NITRIC OXIDE & THE PUMP
Once you achieve the Pump during your workout, you are officially in the zone, primed up to pump iron with an intensity that you don’t just walk around with all day long. Achieving the Pump, is an art of bodybuilding all in its own. The Pump isn’t some bodybuilding phenomenon, but a highly sought after state of being that all bodybuilders search for every time they enter the gym. What would bodybuilding be without the Pump? Would you still see legions of dedicated gym rats moving tons of iron week in and week out, night after night? I think not. When you are pumped, you are primed for war, with vascular muscles bursting out of your skin coupled with the feeling of invincible aggression that makes you attack the iron that seeks to crush you under its endless weight!
The supplement industry recognized that the Pump is indeed a real state of being and not a bodybuilding phenomenon, and also realized that they could put a price tag on it, creating a new supplement class known as Pre Workout Supplements. N.O. X-Plode has been the number one Pre Workout (Nitric Oxide & Muscle Builder Awards 2005-2008, BodyBuilding.com) supplement for the past 3 years.
So what is the relationship between the Pump and Pre Workout supplements like N.O. X-Plode, SuperPump250, and naNo Hardcore? The following is an excerpt of a research report written by Team Muscle Tech. I couldn’t have written it better, so here you go:
Without question, the pump- scientifically known as “exercise induced hyperaemia” – is one of the most critical factors to creating the most anabolic environment conducive to new growth. That’s why tons of bodybuilders use nitric oxide-boosting supplements containing L-arginine. The release of nitric oxide facilitates the relaxation of the endothelial cells- smooth muscles that line the blood vessels- thereby expanding the lumen of the blood vessel (the middle space of the vessel where blood flows through). As the lumen expands, blood flow is enhanced, resulting in peak vasodialation. Blood plasma is the primary channel through which nutrients, oxygen-rich red blood cells, amino acids and anabolic hormones such as testosterone, GH and IGF-1 are delivered to your starving muscles.
Therefore, by feeding your system more blood, you transport elevated amounts of the various muscle-building components necessary for new muscular development.
Oxygen is a prime example of how the Pump powers growth. Increasing the delivery of oxygen-rich blood to your growing muscles accelerates the speed at which your system is able to cleanse itself of muscle toxins such as ammonia. The removal of ammonia and other metabolites allows bodybuilders to recover quicker between sets and perform more repetitions, which could result in better growth stimulus and adaptive growth in response to micro-tears at the muscle fiber level.
Upon achieving maximum vasodialation, your body is also able to quickly deliver metabolized amino acids and nutrients derived from your pre- and post-workout nutrition and shuttle them to your craving muscles. This allows for enhanced muscle recovery and growth. Scientificaly speaking, the anabolic power of the Pump cannot be denied!