How to INCREASE Nitric Oxide in the Body, Kill VIRUSES & TOP FOODS to Eat w/ Dr. Louis Ignarro (4K)

Dr. Lou Ignarro, Nobel Prize recipient in medicine, discusses the crucial role of nitric oxide (NO) in cardiovascular health and its broader implications on Ever Forward Radio. He explains how NO, a molecule produced by the body, protects against cardiovascular diseases, aids in managing diabetes, and enhances respiratory function. Ignarro highlights the Mediterranean diet's benefits, the potential dangers of high saturated fat intake, and the advantages of physical activity in boosting NO levels. He also touches on the therapeutic use of NO in treating respiratory distress and COVID-19, and the surprising benefits of nose breathing and humming in naturally increasing NO production.

• Nobel Prize in Medicine: Dr. Lou Naro was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for discovering that the human body produces nitric oxide (NO).
• Importance of NO: NO is a molecule that protects against cardiovascular diseases and has various beneficial effects on the body.
• Criteria for Nobel Prize: The discovery must be original and beneficial to humankind.

"I was awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine for the work and the two criteria for the Nobel Prize which most people don't know is one, you have to have made an original first-time discovery, and two, your discovery has to be of obvious benefit to humankind."

• Dr. Lou Naro discovered that the body makes nitric oxide, which has significant health benefits.

• Definition of NO: NO is a gas formed by combining nitrogen and oxygen, occurring naturally both outside and inside the body.
• Function: Inside the body, NO acts as a chemical messenger involved in many bodily functions, including cardiovascular health.

"Nitric oxide is a gas formed by combining nitrogen and oxygen. It occurs naturally both outside and inside the body. Inside the body, it acts as an important chemical messenger involved in many bodily functions."

• NO is crucial for various bodily functions and overall health.

• Impact on Pre-Diabetics: NO can significantly improve the condition of pre-diabetics and delay the development of full-blown diabetes.
• Factors Leading to Diabetes: A deficiency in NO is a critical factor leading to diabetes, along with poor diet and lack of physical activity.
• Healthy Lifestyle: Maintaining normal NO levels through a healthy diet and physical activity can prevent diabetes.

"One of the most important factors that leads to diabetes is a deficiency in nitric oxide. When your nitric oxide levels are low, the likelihood of developing diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes, is quite low."

• Maintaining normal NO levels can prevent diabetes.

"If someone is a pre-diabetic, the key thing the physician should tell them is to immediately embark on a healthy balanced diet and include physical activity in their life."

• A healthy diet and physical activity are essential for maintaining NO levels and preventing diabetes.

• Role of NO: NO is crucial for erectile function as it is released by nerves in the erectile tissue, causing vasodilation and increased blood flow.
• Viagra: Viagra helps achieve an erection by enhancing NO's effects but does not cure ED.
• Factors Leading to ED: Poor diet and lack of physical activity are strongly associated with ED.

"What happens when you expand blood vessels? They fill up with blood. In patients with ED, the nerves are not releasing enough nitric oxide, so a normal erection cannot be obtained."

• NO is essential for achieving an erection, and its deficiency leads to ED.

"Viagra does not cure ED. It increases the ability to get an erection but has nothing to do with treating the disease."

• Viagra aids in achieving an erection but does not treat the underlying cause of ED.

• Healthy Diet: A diet rich in fruits and vegetables boosts NO levels, while processed foods and saturated fats decrease NO production.
• Healthy Proteins: Proteins from sources like chicken and pork are healthier compared to red meat, which contains high levels of saturated fats.

"A poor diet is not eating enough fruits and vegetables, which naturally boost your nitric oxide, and eating the wrong kinds of carbohydrates, like refined sugar and processed foods."

• A diet rich in fruits and vegetables is essential for maintaining NO levels.

"Eating chicken, for example, eating pork, pork is good, it doesn't have nearly as much fat as beef from a cow. You need to stay away from the red meat that has lots of fat."

• Choosing lean proteins over fatty red meats helps maintain NO levels.

• Deadly Diet: Dr. Lou Naro describes the carnivore diet, which consists solely of meat, usually red meat, as a deadly diet due to its high saturated fat content.
• Balanced Diet: A balanced diet with one-third each of protein, carbs, and fat is recommended for optimal health.

"People on the carnivore diet only ever eat meat, usually red meat, which is a deadly diet."

• The carnivore diet is harmful due to its high saturated fat content.

