If You Have High Nitrate Levels In Your Blood, Here's The Solution

Are you having high nitrate levels in your blood? High nitrate levels in the blood can create serious problems on your health, but many people are not aware of the risks.

Nitrate is a naturally occurring chemical compound that is found in many foods and in the environment.

While nitrate is generally safe in low concentrations, high levels of nitrate in the blood is not good for your health.

This article aims to talk about the causes, symptoms, risks, and treatment of high nitrate levels in the blood.

How do nitrate levels in the blood become high?

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Nitrates are found in many foods and in the environment.

Fertilizers, drugs, processed food, and animal waste can all contribute to high levels of nitrate in drinking water, soil and in the body.

Once nitrates are ingested, they are converted to nitrites in the body.

Some factors, such as low stomach acid levels and the presence of bacteria in the mouth, can increase the conversion of nitrates to nitrites.

Health risks linked with high nitrate levels in the blood

High levels of nitrate in the blood, causes methemoglobinemia, a condition in which the blood is not able to carry oxygen efficiently.

Long-term exposure to high nitrate levels has also been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, stomach and esophageal cancer.

Nitrates can also react with other chemicals in the stomach to form compounds called nitrosamines, which are potent carcinogens.

High nitrate levels can contribute to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can damage cells and tissues throughout the body.

Too much nitrate in water can be really bad for pregnant women and their babies. It increases the chance of birth defects and even cause miscarriages.

Pregnant women, infants, and young children are vulnerable to the effects of nitrate exposure.

Symptoms of High Nitrate Levels

One of the well-known symptoms is blue baby syndrome, a condition in which an infant’s skin turns blue due to the inability of the blood to carry oxygen.

Other symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, headaches, and fainting.

Testing for high nitrate levels

Nitrate and nitrite tests are used to determine whether an individual has high levels of nitrates in their blood.

The normal range for nitrate in the blood is typically between 0.5 and 20 µmol/L in adults.

Other tests may be required to measure oxygen saturation to check for other health conditions.

Treatment

Treatment for high nitrate levels in the blood include nitrate-reducing diets, and medications to help the body metabolize nitrates more efficiently.

If high nitrate levels are due to bacterial infection, antibiotics may be prescribed to treat it, just to lower the amount of nitrate in your body.

Examples of antibiotics include:

Amoxicillin: A broad-spectrum antibiotic that is commonly used to treat pneumonia or bronchitis.
Doxycycline: A tetracycline antibiotic for treating urinary tract infections.
Ciprofloxacin: This antibiotic is used to treat UTI and infections of the gastrointestinal system.

However, if high nitrate levels are due to methemoglobinemia, specific medications for treating this condition include:

Methylene blue: It is used to treat methemoglobinemia by converting methemoglobin back into hemoglobin.
Sodium thiosulfate: It binds to nitrates and converts them into harmless compounds that can be eliminated from the body.

Prevention

Steps you can take to prevent high nitrate levels is by:

Stop taking nitrate-containing supplements and drugs
Limit the intakes of foods that contains nitrate
Ensuring that drinking water is safe and free from contaminants
Avoiding exposure to environmental sources of nitrates

If you are eating foods containing nitrate, there’s a certain amount your body needs.

Here are the general recommended daily intake levels for nitrate:

Adult males: 3.7 milligrams of nitrate per kilogram of body weight
Adult females: 3.0 milligrams of nitrate per kilogram of body weight
Children: The American Academy of Pediatrics has not yet established a specific RDI for children but they suggest that children should consume a diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables.

Conclusion: Are you having high nitrate levels in your blood?

Having too much nitrate in your blood is not good for your health.

However, there are things you can do to reduce the risks.

By being aware of the problem, taking steps to prevent it, and getting treatment if necessary, you can help keep yourself healthy.

It is important for individuals to be aware of the sources of nitrates in their diet and environment, and to take steps to reduce their exposure.

If you start showing symptoms of high nitrate levels in your blood, see a doctor right away to avoid more problems.