Let’s first understand the importance of electrolytes and hydration.Actually, let’s first understand that very few times will carbohydrate depletion be the reason you cannot achieve a pump. A pump is the muscle cell responding to stimulus that is increasing blood pressure and therefore causing the cell itself to swell and the surrounding area to swell as a result of potassium, sodium, and waterCreatine monohydrate supports a pump, also, as the main MoA of creatine is to draw more water and nutrients into the cell so that ADP can reconvert to ATP after the adenosine is used to create muscular contractionCarbohydrates can increase a pump intensity through elevating insulin signaling, carrying water with it through as it is transferred through body and therefore sodium alongside the water and carbohydrate as well. Once the carbohydrate gets to the muscle cell, it takes potassium to get inside and be used for fuel to be converted into ATP by the mitochondriaPotassium is the intracellular (inside) electrolyteSodium is the extracellular (outside) electrolytePotassium is also the most underrated part of bodybuilding IMO. Want to achieve a grainy as heck, full look in peak week? Potassium will need to go higher than sodium to achieve this. Nu salt can become our best friend.Other roles of potassium:
- Potassium aids in transmitting nerve impulses, ensuring that the communication between your brain and muscles is swift and efficient.
- Potassium can prevent muscle cramps
- Post-workout, potassium plays a pivotal role in replenishing glycogen stores and supporting muscle repair. It aids in transporting glucose into muscle cells, accelerating recovery and promoting muscle growth
Let's discuss PDE5 inhibitors and their potential for enhancing muscle pumps.Viagra, Cialis, and similar drugs increase blood flow to the genital area by inhibiting the enzyme PDE5, which is commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction. Understanding the biochemistry behind this process can help us utilize this technology for improving muscle pumps during training. Erections are triggered by a complex signaling pathway involving nitric oxide (NO), which leads to the dilation of blood vessels and increased blood flow to working muscles, resulting in the sensation known as the 'pump'.This pathway involves the release of NO from nerves and endothelial cells, leading to the production of cGMP and subsequent relaxation of smooth muscle cells lining blood vessels. This ultimately increases blood flow to the desired areas. While this may seem complex, the basic concept is simple: NO increases cGMP, which in turn increases blood flow to specific regions.PDE5 plays a crucial role in regulating smooth muscle relaxation by controlling cGMP levels, which in turn impacts blood flow.Biological processes are often regulated by negative feedback mechanisms to maintain balance. The enzyme PDE5, found predominantly in the corpus cavernosum, degrades cGMP to limit the duration and intensity of erections through negative feedback. In individuals with erectile dysfunction, there is an imbalance between cGMP and PDE5, leading to lower cGMP levels and increased PDE5 activity, disrupting the delicate balance and causing inadequate blood flow and erectile dysfunction.Due to the high expression of PDE5 in genital areas, it was previously believed that PDE5 inhibitors had minimal effects in other tissues. However, this is not the case in reality. PDE5 is also present in vascular and skeletal muscle, suggesting that PDE5 inhibitors could enhance muscle pumps during exercise.To comprehend how this works, we need to refer to the diagram above. The important points to note are that NO initiates cGMP production, and Cialis functions by inhibiting the breakdown of cGMP. While Cialis alone has a positive impact, there is potential for improvement. Imagine if we used Cialis to inhibit PDE5 while simultaneously increasing NO production through supplementation.This would result in more NO available to generate additional cGMP, which would then be broken down less by PDE5. Ultimately, this would create a feed-forward signaling loop leading to increased relaxation of smooth muscles, enhanced blood flow, and significant muscle pumps.
How to increase NO production
Nitric oxide (NO) is produced from oxygen and L-arginine by the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Increasing blood arginine levels acutely can boost NO production. Many NO boosting supplements work by delivering a surge of arginine at the right time to elevate blood arginine levels, leading to increased NO production and improved blood flow to active muscles.When taking Cialis with simultaneous PDE5 inhibition, L-arginine is acceptable, but there are better options. Citrulline is a byproduct of NO synthesis that can be converted back into arginine through the arginine-citrulline cycle. L-citrulline tends to remain in the body longer than L-arginine, which is rapidly broken down in the liver before entering circulation. Therefore, L-citrulline is a more effective way to raise extracellular arginine levels.A study in heart patients showed that 3g of citrulline (as citrulline malate) was as effective as a 6g dose of arginine, suggesting that citrulline may be up to twice as potent as arginine in increasing blood arginine levels. While indirect, citrulline is the most efficient method for increasing arginine, which is then utilized to produce more NO.
Putting it all together
Putting all of this together, if one were to take 20mg Cialis + 8g citrulline + 5 g Creatine Monohydrate + Glycerol 30 min prior to training your pumps will be PAINFULLY AWESOME. Give this one a try.
