A diet rich in fruits and vegetables is associated with a lower risk of certain forms of cancer
and cardiovascular disease, but the mechanisms behind this protection are not completely
understood. Recent epidemiological studies suggest a cardioprotective action afforded
specifically by green leafy vegetables. We here propose that these beneficial effects are
related to the high content of inorganic nitrate, which in concert with symbiotic bacteria in the
oral cavity is converted into nitrite, nitric oxide, and secondary reaction products with …