written by
Anne Truong

Say Goodbye to ED: How Not To Lower Your Nitric Oxide Levels

podcast Nerves Blood Vessels ED 4 min read

Nitric oxide (NO) is a gas that helps relax the smooth muscle tissue of your penis and increase blood flow. If your nitric oxide levels are low, it can lead to Erectile Dysfunction (ED).

Dive into this episode as I talk about the 5 everyday things you do that can lower your NO level, hurt your sex life, and eventually lead to ED.

Follow the tips that I will be giving, make lifestyle changes, maintain healthy NO levels, and say goodbye to ED!

Episode Video

Understanding Nitric Oxide

Nitric oxide

Nitric oxide is a gaseous compound that is essential for the functioning of your blood vessels. This gas has the effect of relaxing blood vessels and increasing blood flow.

Your NO lowers as you grow older. By the age of 40, you already lose 50% of it. And by the age of 60, you will only have about 15% of your NO when you’re in your 20s.

When you have a low NO level, your artery gets more stiff and thickens. The artery is the blood vessel responsible for bringing oxygenated blood to your cells. The stiffening of your artery will lead to blockage and eventually poor blood flow.

The lowering of NO levels is one of the reasons we often see cardiovascular and heart diseases among the elderly. It is also the reason why you are at risk to ED as you get older.

How Your Body Produces Nitric Oxide

blood vessel with blood flowing

Your endothelial cells naturally produces nitric oxide. There are two ways that your body can produce nitrous oxide: from the food that you eat and from an enzyme that is in your blood vessels.

Green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, and broccoli, are rich in nitrate. When you eat, your saliva, which contains bacteria, processes the nitrate in the food. The nitrate will then go to your stomach lining. The acid in your stomach lining converts the nitrate to nitrite. After this, the nitrite will become NO in your intestine. The converted NO will go to your blood vessels then to your endothelial cells.

Take note that the saliva in your mouth and the acid in your stomach are essential to NO production. This is the reason why taking certain medications affect your NO concentration. By taking certain medications, you disrupt the bacteria that are present in your mouth and the acids in your stomach.

What Causes Low Nitric Oxide Levels and How to Prevent It

mouthwash and toothpaste

Your body needs 300 to 400 milligrams, approximately four milligram per kilogram, of nitrate per day. Unfortunately, most of us don’t meet this daily requirement.

Decreased nitric oxide level can lead to heart disease and ED. Here are the everyday things you do that can lower your NO level. Smoking and poor diet, high carb and processed foods, inhibits your nitric oxide synthase. Nitric oxide synthase is a family of enzymes responsible in producing nitric oxide. Poor oral hygiene or oral infection will also decrease your NO levels. Other factors such as sedentary lifestyle, inflammation, and diabetes can also lead to lowering of NO levels.

To prevent the lowering of NO levels, you must also minimize using the following things:

Mouthwash and Toothpaste

Avoid using antiseptic mouthwash and fluoride toothpaste. These products will kill the bacteria in your mouth that is responsible in converting your food into nitrate. Use a non-fluoride toothpaste instead.

Antacids

Antacids such as Prilosec, Prevacid, Nexium, Protonix, Dexilant, and all proton pump inhibitor. These are medications that neutralize the acid in your stomach to relieve indigestion and heartburn. These medications prevent acid from being produced in your stomach, decreasing the conversion of nitrite to NO.

Final Thoughts

Nitric oxide is a critical component to your blood vessel and blood flow. Increase your NO levels by eating lots of green vegetables. Mediterranean and DASH diet is a good choice for this. You can also increase your NO level by doing moderate exercises. You can consider infrared light therapy or sauna, NO supplements, and at least 30 minutes of sunlight a day as well.

This way, you will have better blood flow and it will also help your heart and also longevity. Not only will it help your performance in the bedroom, it will  help your heart as well.

Additional Resources

For the resources mentioned in the episode:

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men sexual health erectile dysfunction ED facts of ED mental health sex blood flow foods