What is nitric oxide, and how can you support it naturally?
Why a gas your body makes matters for blood pressure, circulation, and healthy aging.
What this episode covers
- Nitric oxide is a gas the body makes that tells blood vessels to relax and widen.
- This episode, featuring the scientist who discovered its role, explains why that matters for blood pressure and circulation.
- It suggests vegetables, exercise, and nasal breathing may support natural production.
- A separate claim about inhaled nitric oxide for COVID is far less settled.
Confidence in this episode
Everything about how much to believe this episode, in one place.
The core biology is strongly established. Less certain is how much diet and lifestyle shift nitric oxide enough to change real health outcomes.
- Nitric oxide relaxes blood vessels and supports healthy blood pressure.
- Nitrate-rich vegetables and exercise can raise nitric oxide activity.
- How much everyday habits change long-term health outcomes through nitric oxide.
- Whether arginine or other supplements reliably help.
- The role of inhaled nitric oxide outside hospital settings.
Why it matters
Blood vessels need to relax and widen to keep blood pressure healthy. Nitric oxide is a main signal that does this, and the body makes less with age and inactivity. Because nitric oxide affects blood vessels throughout the body, it may influence blood pressure, circulation, exercise, and more. The core biology here is well established, unlike some of the add-on claims.
What stands out
- Strong antibacterial mouthwash can lower nitric oxide by removing helpful mouth bacteria.
- The body makes less nitric oxide with age and inactivity, not just from diet.
- A Nobel-level discovery about the molecule does not prove every supplement built around it.
Best-supported action
The single highest-leverage move from this episode, anchored in the strongest evidence the speaker presents.
Consider adding nitrate-rich vegetables like leafy greens and beets to daily meals, alongside regular movement.
Where to start
Small low-friction starters covering the main moves from this episode.
- Eat more leafy greens and beetroot, which are natural sources of nitrates.
- Move regularly, since exercise supports nitric oxide production.
- Try nasal rather than mouth breathing during easy activity.
Other supported actions
Further actions discussed in this episode, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence. This is one expert's view, the full topic compares and ranks across experts.
- Consider eating nitrate-rich vegetables daily, like leafy greens and beets.Moderate evidence
- Consider regular aerobic exercise, which supports nitric oxide naturally.Moderate evidence
- Consider discussing any nitric-oxide supplement with your doctor before use, especially on heart medicines.Limited evidence
Full context, impact ratings, and timing — available in related topics
Questions to take to your doctor
- Given my blood pressure, could diet and exercise changes that support nitric oxide help me?
- Given the supplement claims, is arginine or a nitrate supplement worthwhile or safe with my medicines?
- Given my heart history, which lifestyle steps would you prioritize first?
Full doctor prep with ranked questions available in the full topic page
Context
Nobel-laureate pharmacologist who discovered nitric oxide's role in the cardiovascular system. Authoritative on the core biology; some applied and supplement claims run ahead of the clinical evidence.
This does not prove that boosting nitric oxide through diet prevents disease. The core biology is solid; the outcome claims are less certain.
Supplement claims, like arginine, have mixed evidence and vary by person.
Inhaled nitric oxide for COVID is a hospital-studied, experimental use, not a general treatment.
On commercial interest: nitric-oxide supplements are widely sold. That does not invalidate the science, but weigh product claims carefully.
This is general information, not medical advice. This does not mean you should change or stop any current treatment on your own.
Where people go wrong
- Relying on supplements while ignoring diet, exercise, and sleep.Misses the changes with the strongest support and wastes money.
- Treating the COVID inhaled-nitric-oxide claim as a proven home remedy.It is experimental and hospital-based; self-treatment is unsafe.
What to expect over time
- BasicsVegetables, movement, and nasal breathing become routine.
- AssessBlood pressure and how you feel are tracked over weeks.
- RefineAny supplements are discussed with a doctor before adding.