Nitric Oxide: The Heart-Healthy Molecule You’re Missing

Stroke and heart disease rates are skyrocketing, and the Standard American Diet (SAD) is a big reason why. It’s lacking in nitric oxide (NO), a molecule that relaxes blood vessels, improves circulation, and lowers blood pressure. Without enough NO, arteries stiffen, blood pressure rises, and the risk of stroke increases.

But here’s the good news: You can increase NO naturally with nutrient-dense, plant foods rich in nitrates. Leafy greens, beets, citrus fruits, and pomegranates are great examples. Exercise and skin exposure to sunlight help too.

Unfortunately, many common habits block or deplete NO production:

• The SAD diet, ultra-processed foods and inadequate plant intake, robs the body of essential nutrients.

• Antiseptic mouthwashes destroy oral bacteria needed to convert dietary nitrates into NO.

• Antacids disrupt the gut microbiome and suppress stomach acid, interfering with NO metabolism.

• Chronic stress and poor sleep reduce the body's ability to generate NO, further straining the cardiovascular system.

We can’t change the genes we were born with or the childhood we experienced, but we can change our diets, and changing our diet can change our minds, our energy, and our long-term health.