What is It?

Nitrates are a compound found in vegetables such as dark green leafy veggies like beet greens, kale, spinach, and parsley. Nitrates are converted into nitrites in the body and then into Nitric Oxide (NO).

Nitric Oxide is a natural vasodilator which can help with cardiovascular health for men and women and sexual health in men.

It is known as “endothelium-derived relaxing factor” (EDRF) and is made in the body by the amino acid L-arginine, oxygen and NADPH (a type of helper molecule called a co-enzyme).

What is it Used For?

Nitric Oxide is used to help dilate blood vessels and is mainly used in the treatment of high blood pressure and erectile dysfunction from poor blood supply. It may also have positive effects for people suffering from angina (poor blood supply to the heart), poor circulation, age-related dementia, and Raynaud’s syndrome.

For decades the drugs Nitroglycerine and Amyl Nitrite were used in medicine to help dilate heart blood vessels. Later it was discovered these drugs were both precursors to Nitric Oxide which is made in our body. It is believed that this is the mechanism of action which allows these drugs to be potent vasodilators.

Humans with atherosclerosis, diabetes, and hypertension often show impaired NO pathways and are depleted in NO.

How Does it Work?

All arteries are made up of a kind of muscle tissue called smooth muscle. This allows the arteries to constrict and dilate depending on your body’s needs for more or less blood flow. There are numerous types of high blood pressure but the main type is due to arteries that are too constricted. One way to address certain kinds of high blood pressure is to relax the blood vessels. NO achieves this when it is released by the endothelial layer (inner lining) of our blood vessels. It acts to signal to the surrounding smooth muscle layer of the blood vessel to relax. This, in turn, dilates or widens the blood vessels.

Magnesium is another way this can be achieved. Magnesium and Nitric Oxide work as a great combined therapy for high blood pressure.

Further, Nitric Oxide reduces platelet aggregation into the endothelium (stroke, heart attacks), reduces blood vessel inflammation, supports endothelial tissue inside blood vessels, and increases blood vessel elasticity which is important to support varying degrees of blood volume and blood pressure.

NO also reduces LDL oxidation (the oxidation of the negative type of cholesterol in our body). NO inhibits smooth muscle proliferation. NO prevents white blood cell adhesion and infiltration into the lining of the blood vessels. All of these actions protect your blood vessels and heart.

How to use it?

You can not buy nitric oxide as a supplement but you can buy it in precursor forms. Potassium Nitrate is converted into Nitric oxide in your body. A standard dose is 250 mg daily and is found in cardiovascular formulations with herbs and antioxidants.

Another way your body can make Nitric Oxide is from two amino acids called Citrulline and L arginine. These amino acids are generally found in powdered forms alone or in combination with other amino acids for heart and muscle function.