When people take nitrate medications for a long time, their body gets used to them and they stop working as well—this happens because the drugs cause cellular stress, damage the energy factories in cells, and make a key signaling molecule less responsive, so blood vessels don't open up as much anymore.

Medicines called organic nitrates help relax blood vessels by releasing nitric oxide, but over time, they stop working as well, can make you feel dizzy or headachy, and might even harm the inside of your blood vessels.

Eating foods with nitrate and nitrite, like leafy greens and cured meats, might help lower blood pressure, protect your heart when blood flow is interrupted, improve blood vessel function, prevent blood clots, help your cells make energy better, and improve signs of metabolic syndrome—even when your body doesn’t have enough oxygen.

A molecule called nitric oxide helps your blood vessels relax, your heart pump better, and your cells make energy properly — when this system goes wrong, it can lead to high blood pressure and heart problems.

If your body gets better at using natural compounds from vegetables like beets to make a helpful gas called NO, it might help your metabolism, heart, and kidneys work better.

A tiny molecule called nitric oxide can slow down how much oxygen your body’s cells use for energy, and it does this very efficiently—even at super small amounts—like a natural off-switch for energy production.