In this episode of The Diary Of A CEO, scientist Nathan Bryan discusses the critical role of nitric oxide (NO) in regulating blood flow, oxygen delivery, and longevity. He explains how declining NO levels contribute to age-related chronic diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes.
The episode delves into factors impacting NO production, such as diet, oral hygiene, exercise, and light exposure. Bryan shares strategies to optimize NO levels, including eliminating inhibitors like mouthwash, nasal breathing, and potential NO supplements for those unable to boost levels through lifestyle changes.
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According to Nathan Bryan, nitric oxide (NO) is vital for regulating blood flow, oxygen delivery, recovery processes, and longevity. It facilitates physiological functions like stem cell mobilization, energy production, and vascular dilation.
Bryan states that as people age, they produce less NO, contributing to the onset of age-related chronic diseases. Lou Ignaro suggests restoring NO production could profoundly impact medicine.
Symptoms of low NO levels include erectile dysfunction, high blood pressure, exercise intolerance, and other conditions like diabetes and cognitive impairment. Bryan claims these symptoms are appearing earlier in life.
Sugar and high-glycemic foods impair NO synthesis, linking high blood sugar to cardiovascular events, says Bryan. He recommends balanced proteins, fats, and minimal carbs to boost NO.
Bryan connects antiseptics like mouthwash and fluoride to disrupting beneficial oral bacteria involved in NO production, potentially causing systemic issues.
In contrast, tongue scraping can maintain a diverse oral microbiome to support NO production if not combined with mouthwash.
Exercise and sunlight/infrared light exposure activate the enzymes that synthesize NO, according to Bryan.
Bryan advises against sugary foods, mouthwash, and antacids, as they inhibit NO production.
Bryan suggests nasal breathing and humming at certain frequencies to stimulate NO synthase enzymes, contingent on proper enzyme function.
For those unable to optimize levels through lifestyle changes, Bryan discusses potential NO supplements but cautions against overuse.
1-Page Summary
Nathan Bryan and Steven Bartlett highlight the crucial role of nitric oxide (NO) as a signaling molecule vital for regulating blood flow, oxygen delivery, and recovery processes. According to Bryan, NO is foundational for human health and longevity and its production inside the body facilitates various physiological functions such as stem cell mobilization, energy production, and vascular dilation during exercise and sexual activity.
Bryan describes nitric oxide as a gas that is critical for several bodily processes and refers to it as the foundational longevity molecule due to its roles in activating the enzyme telomerase, protecting telomere length, signaling stem cell mobilization, and dictating the need for more efficient mitochondria. Bartlett supports these claims by touching on nitric oxide's relationship with longevity.
As people age, their body's capacity to produce NO decreases. Bryan states that the loss of nitric oxide production is the earliest event in the onset and progression of age-related chronic diseases. This decline is now recognized as a significant factor in these conditions. Lou Ignaro, a Nobel Laureate, has suggested that restoring nitric oxide production could profoundly change medicine.
The hosts discuss how a lack of nitric oxide can lead to several chronic diseases. NO production ensures [restricted term] signaling; its absence causes resistance and subsequent diabetes. Similarly, the absence of NO signaling lowers the count and functionality of mitochondria. Insufficient NO production also leads to a decrease in circulating stem cells and the shortening of telomeres due to inactivation of telomerase.
Bryan notes that the first sign of NO deficiency is often erectile dysfunction, which is essentially an advanced form of cardiovascular disease. Without sufficient nitric oxide, blood vessels fail to dilate properly, which can increase blood pressure or lead to hypertension. Many hypertension drugs do not target NO production, which might exp ...
The Science and Importance of Nitric Oxide
Understanding how various lifestyle factors can impact nitric oxide production is essential for maintaining cardiovascular health.
Bryan explicates that sugar and high glycemic index foods hinder the body's ability to produce nitric oxide by preventing necessary changes to the nitric oxide synthesizing enzymes. He links high blood sugar, as seen in diabetics, with increased cardiovascular events due to this impairment.
Moving toward a diet lower in sugar and carbs, such as ketogenic or vegan/vegetarian diets, can benefit nitric oxide levels. Bryan advises a balanced intake of high-quality proteins, good fats, and minimal carbohydrates. However, he also acknowledges the practical difficulties people face when trying to change their diets to improve nitric oxide production.
Steven Bartlett and Nathan Bryan delve into oral hygiene's impact on the oral microbiome and nitric oxide production.
Bryan connects the use of antiseptics, like mouthwash and fluoride, to the disruption of beneficial oral bacteria. He notes that these substances could lead to systemic diseases. Specifically, mouthwash use can increase blood pressure by disrupting the oral microbiome that converts nitrates into nitric oxide.
On fluoride, he asserts that it is a neurotoxin that can have adverse effects on children's IQ and thyroid function. Bryan points to studies associating mouthwash use with increased blood pressure due to microbiome disruption and advises against using fluoride toothpaste or rinses.
Factors That Impact Nitric Oxide Production
Optimizing nitric oxide levels is crucial for health, and several strategies, including dietary and lifestyle adjustments, can aid in enhancing its production in the body.
Nathan Bryan indicates that certain products such as toothpaste and mouthwash can kill the oral microbiome, which is responsible for the production of nitric oxide. He advises against the use of mouthwash, especially following the consumption of nitric oxide-rich foods like beets, as the interaction with mouthwash or fluoridated water can inhibit the benefits. Bryan also touches on the widespread use of antacid medication and how it adversely affects the stomach's health and nutrient absorption, which in turn can indirectly affect nitric oxide levels. Furthermore, Steven Bartlett and Nathan Bryan agree on the detrimental effects of sugar on health, and Bryan emphasizes the necessity of eliminating sugar and carbohydrates from the diet to optimize nitric oxide levels.
Nasal breathing is highlighted as a practice that activates the enzyme responsible for nitric oxide production in the sinus epithelial cells, which greatly improves oxygen uptake and transport. Additionally, humming is pinpointed as a specific action that can stimulate the nitric oxide synthase enzyme, contingent on the volume of the nasal sinuses. Certain frequencies of vibration through humming can trigger the release of nitric oxide during exhalation. Yet, Bryan warns that these techniques will be ineffective if the enzyme that produces nitric oxide isn't functioning properly.
Strategies to Optimize Nitric Oxide Levels
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