By Col Wajid Hussain
Nitric oxide is produced within the 100,000 miles of blood vessels throughout the human body, including the paranasal sinuses surrounding the nasal cavity. The vital function of Nitric Oxide is to send signal to the blood vessels to relax and dilate. This in turn ensures that vital organs receive sufficient oxygenation and nutrients. If there is too little nitric oxide, blood vessels constrict and the heart has to raise the pressure to send blood throughout the body.
Nitric oxide also reduces cholesterol, reversing the buildup of plaque in the blood vessels, and helps prevent blood clotting, minimizing the risk for heart attack and stroke.
Ways to increase nitric oxide include slow nasal breathing, regular moderate physical exercise, and eating foods that produce it.
Drinking beet juice, which is rich in the nitrates generates nitric oxide. Taking about two cups of beet juice every day for a week, significantly reduces the amount of oxygen required to perform exercise. Other essential nitric oxide–producing, food sources include fish, green vegetables, dark chocolate, pomegranate juice, green or black tea, and oatmeal. Eating excess meat and processed foods limits the production of this golden gas and should be avoided. — Pak Destiny
