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by Kurt Dowdle Table of Contents Introduction.....................................................................5 A History of Nitric Oxide..................................................11 The Nobel Prize..............................................................12 The High Desert Heart Institute Study...............................................................16 The Case Western Reserve University Medical Center Study........................................19 The University of Florida Study.........................................23 130,000 Studies and Counting..........................................27 Introduction Did you know NASA launched a successful manned mission to Mars at the end of the 20th Century? Did you know these astronauts are still on Mars, broadcasting data and research back to earth every day? Did you know that one of their discoveries could solve Earth’s global fresh-water shortage in just a few months? Did you also know that they discovered a molecule that could extend the average life-span on earth by years, even decades? OK. These things didn’t happen. Wait a minute…the last one did happen! You haven’t heard about it? It was so monumental, it won the 1998 Nobel Prize in Medicine. Scientists really did discover a molecule that could not only extend the length of your life by years but also dramatically improve the quality of your life; except it didn’t happen on Mars, it took place right here on earth. Still haven’t heard of it? Three scientists were credited for discovering that our bodies create the gas Nitric Oxide, a signalling molecule that functions like a hall monitor, telling your other cells where to go and what to do. Nitric Oxide affects every system in your body, including your heart, blood vessels, skin, kidneys, lungs, brain, etc. To put it more concisely, every cell in your body depends on Nitric Oxide; and when your cells 5 don’t get enough, they don’t function properly, and neither do you. Bluntly, that means you get old. You slow down, ache, and get sick and tired easier than before. Studies on Nitric Oxide and aging are starting to pour in; and the results are astounding. The research is so new it isn’t any wonder you haven’t heard about it. However, you may be asking yourself; Why hasn’t my doctor heard about this? In defense of your doctor, even breakthroughs such as this take time to work their way through the system. Information Avalanche Information is a lot like a fresh powder day for skiers. After a lull between snowstorms, mountains can usually sustain a moderate layer of snow and powder on top of the old layer without any problem. However, if the next storm dumps too much snow on top of the icy crust of older snow, perfect powder can turn into a deadly avalanche. From a distance, it may appear to be moving slowly, however, even the best skier can’t outrun your typical avalanche. The current avalanche of information has long since buried your doctor’s ability to keep up. To give you an example of how the information age has overwhelmed your doctor, consider this; in 1950, medical information was doubling every 50 years. By 2000, it was doubling at a mind-boggling speed of every 13 months. It is now approaching a time-warping speed of doubling every 73 days. I don’t know about you, but I want my doctor to know everything; I especially want my cardiologist to know about the latest discoveries 6 that will keep me playing tennis and improving my golf swing. But with this much overwhelming information, who is going to stand in front of the avalanche, sort through the data, and create the protocols that would apply the latest conclusions? A New Direction The 20th Century model for health care, where a single organization became the repository of all proven medical information and protocols, may have met its match with the information explosion. Even with the aid of super computers, it has not only become impractical but virtually impossible to accumulate, analyze, and then disseminate medical knowledge within the control and regulation of a single organization. In this vacuum a different model has emerged; one created with the help of the pharmaceutical industry. They pay close attention to research in order to be the first to market with medication that takes advantage of the latest discoveries. After the lengthy and expensive process of testing and obtaining approval, pharmaceutical companies create a media blitz where they encourage patients to ask their doctor for the purple pill, or the little blue pill, or the latest depression medication. Mind you, it still requires a doctor to obtain these medications, but they urge you to be proactive and essentially “bring your doctor up to speed” on the latest science. What color was that pill again? 