The 10 Best Foods to Boost Nitric Oxide Levels

The 10 Best Foods to Boost Nitric Oxide Levels

By Rachael Ajmera

Post on August 14, 2025

Nitric oxide has important roles in your body, such as helping to lower blood pressure, improve blood flow, and boost exercise performance. To increase nitric oxide levels, you can eat foods such as beets, garlic, meat, leafy greens, and citrus.

Nitric oxide is a vital molecule produced in your body that affects many aspects of health.

It helps your blood vessels dilate to promote proper blood flow and may provide various other health benefits, including improved exercise performance, lower blood pressure, and better brain function.

Switching up your diet is one of the best and most effective ways to naturally boost your levels of this important molecule.

Here are the 10 best foods to boost your nitric oxide levels.

1. Beets

Beets are rich in dietary nitrates, which your body can convert to nitric oxide.

In one small study in 38 adultsTrusted Source, consuming a beet juice supplement increased nitric oxide levels by 21% after just 45 minutes.

Similarly, a 2016 studyTrusted Source showed that drinking 3.4 ounces (oz), or 100 milliliters (mL), of beet juice significantly increased nitric oxide levels in both men and women.

Thanks to their rich content of dietary nitrates, beets have been linked to a number of health benefits, including improved thinking ability, enhanced athletic performance, and lower blood pressure levels.

2. Garlic

Garlic can boost nitric oxide levels by activating nitric oxide synthase, the enzyme that helps convert the amino acid L-arginine to nitric oxide.

One 2015 animal studyTrusted Source showed that aged garlic extract helped lower elevated levels of lipids such as cholesterol and triglycerides. But it’s important to note that using aged garlic extract or garlic oil is not the same as eating garlic.

A 2013 test-tube study also suggests that aged garlic extract can help maximize the amount of nitric oxide that the body can absorb.

Both human and animal studies indicate that garlic’s ability to increase nitric oxide levels may have health benefits and can help lower blood pressureTrusted Source and improve exercise toleranceTrusted Source.

3. Meat

Meat, poultry, and seafood are all excellent sources of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), an important compound that is believed to help preserve nitric oxide in the body.

Organ meats, fatty fish, and muscle meats such as beef, chicken and pork contain the highest concentration of CoQ10.

Studies show that getting enough CoQ10 in your diet not only preserves nitric oxide but also can help improveTrusted Source athletic performance, preventTrusted Source migraine headaches, and promoteTrusted Source heart health.

4. Dark chocolate

Dark chocolate is loaded with flavanols, naturally occurring compounds that boast an extensive list of powerful health benefits.

In particular, researchTrusted Source shows that the flavanols found in cocoa can help establish optimal nitric oxide levels in your body to promote heart health and protect cells against oxidative damage.

One older 15-day studyTrusted Source in 16 people showed that consuming 30 grams of dark chocolate daily led to significant increases in blood levels of nitric oxide.

What’s more, participants experienced decreases in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure (the top and bottom numbers of a blood pressure reading, respectively).

Because of its rich content of nitric oxide-boosting flavanols, dark chocolate has been associatedTrusted Source with improved blood flow and lower blood pressure.

5. Leafy greens

Leafy green vegetables such as spinach, arugula, kale, and cabbage are packed with nitrates, which your body converts to nitric oxide.

Regular consumption of nitrate-rich foods like green leafy vegetables can help maintain sufficient levels of nitric oxide in your blood and tissues.

One 2020 study even showed that eating a nitrate-rich meal containing leafy greens or beet juice equally increased nitrate levels and significantly decreased both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Other researchTrusted Source has foundTrusted Source that consuming high nitrate leafy greens may also be associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and cognitive (mental) decline.

6. Citrus fruits

Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit are all excellent sources of vitamin C, an important water-soluble vitamin that plays a central role in health.

Vitamin C can enhance levels of nitric oxide by increasing its bioavailability and maximizing its absorption in your body.

Vitamin C may also bump up levels of nitric oxide synthase, the enzyme needed for nitric oxide production.

Studies indicate that citrus fruit consumption may be linked to improved brain functionTrusted Source and decreased risk of cardiovascular problemsTrusted Source. These effects may be due in part to these fruits’ ability to boost nitric oxide levels.

7. Pomegranate

Pomegranate is loaded with potent antioxidants that can protect your cells against damage and preserve nitric oxide.

One older test-tube studyTrusted Source showed that pomegranate juice was effective in protecting nitric oxide from oxidative damage while also increasing its activity.

A small 2019 studyTrusted Source in 60 people with type 2 diabetes suggested that pomegranate juice had some benefit for lowering blood pressure, but it didn’t confirm any change in the participants’ lipid profiles.

