How to Increase Nitric Oxide Naturally: 5 Ways

Key Takeaways

• Nitric oxide helps blood and oxygen flow through your body.
• Nitrate-rich veggies like celery and spinach may help lower blood pressure and boost performance.
• Exercise, supplements, and using less mouthwash may boost levels.

Nitric oxide is a molecule that’s produced naturally by your body, and it’s important for many aspects of your health.

Its most important function is vasodilation, meaning it relaxes the inner muscles of the blood vessels, causing them to widen and increase circulation.

Nitric oxide production is essential for overall health because it allows blood, nutrients, and oxygen to travel to every part of your body effectively and efficiently.

In fact, a limited capacity to produce nitric oxide is associated with heart disease, diabetes, and erectile dysfunction (

Fortunately, there are many ways to maintain optimal levels of nitric oxide in your body.

Here are the top 5 ways to increase nitric oxide naturally.

Nitric oxide is an unstable molecule that degrades quickly in the bloodstream, so it must be constantly replenished (16).

One way to increase its stability and limit its breakdown is by consuming antioxidants.

Antioxidants are… Show more

Several dietary supplements are marketed as “nitric oxide boosters.”

These supplements don’t contain nitric oxide itself, but they include ingredients that help form nitric oxide in your body.

Keep in mind that the Food and Drug… Show more

Mouthwash destroys bacteria in your mouth that can contribute to the growth of cavities and other dental diseases.

Unfortunately, mouthwash kills all types of bacteria, including the beneficial ones that help produce nitric oxide.… Show more

Exercise really does get your blood pumping, largely because it improves endothelial function.

Endothelium refers to the thin layer of cells that line the blood vessels. These cells produce nitric oxide, which keeps blood vessels… Show more

Nitric oxide is an essential molecule required for overall health. As a vasodilator, nitric oxide signals the blood vessels to relax, allowing them to expand.

This effect allows blood, nutrients, and oxygen to flow freely to every part of your body. But when nitric oxide production is decreased, your health can become compromised.

Therefore, it’s important to achieve and maintain optimal levels of nitric oxide in your body.

A diet high in nitrate-rich vegetables and antioxidants or the use of supplements, such as L-arginine or L-citrulline, are beneficial ways to boost your body’s natural production of nitric oxide. Other proven strategies include limiting mouthwash and exercising regularly.