Hello {{First Name|there}}, 

In this month's Bioactive of the Month, we'll explore how dietary nitrates are converted into nitric oxide and what the latest research says about their potential benefits.

Once consumed, dietary nitrate is converted into nitric oxide, a signaling molecule we've discussed extensively for its role in relaxing blood vessels and maintaining healthy circulation.

Beetroot is one of the richest natural sources of dietary nitrate, making it one of the most extensively studied foods for supporting vascular health.

Dietary nitrates are naturally occurring compounds found in vegetables, particularly beets, spinach, arugula, celery, and lettuce.

It's important to note that dietary nitrates are not the same as the nitrates and nitrites used to preserve processed meats. In vegetables, nitrate is consumed alongside vitamin C, polyphenols, and other antioxidants that influence how it is metabolized in the body.

As we age, nitric oxide production naturally declines. This decline may contribute to endothelial dysfunction, reduced circulation, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Because dietary nitrate provides an alternative pathway for producing nitric oxide, foods like beetroot have become an important area of research for supporting healthy aging.

Unlike many nutrients, dietary nitrate doesn't become active immediately after you eat it. Instead, it travels through a remarkable recycling system known as the enterosalivary pathway.

🥬 Beetroot → 🩸 Bloodstream → 👅 Oral bacteria → ❤️ Nitric oxide

Step 1: Eat nitrate-rich foods.
Beetroot, spinach, arugula, celery, and other leafy greens provide dietary nitrate.

Step 2: Nitrate enters your bloodstream.
After absorption in the small intestine, about 25% of circulating nitrate is taken up by the salivary glands and concentrated in saliva.

Step 3: Your oral bacteria do the work.
Beneficial bacteria living on the tongue convert nitrate into nitrite, a crucial intermediate that your body cannot efficiently produce on its own.

Step 4: Nitrite becomes nitric oxide.
After swallowing, nitrite is converted into nitric oxide, particularly in areas with low oxygen, where it helps relax blood vessels, improve blood flow, and support healthy endothelial function.

Download our Free Bioactive Spotlight Guide to learn more about sulforaphane and how to incorporate it into your diet.

Don’t miss this weeks youtube video with our mascot Dr. Angio bringing complex health and research topics to life.

Best wishes,
- The Angiogenesis Foundation

P.S. Like what you’re reading? Support our mission to advance research and share science-backed health insights.

Make a donation to the Angiogenesis Foundation today.

Check out the Angiogenesis Foundation Green Tea from Harney & Sons to support your vascular health.

ChatGPT is insanely powerful.

But most people waste 90% of its potential by using it like Google.

These 1,000+ proven ChatGPT prompts fix that and help you work 10X faster.

Sign up for Superhuman AI and get:

Claim your free prompts