7 The drug companies then send out their representatives to make sure that doctors have plenty of the latest color of pills on hand. This way, when you ask your doctor for a specific medication (prescribed for you by a television commercial) the doctor will be able to supply you with a sample. If the medication works, and it usually does, you will tell your doctor and everyone is happy. (In theory) Still, the model has flaws and some organizations want to ban the practice of marketing prescription drugs directly to the consumer altogether. However, it is an effective way to educate the public on new options while forcing your overworked doctor to catch up with the science and research that created the new drug in the first place. But what happens when research doesn’t result in the next billion-dollar drug? Let’s look at what happened to the 1998 Nobel Prize research. Doctors Ignarro, Furchgott, and Murad’s research led to the discovery that an unheralded molecule, Nitric Oxide, held the key to cardiovascular health; hence Ignarro’s book “NO More Heart Disease.” However, the formula to increase Nitric Oxide in the human body doesn’t require a drug. Big Pharma couldn’t come to our rescue because they aren’t in the supplement business, they are in the highlyregulated drug and medicine business. Dr. Valentin Fuster, former president of the American Heart Association, claimed “the discovery of nitric oxide and its function 8 is one of the most important in the history of cardiovascular medicine.” Yet, even though he made this statement in 1998, doctors of cardiovascular medicine in 2016 are still not armed with the information that would help you take advantage of this landmark discovery. Many people may complain about “Big Pharma” and its influence over modern medicine but for now they are the only link between the latest research and your doctor. What you can do The purpose of this book is to make the connection between the more than 130,000 studies conducted on Nitric Oxide in the last 20 years and you. Are we cutting out your doctor and the drug companies? In a way, we are. There isn’t time nor funding to buck the current system. As one researcher put it, “the chasm between bench (research) and bedside (doctors) gets wider every year.” And when science discovers a natural solution to any disease, that chasm becomes the Grand Canyon. The only solution then is to take the research to the individuals who need it directly. That is what we are doing right now. This treatise will show you the vital role Nitric Oxide has in your body and what happens when you don’t have enough to get the job done. We will show you how to increase your body’s own Nitric Oxide production to youthful levels. We give you access to the science that will one day breach the above chasm and play a major role in institutional cardiovascular care. I am also writing this book, because this approach to personal health care saved my life. Here is my story A few years ago, when I had an “acute myocardial infarction,” (a heart attack) the doctor didn’t offer much hope for my future. There I was at 40-years old, washed up and waiting to die. My wife didn’t waste much time with this step, she started planning my funeral. And why wouldn’t she? She lost her Dad to the same condition. This was a dagger to her heart that felt all too familiar to her. 9 After a few months, I decided that waiting to die was too boring and started looking for an alternative to my doctor’s prognosis. I networked like crazy until a friend called me and said, “I think I have something for you.” He introduced me to an L-Arginine/L-Citrulline/Vitamin D/Super AntiOxidant formula that he claimed would boost the Nitric Oxide in my blood stream. Of course, I looked at him and said, “Nitric What?” He claimed Nitric Oxide would help my heart heal, reduce my blood pressure and help me to not feel twice my age. It had been nearly 10 years since the Nobel Prize and here was my friend introducing me to something my doctor had failed to mention. Long story short, my friend was right; boosting my Nitric Oxide gave me my life back. Now I am offering you a chance to look and feel young again; to recover from what ails you, or if you are like my more athletic friends, shave precious minutes and seconds from your best marathon time. I encourage you to see how a tiny molecule you didn’t know even existed will transform your life. All it takes is giving your body what it needs to make the plentiful amount of Nitric Oxide it made when you were young. If it could have been made into a pill your doctor would be prescribing it to you right now. But, not to worry; we will show you how to boost your Nitric Oxide without a prescription. 