Leading Nitric Oxide Scientist: The Unseen Factors Affecting Your Health

I had Dr. Nathan S. Bryan on the show to talk about one tiny gas that matters for everything: nitric oxide. I learned a lot, and I want to share what I learned in simple words. Nitric oxide helps blood flow, performance, and long-term health. If you want to feel better, move better, or live longer, this matters.

What is Nitric Oxide and Why Does It Matter

Nitric oxide is a gas made in the lining of your blood vessels. It lives for less than a second, but it sends big signals. It tells blood vessels to relax. That lets more blood and oxygen reach your muscles, brain, and organs.

When you make enough nitric oxide, you get better energy inside cells. You build more mitochondria, which are the tiny power plants in cells. That helps athletes perform. It also helps stem cells do their job and keeps telomeres healthier. In short, nitric oxide helps with performance, recovery, and even longevity.

Why Nitric Oxide Drops as We Age

On average, people make 10 to 12 percent less nitric oxide per decade. By age 40 or 50, many people have lost about half of what they had as young adults. The drop comes from lifestyle and environment. Big culprits are:

• Poor diet, high in sugar and simple carbs
• Little or no exercise
• Daily mouthwash that kills helpful oral bacteria
• Fluoride in water, toothpaste, and some drugs 
• Chronic inflammation and bad sleep

If you avoid those things, you can slow or stop the decline.

Signs Your Nitric Oxide is Low

There is a clear order of symptoms that show nitric oxide is failing. Dr. Bryan calls erectile dysfunction the canary in the coal mine. It is often the first sign.

1. Erectile dysfunction or poor sexual blood flow
2. High blood pressure
3. Insulin resistance and metabolic problems
4. Exercise intolerance and quick fatigue
5. Brain fog, mild cognitive decline, and long-term dementia risk

These issues show up years before a major disease appears. Fixing nitric oxide early can help stop or reverse these paths.

How Doctors Test Nitric Oxide

There is no simple blood test like cholesterol. The best way is a flow-mediated dilation test. It uses a blood pressure cuff to block blood flow to the arm for five minutes. When released, if the artery dilates, it shows good nitric oxide production. If it does not dilate, nitric oxide is low.

What Really Helps Raise Nitric Oxide

These are some simple tips that Dr. Bryan suggests:

• Eat right and cut sugar and simple carbs
• Exercise regularly and use high-intensity or interval work
• Use daily intermittent fasting (Dr. Bryan does about 18 hours a day)
• Stop using antiseptic mouthwash daily. It kills the oral bacteria that convert nitrate into nitric oxide.
• Avoid fluoride in water and toothpaste when you can. Dr. Bryan explains that fluoride can harm helpful bacteria and has risks.
• Eat leafy greens or provide nitrate in another way. Greens give nitrate that oral bacteria turn into nitrite and then nitric oxide.

Oral Microbiome Matters More Than You Think

Oral bacteria on the tongue convert nitrate from food or from oxidized nitric oxide back into nitrite. That nitrite then becomes nitric oxide in the stomach and bloodstream. Kill those bacteria with mouthwash, and blood pressure can rise. Replace fluoride-heavy toothpaste with a product that helps the oral bacteria, and you can improve blood pressure and nitric oxide production.

Dr. Bryan created a toothpaste called Cardio Smile to support those bacteria and a fermented beet powder product that makes nitric oxide fast. He says many pre-workouts and arginine pills do not actually raise nitric oxide the right way.

Supplements, Beets, and What Works

Most pre-workout powders are really stimulant blends. L-arginine pills usually do not work because the enzyme that makes nitric oxide is the problem, not a lack of arginine. Beets have something useful, but raw beets are not the strongest source. Dr. Bryan's fermented beet powder is pre-converted and delivers nitric oxide quickly when mixed in a small amount of water and taken as a shot.

Training Tips That Boost Nitric Oxide

Blood flow restriction training or ischemic preconditioning can help. Briefly restricting blood flow triggers signals that increase nitric oxide and make new tiny blood vessels. That can be useful when you are short on time or rehabbing an injury.

What about Peptides and Structured Water?

Peptides are popular, but none reliably lift nitric oxide production. Structured water may feel good and can help with general hydration. However, it is not a proven way to raise nitric oxide.

Dr. Bryan's Routine and Research

He fasts 18 hours daily, does a short HIIT or bodyweight routine, uses sauna and cold plunge, and focuses on clean foods from his ranch. He is also working on nitric oxide-based drugs for heart disease, Alzheimer's, and wound healing. He believes nitric oxide will change how we treat many diseases.

FAQ

Q: How can I check if my nitric oxide is low?

A: The best test is flow-mediated dilation done in clinics. Look for symptoms first: erectile issues, rising blood pressure, trouble exercising, or brain fog. These are strong clues that nitric oxide may be low.

Q: Will mouthwash hurt my nitric oxide?

A: Yes. Daily antiseptic mouthwash kills helpful oral bacteria. That blocks the nitrate to nitrite to nitric oxide recycling. Use gentle toothpaste and avoid antiseptic mouthwash when possible.

Q: Do arginine pills or peptides raise nitric oxide?

A: No, most arginine supplements do not fix the problem. The enzyme that makes nitric oxide often fails, so giving more arginine usually does not help. Peptides do other things and are not a reliable fix for nitric oxide.

Q: Can diet alone fix nitric oxide?

A: Diet is key. Eat leafy greens, cut sugar and simple carbs, and fast regularly. Exercise is also essential. Together, these changes can restore nitric oxide production for many people.

Q: Is there hope if I already have high blood pressure or diabetes?

A: Yes. Nitric oxide restoration can help improve blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, and exercise capacity. Work with your doctor and focus on diet, exercise, and oral microbiome care.

Final Thoughts

I walked away from this talk with two clear messages. First, nitric oxide matters for everything from pumps in the gym to long-term brain health. Second, many small, simple habits change nitric oxide levels more than any pill. Stop killing your tongue bacteria with strong mouthwash, move more, eat less sugar, and give your body a chance to rebuild its own chemistry.

If you want a simple plan to look and perform your best, join my Free Masterclass. It lays out a seven-phase system that helped me and many clients get shredded, keep muscle, and stay sharp. 

Stay Savage,

Robert Sikes