1 in 2 women over 40 have low levels of energizing nitric oxide

“Medicine has only recently begun to understand nitric oxide and its effects,” says James Rippe, M.D., director of the Rippe Lifestyle Institute in Celebration, Florida, who explains that the molecule helps keep arteries elastic, allowing for better blood flow and oxygen flow. But, he adds, about 50 percent of women don’t produce enough nitric oxide, which leads to fatigue, fog, shortness of breath and high blood pressure. Unfortunately, many of these women go undiagnosed. The reason, according to Christiane Northrup, M.D., author of Making Life Easy: Nitric oxide shortfalls fly under most doctors’ radar as a culprit for low energy. ”The vast majority of people are unaware of it.”

“As we age, we produce less nitric oxide,” says Dr. Rippe. Studies show that by age 40, we make half the nitric oxide we did as a teen. Other factors that contribute to a shortfall: not getting enough exercise and a diet low in nitrates—compounds in vegetables that are converted to nitric oxide in the body. (These are different from sodium nitrate, a preservative added to many processed deli meats.)

An at-home saliva test can diagnose low nitric oxide, says Dr. Rippe. One to try: Berkeley Nitric Oxide Saliva Test Strips ($10 for 10, BerkeleyLife.com).

If your levels are low, the steps below can help you feel better.

Diet changes can reverse a deficiency. Dr. Rippe advises adding a serving of nitrate-rich beets, kale, spinach, arugula or carrots to each meal.

Spending 20 minutes a day in the sun can boost nitric oxide levels, according to a study in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. That’s because the skin has its own stores of nitric oxide and UVA light releases it into the bloodstream.