10 A History of Nitric Oxide 1847 Italian chemist Ascanio Sobrero invented nitroglycerin while at the University of Turin. School-mate Alfred Nobel became intrigued with the formula and created a stable form of the compound, calling it dynamite. Nobel’s explosives and armament factories made him very wealthy. Alfred Nobel left his fortune to fund his “Nobel Prizes” to be awarded in Chemistry, Literature, Peace, Physics, and Physiology or Medicine. The prize was in response to a newspaper headline referring to Alfred as The Merchant of Death. Wanting his name known for something positive he created the prize. His plan worked; 120 years later, his name is nearly synonomous with “peace.” Alfred B. Nobel 1879 After noticing that the handling of Nitroglycerine created positive health benefits, Dr. William Murrell began testing a formula that would recreate these benefits without causing the splitting headaches associated with high doses of the compound. Nitroglycerine became a mainstay for the treatment of angina and heart failure and remains so 140 years later. As Alfred Nobel laid dying of heart disease, his physician prescribed nitroglycerin to treat his condition. Alfred refused the treatment and mused on the irony that his doctor would recommend that he ingest the very explosive that created his fortune. Nitroglycerin Pills 1978 - 1996 Robert F Furchgott discovered a substance in the endothelial lining of blood vessels that caused them to relax. He called the substance EDRF (Endothelial Derived Relaxing Factor). He postulated that it was Nitric Oxide but couldn’t prove it. Nitric Oxide in higher mammals had not been previously considered. Ferid Murad also speculated that Nitroglycerin and other vasodilators released Nitric Oxide into the blood stream. Like Furchgott he was unable to create a model that would prove his hypothesis. Louis J. Ignarro showed in several studies that EDRF and Nitric Oxide demonstrated the exact same properties, leading to the conclusion that our bodies produce Nitric Oxide in the endothelium. 11 The Nobel Prize The irony that the Nobel Committee would award a Nobel Prize for medical discoveries surrounding Nitric Oxide was not lost on the participants in the proceedings of that December day in 1998. During the presentation speech at the Award Ceremony, Professor Sten Lindahl of the Noble Committee stated, “Alfred Nobel invented dynamite, a product in which the explosion-prone nitroglycerin is curbed by being absorbed in kieselguhr, a porous soil rich in shells of diatoms. When Nobel was taken ill with heart disease, his doctor prescribed nitroglycerin. Nobel refused to take it, knowing that it caused headache and ruling out that it could eliminate chest pain. In a letter, Nobel wrote: “It is ironical that I am now ordered by my physician to eat nitroglycerin.” It has been known since last century that the explosive, nitroglycerin, has beneficial effects against chest pain. However, it would take 100 years until it was clarified that nitroglycerin acts by releasing Nitric Oxide gas.” In their press release, the Nobel Committee declared, “The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has today decided to award the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 1998 jointly to Robert F. Furchgott, Louis J. Ignarro and Ferid Murad for their discoveries concerning nitric oxide as a signaling molecule in the cardiovascular system.” 12 The body of the press release further clarified the discovery and its claims with the following: (Begin Quote) “Nitric oxide protects the heart, stimulates the brain, kills bacteria, etc.” “We know today that NO acts as a signal molecule in the nervous system, as a weapon against infections, as a regulator of blood pressure and as a gatekeeper of blood flow to different organs. NO is present in most living creatures and made by many different types of cells.” “When NO is produced by the innermost cell layer of the arteries, the endothelium, it rapidly spreads through the cell membranes to the underlying muscle cells. Their contraction is turned off by NO, resulting in a dilatation of the arteries. In this way, NO controls the blood pressure and its distribution. It also prevents the formation of thrombi.” “When NO is formed in nerve cells, it spreads rapidly in all directions, activating all cells in the vicinity. 