Pump-boosters are one of the biggest categories of sports nutrition supplements currently available. Not only that, they are a big part of other categories, such as pre-workouts. In this article, we’re talking about nitric oxide (N.O.) boosters, cell volumizers, and the pump.
Is Nitric Oxide A Supplement?
There’s one thing right away that needs to be clarified: nitric oxide is not a supplement ingredient. Rather, supplements contain ingredients that stimulate the body’s natural production of nitric oxide.
Ok, So What Is Nitric Oxide?
Nitric oxide contains an atom of nitrogen and an atom of oxygen. It’s a vasodilator, meaning it opens blood vessels. This allows greater blood flow, which in turn means better pumps. Nitric oxide is synthesized from the amino acid arginine, and this process is controlled by an enzyme group called Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS). The way it works is that NOS breaks down arginine and then converts it into nitric oxide. It’s interesting to note that NOS also converts citrulline to arginine, which in turn converts into nitric oxide. This is a major reason why citrulline is one of the most popular nitric oxide boosters on the market.(1,2,3)
Benefits Of Nitric Oxide Supplements
Besides promoting huge pumps through increased blood flow, N.O. boosters also increase delivery of nutrients and oxygen to your working muscles. Of course, this saturates your muscles with needed nutrients, which can improve recovery. It also helps remove waste products that occur when training. This, in turn, can improve performance.
What About Cell Volumizers?
Cell volumizers are another type of pump booster. Unlike N.O. boosters, they increase muscle cell volume by pulling fluid into the muscles. Supplements that do this are known as osmolytes.
Creatine Changed The Supplement Market Forever
Creatine monohydrate was the first of this type of product, and the supplement industry has never been the same. Now, taurine, betaine, and glycerol are also cell volumizers. The best pump products, whether they are pre-workouts or specifically pump boosters, contain both cell volumizers and N.O. boosters.
5% Nutrition Has The Ingredients, Of Course!
Here are some exciting, somewhat newer N.O. boosters and cell volumizers. This is by no means all-inclusive. Rather, we’re focusing on a few of the best supplement ingredients available for Rich-inspired pumps.
S7™
We’ve talked about citrulline, and of course there are other effective N. O. boosters, such as the trademarked nitrosigine. One of the ingredients you will find featured in 5% Nutrition products is S7, a branded ingredient consisting of 7 herbal extracts. They are: green coffee bean extract, green tea extract, turmeric, tart cherry, blueberry, broccoli, and kale. These ingredients work together to stimulate nitric oxide production. You can find S7 dosed extremely well in Core Pump and Code Red Pump. You can also find citrulline in all of our pre-workouts. (4)
Glycerol
Of course 5% has both straight-up creatine monohydrate and the legendary Crea-TEN, which features multiple sources of creatine. But, we also have glycerol, a very exciting cell volumizer that promotes huge water-based pumps, improves hydration, and promotes extreme endurance. This outstanding ingredient is in a few different forms and can be found throughout our line of pre-workouts, including our new Code Red Pump. Also check out Kill It RTD for an outstanding pre-workout that combines 400 mg of caffeine with citrulline, a mammoth 10g dose of glycerin (glycerol), betaine, and taurine.
Recap
While there are multiple effective nitric oxide and cell volumizing boosting ingredients, S7 and glycerol are the kind of cutting edge ingredients you expect to see in 5% Nutrition products - generously dosed of course! Stop by 5% and check out all our pre-workouts and pump boosters. Plus, keep an eye out for some stunning upcoming products!
References:
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Nitric Oxide Supplements — Research on Benefits, Side Effects, and Interactions | Examine.com
- Nemzer BV;Centner C;Zdzieblik D;Fink B;Hunter JM;König D;. (n.d.). Oxidative Stress or Redox Signaling - New Insights Into the Effects of a Proprietary Multifunctional Botanical Dietary Supplement. Retrieved June 20, 2020, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29110555/
