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Jun 2024
1h 17m

#347: Why Nitric Oxide is the Key to Hea...

Neuro Athletics
About this episode

Dr. Nathan Bryan earned his undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from the University of Texas at Austin and his doctoral degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport where he was the recipient of the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research. He pursued his post-doctoral training as a Kirschstein Fellow at Boston University School of Medicine in the Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute. After a two year post-doctoral fellowship, in 2006 Dr. Bryan was recruited to join faculty at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston by Ferid Murad, M.D., Ph.D., 1998 Nobel Laureate in Medicine or Physiology.

During his nine years at UT, Dr. Bryan focused on drug discovery, screening natural product libraries for active compounds. His research led to over a dozen US and international patents. Notably, he was the first to describe nitrite and nitrate as essential nutrients for cardiovascular health and demonstrated an endocrine function of nitric oxide. He discovered compositions that generate and restore nitric oxide in humans, validated by six clinical trials. 

In this episode, we cover:

  • The role of nitric oxide in maintaining cardiovascular and brain health.
  • How nitric oxide production declines with age and its impact on chronic diseases.
  • The connection between nitric oxide and diet, highlighting the importance of vegetables.
  • The surprising link between oral hygiene and nitric oxide levels, and how mouthwash may harm your health.
  • The influence of nitric oxide on hormone regulation and sexual health.
  • Myths about nitrates in cured meats and their health effects.
  • The risks associated with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and their impact on nitric oxide production.
  • The role of nitric oxide in mitochondrial function and overall energy production.
  • Dr. Nathan Bryan's actionable tips for enhancing nitric oxide production through diet, lifestyle, and supplementation.



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Connect with Dr. Nathan Bryan:
Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/drnathansbryan

(00:00) Preview and Introduction
(02:14) What is Nitric Oxide?
(06:12) Impact of Nitric Oxide on Aging
(08:20) Pathways of Nitric Oxide Production
(14:01) Nitric Oxide and Alzheimer’s Disease
(19:23) Challenges in Nitric Oxide Detection
(22:32) Nitric Oxide and Erectile Dysfunction
(28:01) Impact of Exercise on Nitric Oxide Production
(31:22) Role of Oral Microbiome in Nitric Oxide Production
(36:05) Fluoride Causes Health Issues?
(41:25) Nitric Oxide Production Dependency on Diet
(46:15) How Does Nitric Oxide Affect Mitochondrial Function 
(49:05) Importance of Nitric Oxide for Health

The Neuro Athletics Newsletter
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The Neuro Experience Podcast is proud to have hosted: Dr Andrew Huberman, Dr Gabrielle Lyon, Dr Layne Norton, Thomas DeLauer, Shawn Stevenson, Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen, Saad Alam, Uma Naidoo, Dr. Lanna Cheuck, Angela Lee Pucci, Jillian Turecki, Dr. Jordan Feigenbaum, Dr. Darren Candow, Dr. Sue Varma, Evy Poumpouras, Dr Casey Means, Renee Deehan, Dr Chris Palmer, Dr Charles Brenner.

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