Recent researchTrusted Source has found that antioxidant-rich pomegranate can improve blood flow, which may be especially beneficial for treating high blood pressure.

In addition, a 2016 animal studyTrusted Source found pomegranate juice to be helpful in treating erectile dysfunction. But more human studies are needed to explore these potential positive effects of pomegranate juice and extract.

8. Nuts and seeds

Nuts and seeds are high in arginine, a type of amino acid that is involved in nitric oxide production.

Some research suggests that including arginine from foods such as nuts and seeds in your diet can help increase nitric oxide levels in your body.

For example, one studyTrusted Source in 2,771 people showed that a higher intake of arginine-rich foods was associated with higher levels of nitric oxide in the blood.

Thanks to their arginine content and stellar nutrient profile, regularly eating nuts and seeds has been associated with lower blood pressure, improved thinking ability, and increased endurance.

9. Watermelon

Watermelon is one of the best sources of citrulline, an amino acid that your body converts first to arginine and then to nitric oxide.

One small 2015 studyTrusted Source found that citrulline supplements helped stimulate nitric oxide production after just a few hours, but the authors noted that it may take longer to see positive effects on health.

A small 2016 study in 8 men showed that drinking 10 oz (300 mL) of watermelon juice for 2 weeks led to significant improvements in nitric oxide bioavailability.

According to a 2017 reviewTrusted Source, upping your intake of watermelon not only enhances nitric oxide levels but also can improve exercise performance, decrease blood pressure, and boost blood flow.

However, a 2022 reviewTrusted Source suggests that citrulline supplements may be a more effective way of obtaining these benefits, since eating watermelon every day may not be practical for everyone.

10. Red wine

Red wine contains many powerful antioxidants and has been linked to some health benefits.

Interestingly, some studies have found that drinking red wine could also increase nitric oxide levels.

A 2016 reviewTrusted Source of studies found that resveratrol in red wine is likely to provide benefits against cardiovascular disease by improving the availability of nitric oxide, but more human clinical trials are needed.

For this reason, it’s not surprising that moderate consumption of red wine has been thought to reduce blood pressure and improve heart health.

The bottom line

Nitric oxide is a crucial compound involved in many aspects of health, including blood pressure regulation, athletic performance, and brain function.

Making a few simple swaps in your diet can be an easy and effective way to increase your levels of nitric oxide naturally.

Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and healthy protein foods can help you optimize your nitric oxide levels while promoting better overall health.

Rachael Ajmera

• Source

The 20 Best Foods for Lung Health

The 20 Best Foods for Lung Health

By Jillian Kubala

Posted on June 8, 2025

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Keeping your lungs healthy is essential to feeling your best. Yet, common factors, including exposure to cigarette smoke and environmental toxins, as well as eating an inflammatory diet, can take a toll on this pair of important organs.

What’s more, common conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pulmonary fibrosis, can significantly affect your quality of life (1Trusted Source, 2Trusted Source).

However, research has shown that lifestyle modifications, including following a nutrient-rich diet, can help protect your lungs and even reduce lung damage and symptoms of disease.

What’s more, specific nutrients and foods have been identified to be particularly beneficial for lung function.

Here are 20 foods that may help boost lung function.

1. Beets and beet greens

The vibrantly colored root and greens of the beetroot plant contain compounds that optimize lung function.

Beetroot and beet greens are rich in nitrates, which have been shown to benefit lung function. Nitrates help relax blood vessels, reduce blood pressure, and optimize oxygen uptake (3Trusted Source).

Beetroot supplements have been shown to improve physical performance and lung function in people with lung conditions, including COPD and pulmonary hypertension, a disease that causes high blood pressure in the lungs (4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source).

Additionally, beet greens are packed with magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, and carotenoid antioxidants — all of which are essential to lung health (6Trusted Source).

2. Peppers

Peppers are amongst the richest sources of vitamin C, a water-soluble nutrient that acts as a powerful antioxidant in your body. Getting enough vitamin C is especially important for those who smoke.

In fact, due to the damaging effects of cigarette smoke on your body’s antioxidant stores, it’s recommended that people who smoke consume an extra 35 mg of vitamin C per day (7Trusted Source).

However, many studies show that smokers may benefit from higher doses of vitamin C and that smokers with high vitamin C intake have better lung function than those with lower vitamin C intake (8Trusted Source).

Consuming just one medium-sized (119-gram) sweet red pepper delivers 169% of the recommended intake for vitamin C (9Trusted Source).

3. Apples

Research has shown that regularly eating apples may help promote lung function.

