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Jul 17
53m 57s

Why Big Pharma Hates Nitric Oxide (And H...

Dave Asprey
About this episode

If you care about longevity, brain optimization, sexual performance, or metabolism, this molecule changes everything. Host Dave Asprey sits down with nitric oxide pioneer Dr. Nathan Bryan to reveal why this overlooked molecule controls your blood flow, mitochondrial energy, neuroplasticity, insulin response, and even your libido. You’ll learn how nitric oxide acts as a master switch for human performance and why the medical system has ignored it for decades. 


Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience: 

https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR 


Dr. Nathan Bryan is a world-renowned expert in nitric oxide biochemistry with over 20 years of clinical research, multiple patents, and collaborations with Nobel Prize-winning scientists. His groundbreaking work forms the foundation for modern functional medicine protocols targeting blood flow, metabolism, cognitive enhancement, and mitochondrial upgrades. 


You’ll learn: 

• How nitric oxide drives mitochondria, metabolism, and human performance 

• Why most nitric oxide supplements fail and how to spot real ones 

• The critical role nitric oxide plays in brain optimization, libido, and insulin signaling 

• How poor oral health, statins, and PPIs can kill nitric oxide production 

• What nitric oxide has to do with sleep optimization, aging, and disease prevention 

• How to stack nitric oxide with fasting, ketosis, nootropics, red light, and supplements 

• Why “Smarter Not Harder” starts with nitric oxide fueled upgrades 


This episode is essential listening for anyone into biohacking, cold therapy, functional medicine, or RFK-style medical freedom. You’ll walk away with practical tools to boost nitric oxide naturally, prevent dysfunction, and optimize your biology whether you’re on a carnivore diet or just looking for an edge. 


Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade is the top podcast for people who want to take control of their biology, extend their longevity, and optimize every system in the body and mind. Each episode features cutting-edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, hacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living. 


Episodes are released every Tuesday and Thursday, where Dave asks the questions no one else dares, and brings you real tools to become more resilient, aware, and high performing. 


Get Nitric Oxide products for 10% off with code ‘Dave’: https://bit.ly/Nitric-Oxide-Product 


SPONSORS: 


Resources:  

• Nathan’s Website: https://www.n1o1.com 

• Nathan’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtftGy8e0r9DO8ActcyGi4w 

• Dave Asprey’s Website: https://daveasprey.com 

• Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/DAVE15 

• Dave Asprey’s BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com 

• Dave Asprey’s New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated 

• Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com 

• Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com 

• 40 Years of Zen: https://40yearsofzen.com 


Timestamps: 

• 00:00 Trailer 

• 01:03 Intro 

• 01:15 Why Medicine Ignores Nitric Oxide 

• 01:59 What Nitric Oxide Does in the Body 

• 04:46 How the Body Makes Nitric Oxide 

• 07:12 Diet’s Impact on NO Levels 

• 13:28 Why Most NO Supplements Fail 

• 19:32 Personalized Biohacking with NO 

• 22:33 How Medicine Misses the Mark 

• 30:40 Oral Health and Nitric Oxide 

• 31:30 Mouthwash Kills Your Microbiome 

• 32:28 The Problem with Fluoride 

• 33:25 Better Toothpaste for NO 

• 33:49 NO’s Role in Energy and Healing 

• 34:17 Blood Pressure and NO 

• 35:29 NO and Sexual Performance 

• 37:09 NO and COVID Recovery 

• 40:50 Brain Fog and NO Deficiency 

• 49:01 Carnivore, Sugar, and NO 

• 50:11 Why You Still Need NO Supplements 

• 54:19 Final Takeaways 

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