Green leafy vegetables contain large amounts of inorganic nitrate, and research suggests that this nitrate has beneficial effects on the heart and blood vessels. We have shown anti-inflammatory benefits of inorganic nitrate in pre-clinical models of CVD, early mechanistic studies in healthy volunteers, and in patients with hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia and those suffering acute heart attacks that translate to cardiovascular benefits. Understanding the mechanism of how this is achieved may open new therapeutic options in CVD.