13 This can modulate many functions, from behaviour to gastrointestinal motility.” “When NO is produced in white blood cells (such as macrophages), huge quantities are achieved and become toxic to invading bacteria and parasites.” Importance in medicine today and tomorrow “Heart: In atherosclerosis, the endothelium has a reduced capacity to produce NO. However, NO can be furnished by treatment with nitroglycerin. Large efforts in drug discovery are currently aimed at generating more powerful and selective cardiac drugs based on the new knowledge of NO as a signal molecule.” “Shock: Bacterial infections can lead to sepsis and circulatory shock. In this situation, NO plays a harmful role. White blood cells react to bacterial products by releasing enormous amounts of NO that dilate the blood vessels. The blood pressure drops and the patient may become unconscious. In this situation, inhibitors of NO synthesis may be useful in intensive care treatment.” “Lungs: Intensive care patients can be treated by inhalation of NO gas. This has provided good results and even saved lives. For instance, NO gas has been used to reduce dangerously high blood pressure in the lungs of infants. But the dosage is critical since the gas can be toxic at high concentrations.” “Cancer: White blood cells use NO not only to kill infectious agents such as bacteria, fungi, and parasites, but also to defend the host against tumours. Scientists are currently testing whether NO can be used to stop the growth of tumours since this gas can induce programmed cell death, apoptosis.” “Impotence: NO can initiate erection of the penis by 14 dilating the blood vessels to the erectile bodies. This knowledge has already led to the development of new drugs against impotence.” (Viagra) “Diagnostic analyses: Inflammatory diseases can be revealed by analysing the production of NO from e.g. lungs and intestines. This is used for diagnosing asthma, colitis, and other diseases.” (End Quote) Aftermath of the Nobel Prize During the discovery of the presence and function of Nitric Oxide, scientists observed the processes of how Nitric Oxide is created in the body. They observed that certain amino acids, L-arginine and L-citrulline, would convert to Nitric Oxide in the blood vessels and that nitrate-rich foods would convert to nitrites and eventually into Nitric Oxide in the gut. These both suggested a dietary solution to reversing the decrease of Nitric Oxide production associated with age. Excited about the prospect of being able to increase Nitric Oxide through supplementation, scientists rushed to the pharmaceutical companies with their discoveries only to be met with yawns and seeming ambivilence. As mentioned before, the business model for drug companies doesn’t support non-regulated supplements that don’t require a prescription from a doctor. Not deterred though, several companies began experimenting with different formulas for improving natural Nitric Oxide production in adults. Eventually, specific blends of amino acids, Vitamin D, antioxidants, and other anti-inflammatory ingredients worked the best, with new improvements on proportions occuring from batch to batch. What these early formulas provided was a way for a growing group of people to experience the benefit of increased Nitric Oxide for themselves. It also opened up the opportunity to study the effects of increased Nitric Oxide in a clinical setting. And that is what led to the High Desert Heart Institute Study 15 The High Desert Heart Institute Study The year was 2009—11 years after the Nobel Prize. One of the companies mentioned above had developed, under the direction of Dr. J. Joseph Prendergast, a reliable formula to boost Nitric Oxide levels in the endothelium. They had remarkable results with healthy adults and especially among adults with cardiovascular disease. But they wanted to verify their findings with a clinical study. Doctors Siva Arunasalam of the High Desert Heart Institute and J. Joseph Prendergast agreed to create and run the study. Here is what happened. One of the most prevalent and debilitating heart conditions today is Congestive Heart Failure, or as it is now called, just Heart Failure. It is the most common reason for hospitalization for adults 65-years and older. The scary part of that statistic is that 20% of that group are return customers; meaning, they have been admitted before for the same reason. Half of those diagnosed with Heart Failure will die within 5 years. Some in that group will die suddenly, while others will slowly drown in their own fluids. 16 The High Desert Heart Institute, located in Victorville California, is one of the most prestigious heart institutes in the US. Because of the liability of conducting studies on critically ill patients that have other treatment options, their study was conducted with 33 congestive heart failure patients that had exhausted their pharmacological and medical treatment options. Their only remaining option at that point was a heart transplant. (eight of the individuals in the study were on the register to receive a transplant, should one become available) During the 90-day extensive study, each patient received regular diagnostic testing to determine and measure results in as many areas as possible. They would eventually generate nearly 7,000 points of data. Therapeutic effect of the 90-day study During the study, each patient received 20 grams of pharmaceutical grade L-Arginine combined with other ingredients, including