Leafy Greens

Nitrates are found in leafy greens such as spinach and collard greens, which your body turns into nitric oxide, a powerful vasodilator. Nitrate-rich meals may increase circulation by dilating blood vessels, allowing blood to flow more freely.

In a 27-person trial, individuals who had high-nitrate (845 mg) spinach daily for seven days had significantly lower blood pressure and blood flow than a control group. Furthermore, studies have shown that persons who eat a traditional Chinese diet rich in nitrate-rich vegetables like Chinese cabbage had lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of heart disease than those who eat a standard Western diet.