Most Replayed Moment: Mouthwash REVERSES The Benefits Of Exercise! Dr Nathan Bryan
Dr. Nathan Bryan, a leading nitric oxide researcher, reveals how common oral health habits like mouthwash and fluoride toothpaste disrupt the oral microbiome, blocking nitric oxide production. This significantly impacts blood pressure, circulation, and even negates exercise benefits, highlighting a crucial yet overlooked system in human health.
Deep Dive Analysis
11 Topic Outline
Improving Oral Microbiome and Avoiding Harmful Practices
The Dangers of Fluoride in Toothpaste
Benefits of Tongue Scraping and Mouthwash Risks
Impact of Mouthwash on Exercise Benefits and Blood Pressure
Link Between Hormones, Exercise, and Nitric Oxide
Role of Diet in Nitric Oxide Production: Avoiding Sugar
Nitric Oxide's Role in Wound Healing and Scar Remediation
Challenges with Beetroot for Nitric Oxide Production
Dangers of Antacid Medications (PPIs)
Relationship Between Nasal Breathing, Mouth Breathing, and Nitric Oxide
Other Methods to Improve Nitric Oxide Levels (Humming, Sunlight, Red Light)
5 Key Concepts
Oral Microbiome
The community of bacteria and other microorganisms residing in the mouth, which is crucial for overall health, including the production of nitric oxide from dietary nitrates.
Nitric Oxide (NO)
A vital gas molecule produced in the body by oral bacteria and enzymes in blood vessel linings, responsible for dilating blood vessels, improving circulation, activating hormones, and aiding in wound healing and oxygen delivery.
Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS)
An enzyme found in the lining of blood vessels, epithelial cells, and sinuses that produces nitric oxide. Its function can be impaired by factors like sugar, age, and certain medications.
Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)
A class of medications (e.g., Prilosec, Nexium) that suppress stomach acid production. This inhibition is damaging as stomach acid is essential for breaking down proteins and absorbing vital micronutrients.
Hemoglobin A1C
A marker of long-term blood glucose control, representing sugar bound to hemoglobin. A level greater than 5.7 indicates diabetes, reflecting the damaging effects of sugar on proteins and enzymes.
7 Questions Answered
To improve the oral microbiome, you should avoid fluoride toothpaste due to its toxicity and antiseptic mouthwash because it kills the beneficial bacteria necessary for nitric oxide production.
Using antiseptic mouthwash can negate the cardioprotective benefits of exercise because it kills the oral microbiome responsible for producing nitric oxide, which is crucial for blood vessel dilation and improved circulation during physical activity.
Testosterone in men and estrogen in women activate nitric oxide production, explaining the cardioprotective benefits of hormone replacement therapy, provided the nitric oxide synthase enzyme is functional.
Sugar is a toxin that binds to and inactivates the enzyme responsible for making nitric oxide, leading to constricted blood vessels, impaired healing, and a higher incidence of conditions like heart attack, stroke, and neuropathy, especially in diabetics.
Antacids like proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) suppress stomach acid, which is vital for breaking down proteins into amino acids and absorbing essential micronutrients like B vitamins, selenium, chromium, iodine, magnesium, and iron, leading to widespread deficiencies.
Nasal breathing activates nitric oxide production in the sinuses, which then dilates bronchioles and pulmonary arteries, improving oxygen uptake and lowering blood pressure. Conversely, mouth breathing bypasses this natural production and disrupts the oral microbiome, inhibiting nitric oxide.
Sunlight, specifically both UV and full-spectrum infrared light, stimulates nitric oxide release in the body. These frequencies and vibrations activate nitric oxide release from bound proteins and metals, contributing to improved circulation and other health benefits.
12 Actionable Insights
1. Avoid Fluoride Toothpaste
Eliminate fluoride toothpaste from your routine, as fluoride has no known benefit and carries risks such as lowering IQ in children, shutting down thyroid function, and acting as a neurotoxin. Opt for non-fluorinated toothpaste instead.
2. Do Not Use Antiseptic Mouthwash
Refrain from using antiseptic mouthwash, as it kills the beneficial oral microbiome responsible for producing nitric oxide, thereby negating the cardioprotective benefits of exercise and dietary efforts.
3. Use a Tongue Scraper Daily
Incorporate tongue scraping into your daily oral hygiene, ideally with a copper scraper, to increase the diversity of the dorsal tongue’s microbiome by removing biofilm, similar to tilling soil for a garden.
4. Decline Fluoride Rinses at Dentist
While routine dental cleanings are beneficial for gum health and plaque removal, always decline fluoride rinses offered by dental hygienists due to fluoride’s harmful effects.
5. Eliminate Sugar and High Glycemic Foods
Strictly avoid sugar and high glycemic index foods, as sugar acts as a poison that binds to and inactivates the enzyme responsible for nitric oxide production, leading to constricted blood vessels and numerous health issues.
6. Avoid Antacid Medications (PPIs)
Do not use proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like Prilosec or Nexium, as they suppress stomach acid production, which is essential for breaking down proteins and absorbing vital micronutrients like B vitamins, magnesium, and iron.
7. Practice Nasal Breathing
Prioritize nasal breathing over mouth breathing, as it activates the nitric oxide synthase enzyme in the sinuses, dilating airways and pulmonary arteries to improve oxygen uptake and lower blood pressure.
8. Consider Mouth Taping with Caution
If you are a mouth breather, consider mouth taping to encourage nasal breathing during sleep, but first consult with a dentist for imaging to ensure your airway is open and not obstructed to prevent suffocation.
9. Hum Regularly for Nitric Oxide
Engage in humming, similar to ‘ohms’ in meditation, as certain frequencies can activate the nitric oxide synthase enzyme in your sinuses, potentially increasing nitric oxide release, though effectiveness depends on enzyme function.
10. Get Daily Sunlight Exposure
Aim for 20-30 minutes of daily sunlight exposure, as both UV and full-spectrum infrared light stimulate nitric oxide release, contribute to mitochondrial biogenesis, and can lower blood pressure.
11. Utilize Red Light Therapy
Consider using red light beds or infrared saunas, as these therapies stimulate nitric oxide production, enhance mitochondrial biogenesis, improve energy production, and can help lower blood pressure.
12. Eat a Balanced Diet in Moderation
Focus on consuming a balanced diet in moderation, prioritizing high-quality protein and good fats while minimizing or eliminating carbohydrates, to support overall health and nitric oxide production.
5 Key Quotes
What they report is that fluoride, there's no benefit of fluoride, and it's all risk.
Dr. Nathan Bryan
If you do that and you're using mouthwash, you no longer get the benefits from exercise.
Dr. Nathan Bryan
Sugar is an absolute poison, and it kills many enzymes and binds to everything. And it lowers nitric oxide production.
Dr. Nathan Bryan
As a biochemist and physiologist, I can't think of nothing more damaging than to inhibit stomach acid production.
Dr. Nathan Bryan
The worst thing you can do is tape your mouth and your airway be constricted and, you know, suffocate.
Dr. Nathan Bryan
1 Protocols
Oral Health Protocol
Dr. Nathan Bryan- Use non-fluorinated toothpaste.
- Use a copper tongue scraper by pulling it from the back of the dorsal tongue forward to remove biofilm.
- Avoid antiseptic mouth rinse.
- Decline fluoride rinses when visiting the dental hygienist.