when to expand. When your blood vessels expand, it creates more room for blood to travel, and carry important nutrients and oxygen where they need to be. This mechanism improves blood flow and male performance in a handful of ways that I’ll get to in a minute.

But first, think of your blood vessels like a four-lane highway. When you were younger, all four lanes were open for travel. But as you’ve gotten older those lanes narrowed down to three lanes, then two lanes, and depending on your current health, you may even be down to “one lane.”

Like you’d imagine, when your blood vessels go from being a “four-lane highway” to a “one-lane highway”, that’s going to cause some issues. In fact, you’re probably experiencing some of those issues already.  

Issues like low energy, slow results from your workouts, low libido, brain fog, and several others that’ll go over in detail in a moment. 

But first, the question is: Why do your blood vessels get more narrow with age? And what should you do about it? 

It all comes back to the “miracle molecule” — nitric oxide. 

Studies show that as men get older, our natural nitric oxide production begins to decline (study, study). When that happens, your blood vessels don’t dilate like they used to. Instead, they restrict. And as your blood vessels and arteries become more narrow, it becomes more challenging for blood to travel where it needs to be to help you perform. 

So what should you do about it? 

It’s simple. You need to find ways to boost your body’s natural nitric oxide production. And I’m going to reveal the best and easiest ways to do that later in this article, so stick around for that. But before I get there, let me explain why boosting nitric oxide is such a big deal for men. 

Why Every Man Needs To Increase Nitric Oxide

Like I mentioned earlier, nitric oxide is a key driver in male performance. So here are some reasons why every man needs to increase nitric oxide: 

1) Exercise Performance

When you workout, the more dilated your blood vessels are, the better. 

Let’s say you’re doing a bench press. Every time you lower and press the bar, your heart pumps out blood to your working muscles. Your muscles need that blood because it carries oxygen and nutrients to help your muscles perform their job.

Plus, your blood carries carbon dioxide and waste products out of those working muscles so you can push the weight longer and harder. However, if your blood vessels don’t dilate properly, then these mechanisms don’t work and you’re left with a crappy workout.

But you won’t just have a crappy workout. You’ll also get crappy results from your workouts. 

In order for your muscles to grow, you need to get a good pump when you train. The pump increases muscle protein synthesis, and it creates an “adaptive response” that forces your muscles to grow (study). 

So in order to get the most out of your workouts, you need to optimize your blood flow by boosting nitric oxide production.

2) Sexual Performance

Just like with exercise, when it comes to sex, the more dilated your blood vessels are, the better. 

Nitric oxide plays two key roles in your sexual performance. 

First, nitric oxide helps the muscles in your “manhood” to relax. Then, when those muscles relax, nitric oxide opens your blood vessels to support blood flow “down there”, which allows blood to fill your tissues, and well, that’s how you get an erection. 

And that explains why as guys get older, and their nitric oxide production starts to dwindle down, their sexual health does, too (study).

All the “little blue pill” companies know this. That’s why most of their formulas contain ingredients that boost nitric oxide and blood flow to a guy’s “manhood.” But obviously, those pills don’t contain natural ingredients, which is why I don’t recommend them. I’ll show you natural ways to boost nitric oxide production and improve your sexual health in a minute. 

Also, notice how I’ve said very little about testosterone in this section. It’s not that testosterone isn’t important for sexual performance. But it’s not as important as we once thought. New research shows that most guys have enough testosterone to get the job done, but they need a boost in nitric oxide and blood flow… 

Because without it, they’re like a rocket ship without any fuel. Ready to launch, but they can’t.

3) Energy

Blood flow is key for energy. So if you can maintain optimal blood flow, by supporting nitric oxide production, you’ll be in great shape.

Again, nitric oxide opens the arteries and blood vessels to deliver oxygen, nutrients, and glucose to where they need to be in the body and the brain. When you start feeling tired in the middle of the day, foggy at work, and you basically just want to crawl under your desk and nap… that’s a sign that your blood flow isn’t optimal. 

With that said, if you find that you run into an afternoon rut most days of the week, it likely means you don’t have enough nitric oxide supporting your blood flow, and it’s preventing you from having the energy you need to stay productive. 

But when you reverse this pattern and boost nitric oxide, you’ll have a lot more energy to crush your workouts, cross off your daily task-list, spend time with your family, and you’ll feel great all the way up to bedtime. 

4) Cardiovascular Health

If you want to have the stamina to keep up with your kids, feel energized throughout the day, and live a longer, healthier life, then you need to support your cardiovascular system. 

One of the best ways to do that is by boosting nitric oxide production. And when you do that, you’ll improve several health markers necessary for longevity. 

For example, studies suggest that men with high blood pressure have an impaired ability to utilize nitric oxide in their bodies (study, study). High blood pressure occurs when the force of your blood pressing against your arteries is too high. Obviously, high blood pressure can lead to heart issues and scary health complications that have taken guys from their families much too soon. 

However, when you boost nitric oxide production, your arteries expand so there’s naturally less pressure on the artery walls, which lowers blood pressure, and keeps your heart healthy. And the more healthy your heart is, the more opportunity you have to enjoy life. 

How To Increase Nitric Oxide Production

Now that you know why boosting nitric oxide is so important, here are 8 ways to increase your body’s natural nitric oxide production. 

1) Eat High Nitrate Foods

When you eat foods that contain natural nitrates, the bacteria in your tongue converts them into nitrites. Then, when you swallow the food, the bacteria in your gut converts those nitrites into nitric oxide (study, study). 