L-citrulline, vitamin D, and other ingredients that support Nitric Oxide production and heart health. Dr. Siva Arunasalam’s comments after the study were as follows: “There was nothing else for us to try, we had tried everything with these patients. All patients showed a tremendous improvement in many, many objective data points...” “...but what we ended up seeing was remarkable positive remodeling of the heart, positive pulmonary artery changes, pulmonary vascular changes in terms of pulmonary pressures, changes in the cardiac dimensions, changes in heart function...” Of the 33 patients, each walked out of the clinic after the study. Many returned to their normal activities and the heart-transplant candidates no longer needed the procedure. 17 Following the success of the study, the High Desert Heart Institute continues using a Nitric Oxide Boosting protocol for their CHF patients. It’s important to note that this study took place only a few years ago (2009). Current protocols for CHF across the country still produce the same hopeless results that these 33 study participants were experiencing before the Nitric Oxide Study. Study’s Findings The following results were observed after the study: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 18% increase in HDL Cholesterol 40% decrease in triglycerides 8% Glucose reduction 25% decrease in c-reactive proteins 11% reduction in creatine levels 35% increase in magnesium levels (even though there is no magnesium in the product) magnesium is very important in improving heart health Decreases in platelets in the blood Albumin decreased by 70% Bilirubin decreased significantly Vitamin D levels increased by 183% Systolic BP decreased by 13% Diastolic BP decreased by 17% Peripheral blood flow increased to the feet (an ankle reading) by 16% CASP (Central Aortic Systolic Pressure) decreased by 6% Pulmonary Hypertension dramatically improved Quality of life measurements significantly improved for all participants 18 The Case Western Reserve University Medical Center Study Previous to The Case Western Reserve University Medical Center Study, published on April 10, 2015, the age old belief that red blood cells coursed through our veins and arteries, swapping life-giving oxygen for the by-product carbon dioxide was an undisputed fact. The process had been observed by countless scientists over the years. Red blood cells loaded with oxygen acted as trillions of little delivery vehicles, dropping off oxygen to every cell in the body and then picked up the trash (carbon dioxide) before heading back to the lungs and heart to drop off and pick up and make the run again. It seemed a pretty straightforward operation... However, Case Western’s press release announcing the results of their study boldly claimed “Molecular and Functional Basis Established for Nitric Oxide Joining Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide in Respiratory Cycle Discovery Could Lead to Treatment Focus on Red Blood Cell Dysfunction in Cardiovascular Diseases and Blood Disorders.” They explain further; 19 “Stamler, MD, a Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and Cardiologist at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, led a team that showed that nitric oxide must accompany hemoglobin to enable blood vessels to open and then supply oxygen to tissues.” “Professor Jonathan Stamler’s latest findings regarding nitric oxide have the potential to reshape fundamentally the way we think about the respiratory system – and offer new avenues to save lives. It may be time to rewrite the textbooks.” “Scientific dogma has the respiration process involving only two elements — oxygen and carbon dioxide. Specifically, the delivery of oxygen from lungs to tissues, and the removal of the waste product, carbon dioxide, through exhaling.” “Recently published online in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), Stamler and colleagues demonstrate that nitric oxide is essential for the delivery of oxygen to the cells and tissues that need it.” This discovery explains the pathology of patients who experience all of the symptoms of heart failure even though their blood oxygenation levels may register in the high 90% range. These patients gasp for air like a drowning swimmer, even though they are resting in their easy chair with oxygen tubes up their nose. Until this study, doctors had no way of explaining this phenomenon. We now know that Nitric Oxide must accompany the oxygen inside the red blood cell, essentially holding the door open for oxygen and carbon dioxide to trade places. The measure of a healthy respiratory cycle has traditonally been pinned on the amount of oxygen in the red blood cell. However, we now know this oxygen is dependent on Nitric Oxide to not only assist with actual blood flow but to release the oxygen into needy cells. The collective frustration of oxygen deprived cells “watching” oxygen rich blood go by without stopping translates into system-wide panic as the patient experiences the sensation of drowning on dry land. Stamler’s previous experiments had already shown that red blood cells carry and release Nitric Oxide but had yet to determine Nitric Oxide’s function. His new study identified Nitric Oxide’s function. 