Nitric oxide won a Nobel Prize for its discoverers. Here is what it does in the blood vessels and brain, how the body makes it, what reduces it and the foods and habits that support it.
A Gas That Acts as a Signal
Nitric oxide is a short-lived gas produced by the cells lining blood vessels. When released it diffuses into the muscle of the vessel wall and tells it to relax, widening the vessel and increasing flow. The discovery that a gas could act as a signalling molecule earned the 1998 Nobel Prize in medicine. In the brain, nitric oxide also serves as a messenger between neurons and helps match local blood flow to local activity.
How the Body Makes It
Two routes. The first converts the amino acid L-Arginine into nitric oxide using an enzyme in the vessel lining; L-Citrulline feeds this route by being recycled into arginine. The second converts dietary nitrate, from leafy greens and beetroot, into nitrite by bacteria in the mouth and then into nitric oxide in the body. Exercise stimulates the first route strongly, which is one reason regular activity improves vessel function.
Reading about VapoCept?
Our full review covers the label, the formula, pricing and the 60-day guarantee on the VapoCept official website page.
Read the VapoCept ReviewWhat Reduces It
Age, smoking, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, inactivity and poor sleep all reduce nitric oxide production or availability. Antibacterial mouthwash wipes out the oral bacteria needed for the nitrate route and has been shown to raise blood pressure slightly in some studies. The result of low nitric oxide is stiffer vessels, higher pressure and reduced delivery of oxygen to tissues, including the brain.
Supporting It
Daily aerobic exercise. Leafy greens, beetroot, rocket and celery. Controlling blood pressure and blood sugar. Not smoking. Sleep. Arginine and citrulline supplements are the precursor route; trials at gram-level doses show modest improvements in vessel function, with citrulline often more efficient because it avoids first-pass breakdown. Smaller daily-support doses contribute to intake rather than reproducing trial effects, and anyone on blood-pressure medication or nitrates should check with a doctor before using them.
Where VapoCept Fits
VapoCept is built around the precursor route: L-Arginine 200 mg plus 200 mg as AKG, and L-Citrulline 100 mg HCl plus 100 mg malate, all printed on the label, in a caffeine-free once-daily capsule. Our review page states the daily-support dose plainly and places the blood-pressure interaction warning before pricing. Read the full breakdown on the VapoCept official website, including ingredients, customer reviews and current pricing.
Key Takeaways
- Nitric oxide signals blood vessels to relax; discovery won a Nobel Prize.
- Made from L-Arginine (fed by citrulline) and from dietary nitrate.
- Age, smoking, high BP, high sugar, inactivity and mouthwash reduce it.
- Exercise, greens, beetroot and sleep support it; precursors add to intake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does beetroot juice really help?
Yes, dietary nitrate from beetroot has consistent evidence for lowering blood pressure and improving exercise performance.
Is nitric oxide the same as nitrous oxide?
No. Nitrous oxide is the anaesthetic gas. Nitric oxide is the signalling molecule discussed here.
Does VapoCept contain nitric oxide?
No product contains the gas itself. VapoCept supplies arginine and citrulline, which the body uses to make it.
Sources
VapoCept™ Official Website
Two forms of arginine, two of citrulline, beta-alanine and niacin in one caffeine-free capsule, every dose printed. From $49 per bottle with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Visit the VapoCept Official Site