When you review natural nitric oxide boosters like Xtreme NO, don’t forget the original source.
In Feb 2015, Reuters reported on the results of blueberries on blood pressure 1. In this small study, a group of women ate freeze-dried blueberries for two months. The Nitric Oxide responsible in relaxing the blood vessel walls increased, and their blood pressure dropped.
Sarah Johnson, a researcher at Florida State University who led the study said, “This tells us that blueberries may improve the health of blood vessels in addition to reducing blood pressure.”
Of course, no one, including Johnson and her co-authors suggest a rush to eat more blueberries to replace hypertension medications. They say that blueberries might relieve some of the tendencies toward increased blood pressure and subsequent stiffening of blood vessels. For women after menopause, increased blood pressure and stiffening of arteries increase the risk of heart disease.
Menopausal women are not the only ones at risk of heart disease-related to dysfunctional arteries. Men are in danger as well as those much younger.
Some previous studies have indicated that the boost in nitric oxide comes from flavonoids and other plant compounds. They all seem to affect the cell lining of the blood vessels.
This study was focused on 48 menopausal women with an average age of 55 and borderline high blood pressure.
They consumed 22 grams of freeze-dried blueberry powder that is about a cup of fresh blueberries every day. The control group consumed a look-alike power that didn’t have any blueberries.
Researchers measured the stiffness of their arteries and blood pressure four weeks later and then eight weeks later.
The reference to high blood pressure was what American Heart Association uses. A reading of less than 120 mm Hg for the top number and less than 80 mm Hg for the bottom number is considered healthy. The numbers for women in this study were “pre-hypertensive” on the average of 138/79 mm Hg.
Four weeks later, there weren’t any effects in either group. However, eight weeks later, the blood pressure of women who ate blueberry powder dropped an average of 5 to 6 percent to 131/75 mm Hg.
The blood pressure in the control group did not change.
The blood level of nitric oxide in the women who ate blueberry powder rose by 68 percent.
You can buy freeze-dried blueberry powder is around $2 to $5 per ounce. This study may open up the doors for more research into nitric oxide foods.
Maybe we can find ways to find more natural ways to combat high blood pressure without the medication many cannot take and the side effects of high blood pressure medications.