20 “In this most recent research, investigators uncovered the key role of nitric oxide in controlling the blood flow in small vessels within tissues responsible for delivering oxygen (known as “blood flow autoregulation”) – a process whose molecular basis had been a longstanding mystery in medicine.” Mind you, this last study concluded in April of 2015. It seems incredulous that such a vital function could remain a mystery for so long. To further point out the vital role of Nitric Oxide in the body Stamler states, “Lacking Nitric Oxide in red cells, oxygen deficiency could not induce vasodiltion, which is essential for sustaining life as we know it.” Doctors before, had assumed that when tissue was suffering oxygen deprivation, the condition would stimulate vasodilation. This study shows that the Nitric Oxide inside the red blood cell creates the vasodilation. Without it, severe hypoxia is the result. To further rewrite medical textbooks, the study continues to astonish with this claim; “Historically, the control of blood flow has been thought to be the purview of blood vessels and their endothelial linings, while the role of the red blood cell went unappreciated. Blood flow deficits that cause heart attacks and strokes were thought not to be linked to red blood cells.” “Within the tissues, the tiny vessels and the red blood cells together make up the critical entity controlling blood flow,” Stamler said. “Red blood cell dysfunction is likely a hidden contributor to diseases of the heart, lungs, and blood such as heart attack, heart failure, stroke and ischemic injury to kidneys.” In case you missed that, it’s not just your veins and arteries that control the flow of blood. Completely unlike water flowing through a garden hose, the blood cells that comprise your blood are an integral component of the function of your entire cardiovascular system. 21 And the molecule that keeps it all functioning properly? Nitric Oxide! Nitric Oxide deficiency creates red blood cell dysfunction “a hidden contributor to diseases of the heart, lungs, and blood such as heart attack, heart failure, stroke...etc.” Stamler makes another critical observation about our blood supply that the medical community needs to pay attention to. “...blood transfusions, which have recently been shown to be deficient in nitric oxide, are associated with increased morbidity and mortality, including heart attacks. The effects of blood transfusions are suspiciously similar to effects seen in the mice, Stamler said. They both lack nitric oxide.” “It’s not enough to increase the oxygen content of blood by transfusion; if the nitric oxide mechanism is shot, oxygen cannot make it to its destination,” he said. “We know that blood in a blood bank is deficient in nitric oxide, so infusing that blood may cause plugging of blood vessels in tissues, making things worse. Essentially, blood flow cannot autoregulate (increase) without nitric oxide. In terms of developing future therapies, the goal must be restoring red blood cell function, complete with nitric oxide delivery capability. As for the nation’s blood supply, the blood should be replenished with nitric oxide.” After the Nobel Prize winning research, scientists were calling Nitric Oxide the “Miracle Molecule” and The American Association for the Advancement of Science proclaimed Nitric Oxide “Molecule of the Year.” These designations were nearly 20 years before the Case Western Reserve research which essentially puts Nitric Oxide on top of the food chain in necessity to life in humans. Agreeing with this assessment, Stanford University, in partnership with the health app company Azumio, now recommends that adults regularly check their Nitric Oxide levels as a baseline for determining overall health. 