Bodybuilding is tough, no doubt. Having to go through those strenuous lifting, running, and all other fitness routines are no child’s play. But the good thing is if you keep at it, the results are usually worth all the effort.
Now, while you have to put it in the effort to get the result, you do not always have to do it all by yourself. Of course, you could do all your heavy lifting and exercises together with friends or family. But that’s not what we mean by not doing it all by yourself.
You can enhance your performance while you involve yourself in these activities. You can go longer than you currently do. At this point, if your mind has gone to steroids, bring it back. We are not talking about steroids.
Apart from the fact that anabolic steroids are illegal almost everywhere, the adverse effects that come with using them can be very terrible, and we do not want that for you.
One alternative that is devoid of the compelling cons of anabolic steroids is nitric oxide, which is what NO2 Max enhances in your body.
While involved in any fitness activity, the most important physiological factor is your blood flow and oxygen consumption. The higher your blood flow, the more oxygen your body gets. The more oxygen your body gets, the longer you can go, and the easier your routine becomes.
This is what a nitric oxide enhancer can do for you, and this is why we shall review NO2 Max in this article.
NO2 Max Review: Product Overview
The effects of NO2 Max is based on the actions of a naturally occurring substance called nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is produced by the body and belongs to a class of biological compounds called signaling molecules.
Nitric oxide has many functions in different parts of the body. In the heart, arteries, and veins, it causes increased blood flow by triggering processes that widen the blood vessels (arteries and veins).
NO2 Max does not contain nitric oxide. Rather it contains precursors, substances that can be converted into nitric oxide inside you. When the precursors are available to your body, more nitric oxide can be produced, and more of its effects are seen.
NO2 Max Pro & Cons
Like virtually everything in existence, NO2 Max is not without pros and cons. While it might have a reverence, it is not perfect. So, we have made a list of the pros and cons of the product to give you an overview of what it holds.
Pros:
- Improved performance
- Improved endurance
- Increased energy
- Increased blood flow and heart pumps
- Relatively safe
- Consumption is legal
- Easy to use
- It comes with free delivery
- Long-lasting outcomes
- Faster recovery during workouts
Cons:
- It is a bit pricey
- It does not cause the muscle to grow
NO2 Max Ingredients
The 2 main ingredients in NO2 Max are L-Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate and Calcium (from Dicalcium phosphate).
L-Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate
If you have ever heard of amino acids, then you are quite close to understanding what L-Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate is. This substance, L-Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate, is the main ingredient in NO2 Max. Each serving of the product contains 1800 mg of L-Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate.
So, what are amino acids? To the layman, an acid is that dangerous substance that can burn the skin terribly. But an amino acid is one of the good guys. Amino acids are the building units of proteins and many other substances in the body.
Now, you may have already grasped that L-Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate is the building unit of nitric oxide. If you have thought of this, you are correct.
The L-Arginine part of L-Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate is an amino acid, and this is the amino acid that the body produces nitric oxide from. Apart from being the precursor for the production of nitric oxide, the presence of L-Arginine aids the production of proteins in the body.
This production of protein stimulated by L-Arginine promotes muscle repair and can contribute to the production of lean muscle.
To improve the effect of L-Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate, you should consume a lot of protein. If you do not, most of the L-Arginine you get from NO2 Max will be channeled into producing other amino acids.
If you are wondering where you can get extra L-Arginine from apart from supplements, there are some dietary options you may want to try. Some of these options include fish, meat, dairy, nuts, and vegetables.
Dicalcium Phosphate
The second active ingredient in NO2 Max is calcium, and each serving contains 80mg. You may have heard about calcium already. Remember? Calcium? The stuff that the dentist told you about. The one that helps with the formation of strong bones and teeth? Yes, the same calcium.
Well, calcium does more than just aid the formation of strong bones and teeth. Calcium can help improve the function of the muscle. Do not let this shock you, but your muscle runs on electricity.
Your nerves control your muscle, and these nerves carry out their function by transmitting electrical impulses. Now, for these electrical impulses to be generated, ions are needed.
