I read an article in the NY Times a few months ago reporting that nitrates had been found to have a beneficial effect on blood flow, with people eating nitrates having fewer heart attacks, for example. As it turns out, nitrates can enter and be used in the nitric oxide cycle, one of the functions of which is to enlarge blood vessels to allow better blood flow (as an aside, nitroglycerin tablets and viagra-like drugs pour into the same pathway). I usually look into the original research of these kinds of articles, but didn't for this one. But I have never found the NY Times to report lie/science, though it is sometimes lost in translation in their attempt to make sure everyone can understand it.

Any way, I remember thinking that it would be so ironic if the good effects on blood pressure, etc that eating Atkins has is due to the nitrates in food that have gotten such a bad rap. I still avoid nitrates when I can, but in light of the nitric oxide info, I don't feel so bad about eating my brown and serve sausages in the morning.