22 The University of Florida Study Diabetes complications rooted in faulty cell repair Published: January 24 2006 “University of Florida researchers say primitive cells that act like molecular maintenance men — traveling throughout the body to repair damaged blood vessels — become too rigid to move in patients with diabetes, fueling the disease’s vascular complications. But they have found a way to restore the cells’ flexibility, at least in the laboratory, according to findings published in the January issue of the journal Diabetes.” Anyone who has experience with diabetes, either as a patient or as a caretaker, know that some of the ailments associated with the disease are what makes the disease so debilitating and feared. Heart disease, stroke, blindness, and kidney failure are the usual result of chronic diabetes. These complications are the result of damaged blood vessels. According to Mark S. Segal, the purpose of the University’s study was 23 to determine what is going on inside the body on a molecular level that would cause these life-threatening problems. Why are diabetics more at risk? The study found that the problem was in the how the body normally responds to vascular injury. Typically, the body creates specialized cells in the bone marrow that aid in repairing any damage to blood vessels. What they found was that sometimes these cells don’t show up for duty. Segal comments further; “Part of the defect we think is occurring in diabetic patients is these cells do not carry out appropriate repair, and therefore these patients are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease and other complications.” “The inability of the cells to repair the peripheral vasculature, the large vessels of the body, is similar to their inability to repair the small vessels within the eye, he added. In the vasculature it leads to atherosclerosis, and within the eye it leads to diabetic retinopathy.” Researchers isolated these repair cells in diabetics and found they were unable to move about naturally; but when Nitric Oxide gas was added the cells became less rigid and began to move about normally. Nitric Oxide occurs naturally in the body but diabetic typically have low levels of this vital molecule. Nitric Oxide helps these repair cells move out of the bone marrow and directs them to where they are needed. When Nitric Oxide interacts with these cells they are able to effect the necessary repairs on the endothelium and possibly prevent atherosclerosis. The study suggested both an in vivo and ex vivo approach to providing these cells with sufficient Nitric Oxide. Certain drugs and supplements are available to increase Nitric Oxide in the body. Researchers also suggested the possiblity of a therapy where Nitric Oxide is added to isolated cells and then reinserted into the body. Regardless of the future therapy, the study showed that Nitric Oxide is the key to activating these cells. 24 Subsequent Studies Multiple studies in the ten years since the Florida study have identified the “primitive cells” referred to in their study as “Endothelial Progenitor Cells,” or EPC for short. They function like specialized stem cells where they are able to morph into the type of cell needed to effect the repairs on the vascular structure. Wherein, the adage, “You are only as old as your arteries,” is still true, this process of marshaling EPC’s to effect vascular repair is critical in the fight against the damage caused from aging and the ravages of diabetes. Since these cells are dependent on the signaling properties of Nitric Oxide for instructions, addressing Nitric Oxide levels in the body should become a primary area of research and concern. In fact an article in the American Physiological Society, titled “You’re Only as Old as Your Arteries: Translational Strategies for Preserving Vascular Endothelial Function with Aging” addressed the issue of vascular health and came up with several solutions. Not surprisingly most recommendations referred to their effect on Nitric Oxide production (eNOS). Their recommendations include; Aerobic exercise (1) Weight loss Diet (2) Pharmaceutical drugs. Nutraceutical compounds (3) Inorganic nitrite Antioxidants and other Common Supplements Anti-inflammatory Agents Endogenous antioxidant-enhancing compounds (4) Just a note on the items in red; 1) Aerobic exerise increases eNOS (Nitric Oxide Synthase) expression and activation. 2) Diet can be a very important in maintaining and expressing Nitric 25 Oxide production. L-Arginine-rich foods such as fish, chicken, beef, lamb, milk, cheese, and beans will boost eNOS while nitrate-rich foods such as kale, lettuce, spinach, beets, beetroot powder, and watermelon will boost the production of Nitric Oxide through the Nitrate/Nitrite pathway. Watermelon is doubly good for Nitric Oxide production because it is also high in L-Citrulline which converts into L-Arginine in the body. 3) Nutraceutical compounds that contain the requisite amino acids, nitrates, anti-oxidants, and other support compounds have shown to be extremely effective in boosting Nitric Oxide production. 