We know that healthy circulation is important, but what we may not know is what to consume to help promote healthy circulation and blood flow. In terms of blood vessel health, nitric oxide is one of the most important molecules in the body. While nitric oxide itself is not an ingredient to consume, some nutrients promote nitric oxide production. This is important, because as we age, nitric oxide production decreases. We may feel this through lack of energy, high blood pressure and even cognitive decline. One study found that by age 70, most people will produce only 15% of nitric oxide through their blood vessels as compared to someone in their 20s. Since aging is considered one of the biggest risk factors for developing cardiovascular-related health issues, it’s been found that cardiovascular protection decreases with age, and there is a reduction in nitric oxide production.

Additionally, Alzheimer’s disease has also been linked to nitric oxide decline. One out of every eight baby boomers will get Alzheimer’s disease after they turn 65 years old; at age 85, that risk grows to one in two. This is why healthy circulation and blood flow are so important. We want to be able to give our aging selves the best chance to live life to the fullest, and with more information at our fingertips than ever before, we have the tools to flourish as we age.

Luckily for us, supplements are an exceptional tool to help the body create nitric oxide, which can also trickle down to help other areas of health. Supplements that support nitric oxide production can typically contain beet root powder, L-arginine, L-arginine, Alpha-ketoglutarate and L-citrulline. These can be found in Nitric Oxide Plus. We’ll dive into the benefits of the ingredients in this powder supplement and how it can help the body produce nitric oxide and promote blood flow, later.

High blood pressure occurs when the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries is consistently too high. High blood pressure can lead to other health issues, such as heart problems and kidney problems. Consuming nitrates can help blood pressure because your body converts the nitrates to nitric oxide, which then causes blood vessels to relax and dilate, resulting in lower blood pressure. Various studies have shown nitrate to help lower blood pressure by increasing the production of nitric oxide. Additionally, it has been thought people with high blood pressure have an impaired ability to produce nitric oxide.

Nitrates are also thought to promote endurance and some studies suggest that endurance among athletes improved with nitrate consumption. One study found this through the consumption of beetroot juice. Nitric oxide can also be important for cognition, as it was found that a high-nitrate diet increased regional cerebral blood flow to the frontal lobe in older patients.

When you hear of nitric oxide, you may be thinking of it as a gas. The gas form is called nitrous oxide and is sometimes referred to as “laughing gas.” That’s not what we’re talking about here. Nitric oxide’s function in the human body is crucial, as it’s found naturally throughout the body and is necessary for healthy blood flow. So, how is nitric oxide formed, and where can it be found? Nitric oxide is synthesized and released into the endothelial cells, which is a cell layer lining all blood vessels, with the help of nitric oxide synthases that convert arginine into citrulline which helps produce nitric oxide in the process. L-citrulline may also help to treat erectile dysfunction by increasing the production of nitric oxide. A form of L-citrulline, called citrulline malate, not only increases nitric oxide production but also can help decrease muscle soreness. One study analyzed 13 eligible articles that included a total of 206 participants. The most frequent dosage used in the studies was 8g of citrulline malate. Citrulline supplementation significantly reduced the rating of perceived exertion and muscle soreness 24 hours and 48 hours after exercise.

As muscle soreness can get in the way of daily activities, looking at ingredients to help soothe symptoms can help us get back to pursuing our day-to-day interests. As you can see, increased blood flow serves as a link to other areas of health, helping to promote balance and well-being in the body.

When you hear “nitric oxide,” you might think of nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas. While you might appreciate nitrous oxide gas at the dentist’s office, nitric oxide is quite different. Taking care to maintain plenty of nitric oxide in our bodies is no laughing matter, and you need to know why.

Doctors Robert Furchgott, Louis Ignarro and Ferid Murad won the 1998 Nobel Prize for medicine after discovering the importance of “nitric oxide as a signaling molecule in the cardiovascular system.”¹ In the two decades since, nitric oxide has been studied extensively and is even considered by some to be the most important molecule in the body due to its role in transmitting nerve impulses from cell to cell in every tissue in the body.

Heart Disease on the Rise Around the World

According to the World Heart Federation, deaths due to cardiovascular disease have risen 60% across the globe over the last 30 years. The World Health Organization estimates that 1.28 billion adults over age 30 have hypertension, or high blood pressure, with only 21% having it under control.

Statistically speaking, half of all men in the United States and nearly half of all women, have hypertension.⁴ What’s more, almost half of the adults in the U.S. with high blood pressure aren’t aware they have the condition⁵ and, therefore, aren’t likely to do anything to improve their cardiovascular health.

While such numbers may not come as news to you, you might be surprised to learn that heart disease often has less to do with the heart itself than with the arteries and blood vessels throughout your circulatory system.

High blood pressure occurs when the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries is consistently too high. Vasodilation, or relaxation, of the arteries can become compromised due to damage caused by years of uncontrolled elevated blood pressure, high lipids and glucose in the blood, as well as calcified plaque buildup in the arterial lining. Instead of the heart having smooth, flexible arteries to pump blood through, the heart has to work extra hard to force blood through narrow, stiff arteries, which can lead to serious cardiovascular conditions as we age.

What Does Nitric Oxide Do in the Body?

How Do You Get Nitric Oxide?

The good news is that our bodies produce nitric oxide as naturally as we breathe, literally! Deep breathing in through your nose not only produces nitric oxide in the paranasal sinuses, it effectively delivers it down into your lungs.¹1 Aside from your sinuses, nitric oxide is produced in the endothelial cells that line the insides of your blood vessels—all 60,000 miles of them.

The bad news is that our bodies produce less and less nitric oxide as we age, which can leave us with a lack of energy, high blood pressure and cognitive decline. By age 40, most Americans produce only half the nitric oxide they produced in their 20s. By age 50, nitric oxide production has decreased to only 35%, and it falls to a mere 15% of what it once was by the time we reach age 60.

With such a dramatic decrease in our bodies’ own ability to produce this crucial molecule, it is essential that we find other ways to get nitric oxide. Sadly, nitric oxide itself isn’t something you can consume; however, we can consume foods rich in nitrates, which the body converts into nitric oxide, as well as antioxidants, which aid in the conversion process.

The amino acids L-arginine and L-citrulline also produce nitric oxide in the body. L-arginine can be found in red meat, fish and dairy products, while L-citrulline is also available in meat, as well as legumes. Beets are also a wonderful source of nitrates.

A Scientific Solution for Low Nitric Oxide

If red meat and dairy aren’t feasible for your diet for any reason, supplementing with a product like TriVita’s Nitric Oxide Plus may be an excellent way to make sure your body can make enough nitric oxide.

With 2,000 mg of beet root powder, plus horse chestnut and the amino acids L-arginine and L-citrulline, TriVita’s unique nitric oxide formulation is optimally balanced to help support blood flow and healthy circulation.