For example, studies show that apple intake is associated with a slower decline in lung function in ex-smokers. Additionally, consuming five or more apples per week is associated with greater lung function and a reduced risk of developing COPD (10Trusted Source, 11Trusted Source).

Apple intake has also been linked to a lower risk of asthma and lung cancer. This may be due to the high concentration of antioxidants in apples, including flavonoids and vitamin C (12Trusted Source.

4. Pumpkin

The brightly colored flesh of pumpkins contains a variety of lung-health-promoting plant compounds. They’re especially rich in carotenoids, including beta carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin — all of which have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties (13Trusted Source).

Studies show that having higher blood levels of carotenoids is associated with better lung function in both older and younger populations (14Trusted Source, 15Trusted Source).

People who smoke may significantly benefit from consuming more carotenoid-rich foods like pumpkin.

Evidence suggests that smokers may have 25% lower concentrations of carotenoid antioxidants than nonsmokers, which can harm lung health (16Trusted Source).

5. Turmeric

Turmeric is often used to promote overall health due to its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Curcumin, the main active component in turmeric, may be especially beneficial for supporting lung function (10Trusted Source).

A study in 2,478 people found that curcumin intake was associated with improved lung function. Plus, the lung function of smokers who had the highest intake of curcumin was significantly greater than smokers who had low curcumin intake (17Trusted Source).

In fact, high curcumin intake in smokers was associated with 9.2% greater lung function, compared with smokers who did not consume curcumin (17Trusted Source).

6. Tomato and tomato products

Tomatoes and tomato products are among the richest dietary sources of lycopene, a carotenoid antioxidant that has been associated with improved lung health.

Consuming tomato products has been shown to reduce airway inflammation in people with asthma and improve lung function in people with COPD (11Trusted Source).

A 2019 study in 105 people with asthma demonstrated that a diet rich in tomatoes was associated with a lower prevalence of poorly controlled asthma. Plus, tomato intake is also associated with a slower decline in lung function in ex-smokers (11Trusted Source, 18Trusted Source, 19Trusted Source).

7. Blueberries

Blueberries are loaded with nutrients, and their consumption has been associated with a number of health benefits, including protecting and preserving lung function (20).

Blueberries are a rich source of anthocyanins, including malvidin, cyanidin, peonidin, delphinidin, and petunidin (20).

Anthocyanins are powerful pigments that have been shown to protect lung tissue from oxidative damage (21Trusted Source, 22Trusted Source).

A study in 839 veterans found that blueberry intake was associated with the slowest rate of decline in lung function and that consuming 2 or more servings of blueberries per week slowed lung function decline by up to 38%, compared with low or no blueberry intake (23Trusted Source).

8. Green tea

Green tea is a beverage that has impressive effects on health. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a catechin concentrated in green tea. It boasts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown to inhibit fibrosis or scarring of tissues (24Trusted Source).

Pulmonary fibrosis is a disease characterized by progressive, lung-function-compromising scarring of lung tissue. Some research shows that EGCG may help treat this disease.

A small 2020 study in 20 people with pulmonary fibrosis found that treatment with EGCG extract for 2 weeks reduced markers of fibrosis, compared with a control group (25Trusted Source).

9. Red cabbage

Red cabbage is an affordable and rich source of anthocyanins. These plant pigments give red cabbage its vivid color. Anthocyanin intake has been linked to a reduced decline in lung function (23Trusted Source).

What’s more, cabbage is packed with fiber. Studies show that people who consume more fiber have better lung function than those who consume low amounts of fiber (26Trusted Source).

10. Edamame

Edamame beans contain compounds called isoflavones. Diets rich in isoflavones have been associated with a reduced risk of numerous diseases, including COPD (27Trusted Source).

A study in 618 Japanese adults found that people with COPD had much lower intakes of dietary isoflavones, compared with healthy control groups. What’s more, isoflavone intake was significantly associated with better lung function and reduced shortness of breath (28Trusted Source).

11. Olive oil

Consuming olive oil may help protect against respiratory conditions like asthma. Olive oil is a concentrated source of anti-inflammatory antioxidants, including polyphenols and vitamin E, which are responsible for its powerful health benefits.

For example, a study that included 871 people found that those who had high olive oil intake had a reduced risk of asthma (29Trusted Source).

What’s more, the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in olive oil, has been shown to benefit lung function in smokers, as well as people with COPD and asthma (30Trusted Source, 31Trusted Source, 32Trusted Source).

12. Oysters

Oysters are loaded with nutrients that are essential to lung health, including zinc, selenium, B vitamins, and copper (33Trusted Source).

Studies show that people with higher blood levels of selenium and copper have greater lung function, compared with those with lower levels of these nutrients (10Trusted Source.)