Ions are electrically charged substances, and some of them are found in the body. One of the many ions in the body is calcium ion. Calcium ion plays a huge role in the generation of electrical impulses in the muscles of your heart and skeleton.
By supplying the body with calcium form dicalcium phosphate, the contraction of your muscle can be improved. Calcium will also help to prevent your muscle and associated tissues from getting damaged.
Natural sources of calcium include dairy products, bones, and many more. Consuming these alongside NO2 Max can improve the overall outcome of the product.
Other Ingredients
Other ingredients in NO2 Max include the following:
- Microcrystalline Cellulose: this substance is present as an additive in NO2 Max. It may have been added as just a binder, but microcrystalline cellulose may have some positive effect on your guts and body fat.
- Crospovidone: crospovidone (also called polyvinyl N-pyrrolidone or PVP) is an additive that helps with the absorption of NO2 Max. When you take the product by mouth, crospovidone is not absorbed, so you are unlikely to get any other benefit from this.
- Stearic Acid: this ingredient plays a role in the rate at which NO2 Max is released into your body. It also serves as a tablet lubricant; the effect of a tablet lubricant is not something you want to bother about. It’s something for the tableting technicians.
- Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose: this substance helps control the rate at which the supplement is released from the tablet. Besides that, this is largely inert.
- Propylene Glycol: propylene glycol is useful in coating tablets. With this coating, the tablets can last longer than usual.
- Triacetin: triacetin is another inactive ingredient whose function is to ensure that the tablets are the way they are.
How Does NO2 Max Work?
If you have read this far, then you may already have a hint of how NO2 Max works. The first step in the process of NO2 Max’s effect is the formation of nitric oxide. An enzyme in the body converts L-Arginine alpha-ketoglutarate to nitric oxide.
Then nitric oxide itself starts out the processes that improve your performance. When nitric oxide is formed, it activates several proteins in the muscle of the blood vessels (arteries and veins). These proteins cause these muscles to relax.
The outcome of this relaxation is that the diameter of your blood vessels increases. This effect is called vasodilation. When this diameter becomes wider, more blood flows through the vessels.
As more blood flows the vessels, more oxygen and nutrients (including glucose) flows through them too. This increased flow of oxygen and nutrients allows your muscle to recover faster from intense workouts.
Nitric oxide also has its effects on the heart. It reduces the rate of contraction of your heart and the rate at which your heartbeats. This means your heart beats less frequently but more efficiently. This is how the product amplifies pumps.
One thing to note is that while this is perhaps an alternative to anabolic steroids, it will not increase your lean muscle mass. If you want bigger muscles, you have to consume more protein.
The protein you consume will be converted into amino acids, and these amino acids will be used to produce more muscle.
Benefits of Using NO2 Max
You will find that NO2 Max does the following to your body:
- Increased Energy: well, with the increased blood flow to your muscles, more oxygen and nutrients (including glucose) are delivered to your muscle. More glucose to your muscles means more energy for you.
Also, more oxygen means faster metabolism and faster metabolism means energy is being supplied to your muscles at a faster rate.
- Fat Burning: with a faster metabolism and increased supply of oxygen and glucose, NO2 Max can increase the rate at which fat is used by the muscle. The outcome is that more fat is burned than usual.
- Amplified Pump: now, nitric oxide also acts on the heart, as mentioned earlier. It reduces the rate of contraction of the heart. But by doing this, it makes every contraction of the heart worth more. So, your heart beats less than usual, but each contraction does more than usual.
- Improved Endurance and Performance: this part is quite straightforward. When your heart functions better than before, and your muscle is getting more nourishment than usual, your performance will improve.
Side Effects
Generally, there have been no reports of side effects associated with the use of NO2 Max. This may be because most of the ingredients are gotten from natural sources.
The absence of reported side effects does not preclude the possibility of side effects with this product.
For one, there is the possibility of side effects from the nitric oxide produced when you use NO2 Max.
Nitric oxide causes a few side effects, which include the following:
- Low blood pressure (one of the most common side effect of nitric oxide)
- Breathing difficulties
Apart from the side effects listed above, you may encounter some side effects from taking NO2 Max. These side effects are those that have been seen in other nitric oxide supplements. Also, since NO2 Max is taken through the mouth, these side effects are expected.
