Up your Nitric Oxide. It will enhance performance and keep you feeling younger.

All endothelial cells in the body, which line the inner walls of blood vessels and communicate with muscles, produce "nitric oxide” gas (NO) triggering relaxation and expansion to improve blood flow. This plays a role in multiple body functions, including performance of muscles and blood pressure. Nitric oxide is our therefore body’s natural vasodilator.

NO also signals immune cells to kill harmful bacteria, aids in brain function, reduces inflammation, protects bones from osteoporosis, helps heal chronic wounds, improves both male and female sexual functions, helps to alleviate depression and reduces sun damage to the skin.

Without enough NO you can experience fatigue, poor sleep, reduced sexual performance, stiffness and pain in joints, fibromyalgia, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and even memory loss.Like many other beneficial nutrients we unfortunately make less as we age.

So how do you increase your NO levels?

Start with at least 90 minutes of rigorous exercise every week.

Drink beet juice and/or eat beets which are high in organic nitrates. I love beet soup.

Sit in an infra red sauna for 40 minutes once a week.

Take supplements that increase the production of NO; like L- Citrulline, L-Arginine.

written by Marjolein Brugman

Marjolein Brugman is the founder of lighterliving and Aeropilates. “lighterliving is a movement and lifestyle choice we can all make. Let’s make it simple – make one decision a day to be better and watch the small steps lead to big changes. Eat smart, stay active, and you’ll live to feel a lighter life."