Nitric oxide plays a major role in relaxing blood vessels to help control blood pressure and circulation. Beyond diet and supplements, there’s a surprisingly simple way to increase nitric oxide — and it has to do with how you breathe.
The Power of Humming
Researchers found that humming — which requires breathing in and out through your nose — increased nitric oxide 15-fold in the nasal mucosa.
Why This Works
It turns out the lining of the nasal mucosa is full of an enzyme called nitric oxide synthase, which is activated by airflow. When you breathe in and out through your nose, you naturally increase nitric oxide production. This, in turn, helps open blood vessels, lower blood pressure, and improve circulation to the brain.
It’s a simple, free practice — a few minutes of nasal breathing or humming could offer real circulatory benefits alongside diet and supplements.
For a full list of 21 of the best nitric oxide foods, download the free eBook Health Secrets at peacediet.org.
About Dr. Terry Shintani, MD, JD, MPH
Dr. Terry Shintani is a Harvard-trained physician and nutritionist, named a Living Treasure of Hawai’i and recipient of the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Award for Excellence. He is the creator of the Peace Diet and the landmark Waianae Diet — published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and cited over 137 times — and the author of 16 books on natural health and nutrition, drawing on more than 35 years of clinical practice in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Learn more about Dr. Shintani’s work and recognition: NLM Native Voices
Sources:
- NIH/PubMed — Nasal Nitric Oxide and Humming: Physiological Mechanisms
- NIH/PubMed — Nitric Oxide Synthase and Vascular Function
- NIH/NHLBI — Nitric Oxide and Blood Pressure Regulation