Possible side effects that you may experience when you take NO2 Max are listed below:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Stomachache
- Diarrhea
Now, if you ever experience these side effects, there might be something you can do to reduce the occurrence or stop it totally. If you have been taking the NO2 Max on an empty stomach, switching to taking it after meals can reduce the occurrence of the possible side effects.
Now, we might have just told you to take NO2 Max after meals, but if you are not experiencing any side effects, it may be better for you to take it on an empty stomach. The product seems to be more effective on an empty stomach.
Truth is, the outcome may be all dependent on you. Everyone has a different system, and the effect may vary according to each person’s system. So, you may have to experiment with this until you find what works for you.
Who Should Use NO2 Max?
NO2 Max is basically for anyone who seeks to enhance their physical performance. More specifically, NO2 Max is for bodybuilders, fitness experts, fitness enthusiasts, and even athletes.
It is a way for this set of people to improve the function of their heart and ensure that their routines are more effective. The relative safety offered by NO2 Max is a plus that places it ahead of steroids.
People looking to extend the duration of their routines may benefit from using NO2 Max. Since it helps shorten recovery time, such individuals might be able to do more than they normally do within the same period.
With the possibility of improved heart functions, NO2 Max may be beneficial to individuals looking to improve their pumps. The good thing about improved pumps is the improved endurance that comes with it. Improved pumps mean people can achieve more than the usual with just one pump.
Nitric oxide could also be beneficial to people looking to burn fat. Stronger pumps will contribute to rapid blood flow.
Rapid blood flow, in turn, will translate to the rapid delivery of oxygen and glucose to the muscles. Increased glucose consumption might contribute to an existing weight loss plan.
On its own, NO2 Max might not be effective for weight loss.
Who Should Refrain From NO2 Max?
Now, it might seem like NO2 Max is suitable for everyone since there have been no reported side effects. But this is not true. For one, NO2 Max contains Sulfur Dioxide.
Sulfur dioxide is a substance known to trigger allergic reactions. Now, if you are allergic to this substance or you are prone to allergy, you may want to stay away from NO2 Max. This warning is especially through for people with asthma.
Apart from sulfur dioxide, another ingredient with potential for causing allergic reactions is L-arginine. Allergic reactions caused by L-arginine include rashes, hives, breathlessness, itching, blisters, and much more. If you have experienced an allergic reaction after taking any product containing L-arginine, you should stay away from this.
If you are at any risk due to any of the ingredients, you should refrain from taking NO2 Max. Also, if you are on any medication for the heart or blood pressure, you should consult with your pharmacist or physician before you use this.
Dosage & Tips to Start
The container comes with 60 tablets, and the company recommends that you use 2 tablets daily. If you would take this, it is best taken around 20 – 30 minutes before you start your work out.
It is better not to exceed this recommended dose. Also, you may ask more questions about NO2 Max from your healthcare provider.
For the best results, you have to use NO2 Max consistently for 2 months. During these 2 months, you have to continue your fitness routine and be diligent with them.
As earlier stated, NO2 Max will not increase your muscle mass. But if you desire bigger muscle or increase lean muscle mass, you will have to improve your diet. A diet that favors high protein consumption, low-fat consumption, and very low carbohydrate consumption will help with this.
Where to Buy NO2 Max and Guarantees?
You can order NO2 Max from Crazybulk. The retail price is $75.99, but it goes for $59.95 on Crazy Bulk, so you save $16.04. You can also save more if you buy 2 packs. When you buy 2 packs of NO2 Max from Crazy Bulk, you get one free. This means you save over $100.
Conclusion: Is NO2 Max Legit?
The point of getting NO2 Max is to enhance physical endurance and performance safely. By improving the function of the heart, arteries, veins, and muscles, NO2 Max achieves this with a high level of safety.
While NO2 Max is a product from Crazy Bulk, it turns out it’s not all they have in store. You may check out their stacks collection. This stack collection contains a combination of products to meet specific bodybuilding and fitness goals.