So the more high-nitrate foods you eat, the more nitric oxide you’ll create. 

Foods that are high in nitrates are spinach, beets, celery, arugula, and cabbage. We have two of these ingredients (spinach and beets) inside Man Greens which is our testosterone boosting greens powder that has a lot of performance benefits for men. And it’s an easy way to boost nitric oxide production. 

2) Vitamin C + Garlic

Vitamin C boosts nitric oxide production and has been shown to support the cells that create nitric oxide. Garlic is filled with natural nitrates and a compound called quercetin, both of which have been linked to nitric oxide production. 

And studies show vitamin C + garlic works even better when combined together. In one study 2 grams of vitamin C combined with 4 garlic tablets increased nitric oxide production by up to 200%. It can even boost blood flow just as well as if you were to go for a walk. So even on days when you can’t get a workout in, or you’re stuck at a computer desk all day, vitamin C and garlic can give you a little boost. 

3) Try Korean Panax Ginseng

Korean panax ginseng is an adaptogenic herb that contains compounds called “ginsenosides” — which are structurally very similar to testosterone.

And this ingredient is a beast for male performance. Studies show it increases testosterone, boosts nitric oxide, improves circulation, relaxes arteries, and boosts libido (study, study, study, study). So it’s basically a powerhouse for everything you need in the bedroom. 

It’s really bitter. And it’s not easy to get a hold of. But I’ll show you an easy way to get the benefits of Korean Panax Ginseng in a minute.

4) Exercise

You need healthy nitric oxide production to get the most out of your training, and your body produces more nitric oxide when you stick with your training. 

It doesn’t need to be rigorous exercise either. Anything from walking to powerlifting can increase nitric oxide. And it doesn’t just boost nitric oxide temporarily during or after a workout. But regular exercise can increase your baseline nitric oxide production, meaning your body produces more nitric oxide independently of your workouts (study, study).

And get this — as your muscles increase in size, your body increases nitric oxide production. Why? Because your body recognizes your growing muscles need more blood, oxygen, and nutrients, so it adapts, and increases your baseline nitric oxide levels. 

5) Raw Cacao

Raw cacao is a superfood that’s loaded with antioxidants and polyphenols. And those antioxidants and polyphenols contribute to nitric oxide production and relax the inner lining of the arteries (study, study).

Now the trick with cacao is that if it isn’t raw, then it can destroy the antioxidants that make it so powerful. And even then, it’s a lot more bitter than what you’d probably expect (it’s no dessert, that’s for sure). 

But that’s why I get cacao polyphenols in a different way that I’ll tell you about in a minute. 

6) Sunlight

Natural sunlight triggers the skin to synthesize nitric oxide. In fact, once sunlight touches the skin, nitric oxide is instantly released into the bloodstream

Depending on where you live, you’re going to get less sunlight during certain times of the year. But studies show that vitamin D (the “sunshine vitamin”) supplementation can help to boost nitric oxide production so you can still get the benefits even if you can’t get out in the sun. 

If you want to boost your vitamin D levels, and nitric oxide as a result, check out Man D3, which is our softgel vitamin D supplement. 

7) Throw Away Your Mouthwash

Remember the nitrates I mentioned in tip #1, and how the bacteria in your tongue converts nitrates into nitric oxide? Well, mouthwash kills the bacteria that make that process happen (study).

Swigging mouthwash is basically like dropping an atomic bomb on those bacteria. It obliterates them. And when your body can’t produce nitric oxide because mouthwash kills those bacteria, your performance at work, the gym, and in the bedroom will suffer. 

Honestly, if you eat whole, unprocessed foods, stay hydrated, and brush your teeth, you shouldn’t have any problems keeping fresh breath. And when it comes to your performance, mouthwash just isn’t worth it.

8) Try Man Mojo

Of all the ways to boost nitric oxide production on this list, this last one is by far the easiest. 

Now, Man Mojo is our natural libido booster. But the reason why I suggest it is because it contains both Korean panax ginseng, cacao polyphenols, and a few other ingredients that’ve been shown to increase nitric oxide production, boost blood flow, and improve sexual performance. 

But it’s not all about sexual performance. I’ve gotten questions about when the best time to take Man Mojo is — and I think every guy should take it in the morning. 

Why? Because these ingredients don’t just support sexual health. They support nitric oxide production, which is going to help you perform like beast in the gym, give you a good pump, keep you focused throughout the day… and then, when it’s finally time for you and your lady to hit the bedroom, your nitric oxide production will still be in good shape to have some fun. 

So there you have it, man. 

You’re now up to speed on what nitric oxide is, why it’s so important, and how you can start boosting it so you can stay at the top of your game. So put those into practice. And if you want to try out one of the supplements I mentioned in this article to boost nitric oxide production, you can check out the links below:

=> Read more about Man Mojo

=> Read more about Man Greens

=> Read more about Man D3

Be legendary, 

Chad Howse

Recap

1. Nitric oxide is a signaling molecule that tells your blood vessels and arteries when to expand. When your blood vessels expand, it creates more room for blood to travel, and carry important nutrients and oxygen where they need to be. 
2. Boosting nitric oxide improves blood flow which improves your workouts, sexual performance, energy, cardiovascular health, and overall longevity and drive.
3. There are natural ways to increase nitric oxide production — by eating certain foods, exercising, and taking supplements with ingredients shown to boost nitric oxide. 
4. In my opinion, the easiest way to boost nitric oxide production is to take Man Mojo. But to get the best results, you want to pair Man Mojo with a solid training plan and whole-food based diet.