4) Endogenous antioxidant-enhancing compounds such as curcumin are the most effective antioxidants. Taken in conjunction with fruit and vegetable antioxidants and polyphenols they help scavange the oxygen free radicals that are part of the Nitric Oxide process. Note: If you think we are saying that Nitric Oxide improvement only helps you age gracefully on the inside, think again. Improved blood flow on the capillary level boosts collagen production and helps the skin retain elasticity and its youthful, oxygen-rich glow. 26 130,000 Studies and Counting I will admit that I haven’t read all 130,000 studies, in fact I am taking the word of a leading science organization’s word for that number. I have personally only located 113,000 studies involving Nitric Oxide and I have only read a few hundred; resorting to skimming the rest of them. What I have seen however, is exciting, to say the least. Some of the studies offer conclusions that could result in relatively quick implementation and benefit to patients. However, most of the studies are the first or second step on a very long path leading to expensive treatments and costly drugs. Of course that would be the case. Studies and clinical trials cost money; research hospitals and pharmaceutical companies finance these studies. In the end, though, they are looking for answers the same as anyone and it is nice they are willing to share the information. So, without going through every study, (and skipping the obvious ones on blood pressure and cardiovascular health) here are a few highlights 27 that should make you want to make sure you have a quality Nitric Oxide Booster on hand... ...unless... unless you are a young (20-30 years old) person in perfect health, who gets plenty of exercise, eats right, has no family history of early onset diabetes or heart disease, who doesn’t smoke, or doesn’t drink to excess. There is actually a study that suggests that if you are indeed this Addonis of Aphrodite figure of a person, you don’t need to boost your Nitric Oxide, you most likely have plenty. Nitric Oxide is like Oxygen, when you have enough, that’s enough. Too much does you no good. However, you do need it for... Brain Injuries If you bump your head and suffer a brain injury, you will need more Nitric Oxide to help your brain deal with the injury. It will keep your arteries open and send Endothelial Progenitor Cells to repair your damaged capillaries. Depending on your injury, it will take some time. Not only is the brain very complicated, it consumes 20% of your body’s oxygen and nutrients. Anti-Aging Another study showed how Nitric Oxide helps keep your telomeres long, longer. Telomeres are the protective sleeve at the tips of your DNA. When they get too short the cell can’t divide or it may turn cancerous. Long telomeres translate into aging slower. Rheumatoid Arthritis Another study showed how Nitric Oxide should be considered for rheumatoid arthritis therapy since those with the condition take so many NSAID’s that it damages their cardiovacular system. The study showed that additionally Nitric Oxide relieves the inflammation and pain associated with osteo-arthritis. The study suggested a medication which combined a moderate NSAID and a drug which 28 boosts Nitric Oxide production. The study admits that no such drug currently exists but there are nutraceutical options available until then. Macular Degeneration Because Nitric Oxide wears so many hats in the body, scientists have often become confused about the presence of Nitric Oxide in different maladies. Nitric Oxide delivers oxygen, relaxes the blood vessels, and is a necessary signalling molecule but it is also a lethal Ninja against infection and even cancer cells. Consequently, the presence of Nitric Oxide can signify serious infections and other problems. For example, one treatment for macular degeneration that is used today is a Nitric Oxide inhibitor designed to prevent damage caused by iNOS or Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (The Ninja Nitric Oxide) New studies, however, show that the presence of Nitric Oxide in the eyes may be the result of eNOS, endotheial Nitric Oxide Synthase which opens up the capillaries in the eye preventing the eye from overproducing blinding numbers of capillaries. Conclusion It seems implausible that a discovery of this magnitude and simplicity could be possible in this day and age. Did I say simple? I apologize, the body is anything but simple; it’s just that improving one’s Nitric Oxide production has so many life-changing advantages, it begs the question why we aren’t promoting these supplements through more chanels. However, as gauche as it may seem, it is still about money. But as I mentioned earlier, few have the money, time, or political clout to buck the current system. Since you have read the book this far, you deserve an answer to how you can boost your Nitric Oxide naturally and inexpensively. The company that offered you this book has a supplement that will boost your Nitric Oxide through both the Arginine/Nitric Oxide Synthase pathway and the Nitrate/Nitrite pathway. Contact them today and discover a new level of health and fitness you may have thought was long gone. 29 ©Kurt Dowdle - Red Suede Media 2016 30