This conversation features Dr. Nathan Bryan, a nitric oxide researcher and biochemist, discussing the critical role of nitric oxide in human health and the common practices that unknowingly destroy our body's ability to produce it.

The discussion covers the oral microbiome's relationship to nitric oxide production, revealing how fluoride toothpaste, mouthwash, and poor breathing habits systematically undermine cardiovascular health. Dr. Bryan explains the mechanisms behind why two-thirds of Americans have elevated blood pressure and how simple changes to oral hygiene and breathing can restore nitric oxide function.

The conversation also explores dietary factors affecting nitric oxide, the historical use of beetroot as described in Beat the Odds, and practical interventions including tongue scraping, nasal breathing, light therapy, and the elimination of sugar and antacids from daily routines.

The Fluoride Problem: Poison in Your Toothpaste

The National Toxicology Program reports fluoride has no benefits and only risks, lowering children's IQ by up to seven points and acting as a neurotoxin that shuts down thyroid function.

Toothpaste labels warn to 'call poison control if swallowed' because fluoride is literally poison, yet most people use 10-20 times the recommended pea-sized amount.

A pea-sized amount contains 1 milligram of fluoride, but typical usage exposes users to 5-10 milligrams that absorb directly through oral mucosa due to fluoride's molecular weight of 19.

Oral Microbiome: Tongue Scraping vs Mouthwash

Tongue scraping increases oral microbiome diversity and improves oral health by 'tilling the soil' - breaking up biofilm like preparing garden soil for planting.

The combination of tongue scraping followed by antiseptic mouthwash creates the 'absolute worst scenario' - opening pores then killing beneficial bacteria with deeper penetration.

Two-thirds of Americans use mouthwash daily, and two-thirds have unsafe blood pressure elevation - mouthwash eliminates cardioprotective benefits of exercise by destroying nitric oxide-producing bacteria.

Sugar: The Enzyme-Destroying Toxin

Sugar glycates (sticks to) the nitric oxide enzyme, locking it in a fixed conformation and preventing the conformational changes required for nitric oxide production.

Hemoglobin A1C above 5.7 indicates diabetes - this measures sugar stuck to hemoglobin, the same process that destroys nitric oxide enzymes throughout the body.

Diabetics have 10 times higher incidence of heart attack and stroke because sugar completely shuts down nitric oxide production, explaining diabetic ulcers, neuropathy, and retinopathy.

Beetroot: Ancient Performance Enhancement

As documented in Beat the Odds, ancient Egyptians drank beet juice before battle for improved circulation and energy, visible in cave hieroglyphics showing red beverages.

Modern commercial beet products are 'dead beets' - desiccated powders providing zero nitric oxide benefit because they contain no nitrate or nitrite.

You cannot eat enough modern beets to improve performance due to nutrient depletion from herbicides, pesticides, and depleted soil compared to ancient times.

Antacids: Blocking Essential Nutrient Absorption

Proton pump inhibitors (Prilosec, Nexium, Prevacid) inhibit natural stomach acid production required for protein breakdown and nutrient absorption.

Stomach acid is essential for absorbing B vitamins, selenium, chromium, iodine, magnesium, and iron - 75% of Americans are magnesium deficient, 95% are iodine deficient.

Gaviscon contains aluminum hydroxide which should be absolutely avoided - aluminum is neurotoxic and the hydroxide neutralizes essential stomach acid.

Breathing and Light Therapy for Nitric Oxide

Nasal breathing activates nitric oxide synthase in sinus epithelial cells, delivering nitric oxide gas to bronchioles and dilating pulmonary arteries for improved oxygen delivery.

Mouth breathing bypasses nitric oxide production and changes oral pH, completely altering the microbiome and shutting down nitric oxide production pathways.

Humming at specific frequencies activates nitric oxide synthase enzyme, with measurable nitric oxide detectable in exhaled breath - frequency depends on individual sinus volume.

UV light knocks nitric oxide off cysteine thiol proteins while infrared releases nitric oxide from metals - both ends of the spectrum stimulate nitric oxide release.