Additionally, oysters are an excellent source of B vitamins and zinc, nutrients that are especially important for people who smoke.

Smoking depletes certain B vitamins, including vitamin B12, which is concentrated in oysters. What’s more, studies show that higher zinc intake may help protect smokers from developing COPD (34Trusted Source, 35Trusted Source).

13. Yogurt

Yogurt is rich in calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and selenium. According to research, these nutrients may help boost lung function and protect against COPD risk (36Trusted Source).

A study in Japanese adults found that higher intakes of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and selenium were associated with increased lung function markers, and those with the highest calcium intake had a 35% reduced risk of COPD (37Trusted Source).

14. Brazil nuts

Brazil nuts are amongst the richest sources of selenium that you can eat. A single Brazil nut may contain over 150% of the recommended intake for this important nutrient, though concentrations vary significantly depending on growing conditions (38Trusted Source, 39Trusted Source, 40Trusted Source).

Studies show that a high selenium intake may help protect against lung cancer, improve respiratory function in people with asthma, and enhance antioxidant defenses and immune function, which may help improve lung health (41Trusted Source, 42Trusted Source, 43Trusted Source).

Because Brazil nuts are such a concentrated source of selenium, it’s recommended to keep your intake to just one or two nuts per day.

15. Coffee

In addition to boosting your energy levels, your morning cup of joe may help protect your lungs. Coffee is packed with caffeine and antioxidants, which may be beneficial for lung health.

Research shows that coffee intake may help improve lung function and protect against respiratory diseases. For example, caffeine acts as a vasodilator, meaning it helps open blood vessels, and it may help reduce symptoms in people with asthma, at least in the short term (44).

Additionally, a review of 15 studies found that long-term coffee intake was associated with positive effects on lung function and a reduced risk of asthma (45Trusted Source).

16. Swiss chard

Swiss chard is a dark leafy green that’s high in magnesium. Magnesium helps protect against inflammation, and it helps bronchioles — tiny airways inside your lungs — stay relaxed, preventing airway restriction (46Trusted Source).

Higher magnesium intake has been associated with better lung function in a number of studies. What’s more, low magnesium levels are associated with worsening symptoms in people with COPD (10Trusted Source, 47Trusted Source, 48Trusted Source).

Additionally, many studies have linked greater intake of leafy green vegetables like Swiss chard to a reduced risk of lung cancer and COPD (10Trusted Source, 49Trusted Source).

17. Barley

Barley is a nutritious whole grain that’s high in fiber. High fiber diets rich in whole grains have been shown to have a protective effect on lung function and may reduce the risk of mortality from lung-related diseases (10Trusted Source, 50Trusted Source).

The antioxidants found in whole grains like flavonoids and vitamin E also promote lung health and protect against cellular damage (10Trusted Source).

18. Anchovies

Anchovies are tiny fish that are packed with anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats, as well as other lung-health-promoting nutrients like selenium, calcium, and iron (48Trusted Source).

Eating omega-3-rich fish like anchovies may be particularly beneficial for people with inflammatory lung diseases like COPD. A 2020 study found that a higher intake of omega-3 fats was associated with reduced COPD symptoms and improved lung function (51Trusted Source).

What’s more, consuming an omega-3-rich diet may help reduce symptoms in people with asthma (52Trusted Source).

19. Lentils

Lentils are high in many nutrients that help support lung function, including magnesium, iron, copper, and potassium (53Trusted Source).

The Mediterranean diet, which has been associated with promoting lung health, is high in legumes like lentils.

Research has shown that following a Mediterranean dietary pattern can preserve lung function in people who smoke. Plus, eating fiber-rich lentils may help protect against lung cancer and COPD (54Trusted Source, 55Trusted Source).

20. Cocoa

Cocoa and cacao products like dark chocolate are high in flavonoid antioxidants and contain a compound called theobromine, which helps relax the airways in the lungs (56Trusted Source).

Cocoa intake has been associated with a lower risk of allergic respiratory symptoms and may help protect against lung cancer (57Trusted Source, 58Trusted Source).

Additionally, a study that included 55,000 people found that those with higher flavonoid consumption from foods, including chocolate products, had better lung function than people who had diets low in flavonoids (59Trusted Source).

The bottom line

Consuming a diet high in nutritious foods and beverages is a smart way to support and protect lung health.

Coffee, dark leafy greens, fatty fish, peppers, tomatoes, olive oil, oysters, blueberries, and pumpkin are just some examples of foods and drinks that have been shown to benefit lung function.

Try incorporating a few of the foods and beverages listed above into your diet to help support the health of your lungs.

By Jillian Kubala

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