PBD 045 June 2013 PreventingPreventing andand reversingreversing diseasedisease byby generatinggenerating NitricNitric OxideOxide withwith WHOLEWHOLE FOODSFOODS What NO is not What is NO? not nitrous oxide, “Laughing gas” NO stands for Nitric Oxide, a used in the dentist’s office N2O combination of one molecule of Nitrogen and one molecule of not nitrogen dioxide, an air pollutant NO2 Oxygen NO What does NO Do? NO is a chemical messenger that signals arteries to relax and expand brain cells to communicate immune cells to kill bacteria and cancer oxygenation of tissues NO can: prevent high blood pressure protect bones from osteoporosis keep arteries flexible help protect skin from sun damage lower cholesterol reduce risk of developing dementia limit swelling and pain of arthritis reduce formation of blood clots prevent, slow or reverse arterial plaque reverse erectile dysfunction reduce risk of diabetes and complications like kidney disease, blindness and limb amputations Where do we find NO? We make NO in our bodies from nitrates and nitrites in our food I thought nitrites and nitrates were dangerous? Nitrites and nitrates found naturally in our food contribute to making NO. Nitrates and nitrites added as a preservative to meats, can make nitrosamines which are carcinogens. Amines from protein, in the presence of saturated fat and cooked at high temps can create nitrosamines. Foods to avoid would include cured and smoked meats like lunch meats, hot dogs and bacon. Eating raw veggies does not contribute to cancer-causing nitrosamines. Stephanie Polizzi, MPH, RDN, CHES, FAND OSU Extension Family & Community Health 631 Alder Street, Myrtle Point, OR 97458 541-572-5263 ext 25291 [email protected] extension.oregonstate.edu/coos/fcd FCH16-09 PBD045 June 2013 Which foods make NO? vegetables, especially dark green leafys beets and some fruits High NO producers Kale, Swiss chard, arugula, spinach, chicory, wild radish, bok choy, beet, lettuce, cabbage, mustard greens, raw cauliflower, parsley, kohlrabi, carrot and broccoli Medium NO producers Coleslaw, asparagus, celery, watercress, artichoke, eggplant, strawberry, potato, garlic, tomato, vegetable juice, vegetable soup, melon Low NO producers String beans, figs, prunes, sweet potato, raspberries, raisins, bananas, cherries, onion, bean sprouts chickpeas, red wine Boosting NO production 1. Have RAW greens at every meal or at least daily 2. Cooking and dehydrating destroy NO-building capacity 3. Accompany greens with a source of Vitamin C 4. Consume foods high in polyphenol antioxidants like dark colored fruit, (berries), red wine or grapes, and dark chocolate (65% cacao or more) 5. Include exercise in your daily routine, 30 minutes is recommended 6. Fish oil and other unsaturated oils boost NO production 7. Refrain from using mouthwash since it can decrease NO production by at least 1/3 Steer clear of L-arginine supplements that boost NO. They can be harmful, especially if you are over 40. References No More Heart Disease, Louis J. Ignarro The Nitric Oxide Solution, Nathan Bryan and Janet Zand This publication will be made available in accessible formats upon request. Please call 541-572-5263 for information. Oregon State University Extension Service offers educational programs, activities, and materials without discrimination based on age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran’s status. Oregon State University Extension Service is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This publication will be made available in accessible formats upon request. Please call 541-572-5263 ext 25292 for information. Stephanie Polizzi, MPH, RDN, CHES, FAND Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Nitric Oxide is a powerful messenger Nitric oxide is a gas we make within our own Certified Health Education molecule in our body that: bodies from nitrates and nitrites found naturally Specialist signals arteries to relax and expand, in our foods. Good sources include dark green Fellow of the Academy allowing more blood to flow leafy vegetables like kale, arugula, Swiss of Nutrition and Dietetics triggers immune cells to kill bacteria and Chard and spinach. Other great sources cancer cells reducing risk of disease include beets, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots and broccoli. Sign up for Wellness Ink, helps brain cells to communicate reducing free monthly electronic newsletter risk of dementia When we chew these foods, friendly oral bacteria react with saliva to convert nitrates [email protected] Nitric Oxide is a combination of one molecule into nitrites (1). In the stomach, nitrites are of Nitrogen and one molecule of Oxygen. It is or view on line at: converted to nitric oxide (3) where is goes into sometimes referred to