What is nitric oxide?
Nitric oxide is a compound of one nitrogen atom and one oxygen atom that is produced by your body and plays an important role in your body’s health and function.
Health benefits of nitric oxide
There are significant health benefits to maintaining healthy levels of nitric oxide as nitric oxide helps perform the following vital functions
- Circulatory system. Nitric oxide helps your blood vessels relax and widen improving blood flow, lowering your blood pressure and reducing your risk of blood clots.
- Respiratory system. Nitric oxide helps relax the airways and prevents them from becoming very restricted.
- Immune system. Nitric oxide controls many types of immune cells and helps these cells communicate and react more quickly to invaders
- Mental sharpness. Nitric oxide helps maintain a healthy flow of blood to the brain keeping your mind sharp and reducing dementia risks with age. See Knowridge Research discovers new cause of cognitive decline in older people
- Inflammation. Nitric oxide reduces swelling and pain, including arthritic pain.
- Wound Healing. Nitric oxide is crucial in the regulation of various wound healing processes such as inflammatory response, cell proliferation, collagen formation, and antimicrobial action.
- Digestive system. Nitric oxide helps control the smooth muscles in your gastrointestinal tract aiding in the full digestive process.
The below image courtesy of the National Institute of Health illustrates the comprehensive role nitric oxide plays in maintaining key body functions.
See National Institute of Health Nitric Oxide: Physiological Functions, Delivery, and Biomedical Applications
Natural food sources with compounds to make nitric oxide
Our body makes nitric oxide from nitrates and nitrites compounds found in natural foods. You are able to increase the level of nitric oxide in your body by eating natural foods high in nitrates and nitrites. Here is a list of natural foods rich in nitrates and nitrites:
- Kale
- Swiss chard
- Arugula
- Spinach
- Chicory
- Wild radish
- Bok choy
- Beets
- Lettuce
- Cabbage
- Mustard greens
- Raw cauliflower
- Parsley
- Kohlrabi
- Carrots
- Broccoli
See WebMD: Healthy Foods to Boost Nitric Oxide
The role of antioxidants
Antioxidants are molecules that neutralize free radicals, which contribute to the short life of nitric oxide. Increasing your intake of antioxidants helps your body maintain nitric oxide. Antioxidants, like Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Polyphenols and Glutathione, are found in all foods but primarily those of plant origin, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and grains.
Improved athletic performance
Healthy levels of nitric oxide help maintain and improve athletic performance,
Mouthwash kills oral bacteria that help produce nitric oxide
Mouthwash kills all types of bacteria, including the beneficial ones that help produce nitric oxide. Bacteria in our mouth convert nitrate to nitric oxide. Humans cannot produce nitric oxide from nitrate without these bacteria. Research has shown that mouthwash kills the oral bacteria needed to produce nitric oxide for up to 12 hours. See Healthline: 5 Ways to Increase Nitric Oxide Naturally
Cannabis use blunts nitric oxide production
Researchers have found Cannabis use, whether smoked or eaten, “blunted nitric oxide production“ causing endothelial dysfunction, which narrows your arteries. See Cannabis Use Increased Risk of Early Development of Vascular Disease
More about Ralph Teller