Your body produces nitric oxide in almost every cell. It’s particularly important for the blood vessels. It relaxes the blood vessels and allows them to dilate, allowing blood to flow easier and blood pressure to be lower. That also increases circulation. Since it does increase circulation, that means it also increases the nutrients and oxygen carried to all body parts. There are studies that show the lower amount of nitric oxide you have, the more prone you’ll be to heart disease. Exercise is one way to increase your nitric oxide levels.
Exercise boosts the production of nitric oxide in your body.
Blood vessels have a thin layer of cells that line them, they’re called the endothelium. These are the cells that produce the nitric oxide. When you’re working out and your blood vessels are healthy, it’s not a problem. The nitric oxide keeps the vessels healthy and functioning. However, if you’re living a sedentary life, it can cause those cells to dysfunction and produce too little. That can cause an increased risk for high blood pressure, atherosclerosis and heart disease.
Exercise does so much more for your body.
Besides keeping your blood vessels and endothelial healthy, exercise boosts your body’s ability to create nitric oxide. Studies show that exercise also increases antioxidant activity. That can reduce the breakdown of the nitric oxide by free radicals. Exercise has been proven to increase vasodilation of the endothelial in all people, including those with heart disease and high blood pressure.
You’ll get benefits even if you’re healthy or don’t have a lot of extra time.
There are studies that show that it only takes ten weeks to show improvement in nitric oxide production and improved endothelial health. It does require thirty minutes of exercise at least three times a week. There is an exercise that’s a four minute nitric oxide boost. It’s four exercises, each done ten times and in four sets. The first is a squat, followed by paddling your arms in front, then jumping jacks without the jumping and finally air push-ups. Dr. Zach Bush created this workout and called it a nitric oxide dump.
- Eating foods with nitrates can boost your nitric oxide. Celery, chervil, cress, lettuce, arugula, spinach and beetroot are some of the foods with nitrates that can boost your nitric oxide production.
- You’ll be surprised to find that simple things like mouthwash can lower the nitric oxide. Nitric oxide needs bacteria to produce it. Unfortunately, mouthwash kills all bacteria, including the beneficial ones that make nitric oxide.
- Erectile dysfunction may be caused by a lack of nitric oxide. That’s another reason to exercise and better than the little blue pill. You’ll look as good as you feel when you do it naturally.
- Because of the improved circulation and blood vessel health, increasing nitric oxide can also help manage diabetes and prevent serious complications.