as NO or N-O. http://extension.oregonstate.edu/coos/fcd the blood stream (5) to meet the body’s needs. Leftover nitrates and nitrites that are not converted to nitric oxide can be excreted (6a), Nitric oxide is NOT the “laughing gas” or stored in the saliva glands (6b) or under the used by your dentist (nitrous oxide) skin for later conversion into N-O. And it is NOT nitrogen dioxide, an air pollutant Extension Family & Community Health Coos County Extension Although N-O is a free radical, it is NOT Ohlsen Baxter Building damaging to tissues, but is essential to health 631 Alder Street Myrtle Point, OR 97458 541 / 572-5263 N-O is a gas that plays an important role in http://extension.oregonstate.edu/coos/fcd every cell of our body. Research indicates that N-O can: Once nitric oxide enters the blood stream, it Prevent high blood pressure acts as a messenger to relax the smooth muscles within the lining of our arteries. Keep arteries flexible When the muscle Lower cholesterol and reduce plaque relaxes, the arteries Reduce formation of blood clots widen, allowing for Reduce risk of diabetes increased blood flow Limit swelling and pain of arthritis and circulation. Protect bones from osteoporosis Oregon State University Extension Service offers educational programs, activities, and materials without discrimination based on age, color, disability, Protect skin from sun damage gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, race, religion, MPH, RDN, CHES, FAND sex, sexual orientation, or veteran’s status. Oregon State University Extension Stephanie Polizzi, Reduce risk of developing dementia You may have heard that some nitrates and Service is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This publication will be made OSU Extension Reverse erectile dysfunction nitrites can cause cancer. See next page. available in accessible formats upon request by calling 541-572-5263 ext 25292. For information on accessibility, go to Family & Community Health http://extension.oregonstate.edu/coos/coos-county-extension-accessibility. Patients with diabetes are at high risk for vascular disorders such as Some heart hypertension, nephropathy and retinopathy. patients take nitroglycerine Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes patients suffer from endothelial The capacity to produce nitric oxide is reliant tablets under the dysfunction (the innermost lining of the arteries). This dysfunction on nitrates from RAW vegetables like kale, tongue to relieve reduces blood vessel flexibility and increases the inflammatory Swiss chard, arugula, spinach and beets. angina pain, which response, influx of cholesterol and formation of blood clots, each of which contributes to is a function of restricted blood flow to the diabetes and heart disease. Most diabetics suffer from heart disease as well as diabetes. Cooking, boiling, steaming, broiling, baking heart. Nitroglycerine pills help the body to Nitric oxide can improve vascular function and responsiveness, and reduce progression and and blanching all destroy the nitrates create nitric oxide, which signals the arteries necessary for N-O production. complications of both diabetes and heart disease. to expand and relax, allowing more blood to Eating raw greens and other vegetables will flow, thus helping to relieve angina pain. provide raw materials for making N-O. Nitric Oxide can: Since nitric oxide is a healthy free radical, Prevent high blood pressure consuming foods with an antioxidants improve Keep arteries young and flexible N-O capacity. Prevent, slow or reverse arterial plaque Nitrates used for meat preservation can be converted to nitrosamines by stomach acid. Include sources of vitamin C like oranges, Reduce formation of blood clots kiwi, bell peppers and broccoli. Nitrosamines have been Lower cholesterol Friendly bacteria on the tongue linked to cancer help reduce nitrates to nitrites Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants found in dark-colored fruit like grapes, berries, red These nitrates and nitrites are not found naturally in the found naturally in food. This is wine and chocolate. These foods will help foods but are added in processing plants the first step in producing nitric oxide. boost available nitric oxide. Nitrosamines form in the stomach when nitrites combine with amines (from amino acids) which are found in Interference Exercise, sunlight and deep breathing proteins like meat, fish and dairy with the also help the body to produce healthy nitric oxide. Nitric oxide signals the immune system Adding just 10% fat in the presence of protein can bacteria to protect the body against bacteria and increase conversion of nitrites to nitrosamines instead of can reduce nitric oxide N-O production by cancer cell growth at least