One of the secrets of youth is a powerful molecule your body makes in the lining of your blood vessels.
It’s called nitric oxide (NO).
If you’re a regular reader, you’ve heard me talk about it.
It’s a signaling molecule that allows your blood vessels to relax and expand.
This allows blood and oxygen to reach every cell in your body… without this molecule you would lose your memory, your blood pressure would skyrocket, and your sex life would disappear.
L-arginine is a traditional way of boosting nitric oxide, but unless you know how to use it, you may be disappointed.
Today, I’ll show you a simple way to get more NO into your bloodstream. It’s a favorite among athletes and bodybuilders.
Why Professional Athletes Love
This Natural Circulation Booster
With more than 1,000 studies under its belt, beetroot juice has proven itself to not only give athletes a performance edge, it’s helped regular people — even couch potatoes — with blood pressure, heart health, diabetes, energy levels, erectile dysfunction, and more.
Compared to other nitric oxide boosters, beetroot juice has an advantage: Beetroot juice is full of nitrates that go directly into your body’s bloodstream and muscle tissues. Compared to the other methods, nitrates bypass the breakdown process. Once inside the bloodstream, the nitrates enter “standby” mode, waiting to be called on.
One study showed that taking nitrate-filled beetroot juice before exercise contributed to less muscle fatigue, more performance, and better outcomes.1 Another study showed that nitrates gave runners and cyclists improved performance while lowering their body’s demand for oxygen.2
This is why many athletes chose beetroot juice as their new performance enhancer.
You don’t have to be an athlete to get these same results. Whether you’re an avid exerciser or someone getting back into exercising after years off, the benefits of nitrates are undeniable.
Studies show nitrates:
- Improve blood pressure
- Reduce inflammation
- Increase exercise efficiency
- Reduce overall soreness
- Boost blood circulation
- Helps to regulate blood sugar
Boost Your NO With Beets… (And Leafy Greens)
Now that beetroot juice is becoming more popular, you can buy it in most health food stores or order it online. I recommend organic sources, and I’d avoid any brands that add sugar.
You can also get beetroot powder, which is another option if your blood sugar is sensitive to juices.
Dark leafy greens are another vegetable source of NO. Aside from their high antioxidant and vitamin content, leafy greens are full of nitrates. The nitrates in leafy greens boost nitric oxide levels and help with everything from cognitive decline to reducing the risk of heart disease.3
Some of my favorite examples of leafy greens include spinach, kale, collard greens, arugula, and cabbage to name a few.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD, CNS
1. Papadopoulos S, et al. “Beetroot increases muscle performance and oxygenation during sustained isometric exercise, but does not alter muscle oxidative efficiency and microvascular reactivity at rest.” J Am Coll Nutr. 2018;37(5):361-372.
2. Pawlak-Chaouch M, et al. “Effect of dietary nitrate supplementation on metabolic rate during rest and exercise in human: A systematic review and a meta-analysis.” Nitric Oxide. 2016;53:65-76.
3. Pollock RL. “The effect of green leafy and cruciferous vegetable intake on the incidence of cardiovascular disease: A meta-analysis.” JRSM Cardiovasc Dis. 2016;5:2048004016661435.