"You need to consume about one-third each of the major food groups: protein, carbs, and fat. There's healthy protein and unhealthy protein."

• A balanced diet with healthy protein sources is essential for maintaining NO levels and overall health.

• NO's Importance: NO plays a crucial role in preventing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and erectile dysfunction.
• Healthy Lifestyle: Maintaining a healthy diet and regular physical activity are key to boosting NO levels and preventing various health issues.
• Dietary Choices: Choosing a balanced diet with healthy proteins and avoiding processed foods and saturated fats is essential for maintaining NO levels and overall health.

• Saturated fat is metabolized by the body by breaking it down into smaller components like fatty acids.
• These fatty acids are processed by the liver and other organs.
• The metabolism of saturated fats produces free radicals.
• Healthy individuals with a balanced diet can typically handle the free radicals produced without adverse effects.

"The way your body metabolizes saturated fat is the fat goes to the liver and other organs and gets broken down into small fatty acids and in those reactions, free radicals are produced."

• Saturated fat metabolism involves the production of free radicals.

• Many individuals on the carnivore diet are active and engage in regular strength training.
• The carnivore diet does not necessitate the consumption of high-fat meats like Japanese Wagyu beef.
• A balanced approach to meat consumption, including lean meats, can be healthy.

"I do see the majority of people that I see adopting the carnivore diet are very active, exercise very regularly, usually strength training."

• Active lifestyle supports the carnivore diet.

"You could have carnivore, the definition is what you can Google it, it's meat, it's not fat, it's meat."

• The carnivore diet focuses on meat, not necessarily high-fat content.

• The Mediterranean diet is widely recognized as the healthiest diet.
• It is associated with a high lifespan and low incidence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and dementia.
• The diet includes a variety of meats, but typically lean cuts with fat trimmed off.
• Fish is a primary protein source, rich in unsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids.
• Fruits and vegetables, especially those with pronounced colors, are rich in antioxidants.

"There's no question about it... the Mediterranean diet is the healthiest diet."

• The Mediterranean diet is widely accepted as the healthiest diet.

"The key thing... the most factual believe me is these people eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables."

• Fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants are a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet.

• The discovery of nitric oxide (NO) in treating erectile dysfunction was not accidental.
• Pfizer's drug, initially developed for hypertension, was repurposed for erectile dysfunction based on NO research.
• NO is released from nerves to promote erectile function.

"The action of NO in the treatment of erectile dysfunction was definitely not an accident."

• The discovery of NO's role in erectile dysfunction was a result of basic research.

"If I had not discovered that nitric oxide is released from the nerves to promote erectile function, they would have never taken that drug off the shelf."

• NO research was pivotal for the development of Viagra.

• NO is used in ICU settings to improve gas exchange in the lungs and elevate PO2 in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
• NO is a gas with a very short half-life, making it challenging to administer outside controlled settings.
• Inhaled nitric oxide can rapidly improve oxygenation in newborns with pulmonary issues.

"Inhaled nitric oxide can be used to treat a number of pulmonary disorders."

• NO gas is used to treat respiratory disorders.

"If you give them just a tiny bit of inhaled nitric oxide... the bodies turned from Blue to bright pink before you can count to 10."

• Inhaled NO has dramatic effects on oxygenation in newborns.

• NO cannot be easily administered outside of controlled environments due to its short half-life.
• Commercial devices to administer NO are challenging to design due to the gas's instability.
• Some companies are exploring devices that generate NO on demand using air and a spark plug.

"The gas has a half-life that is at last for 3 seconds."

• NO's short half-life makes it difficult to use commercially.

"There are a couple of device companies looking into this... but still big problems."

• Developing commercial NO administration devices is complex and ongoing.

• Nitric oxide (NO) is a vasodilator and bronchodilator, playing a crucial role in regulating blood pressure and airway constriction.
• Excessive NO can be toxic, causing a significant drop in blood pressure.
• Development of devices to regulate NO is ongoing, with hopes of making them accessible and affordable in the future.

"If you make too much NO, it's toxic. You cause a big drop in your blood pressure because it's a vasodilator."

• Excessive NO can dangerously lower blood pressure, highlighting the need for controlled administration.

"I'm hoping that before I have to go six feet under, I could have one of these devices."

• The speaker expresses hope for the future availability of NO-regulating devices.

• Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) was used successfully to treat severe COVID-19 patients, keeping them out of intensive care units (ICUs).
• NO helps by acting as a bronchodilator and vasodilator, improving breathing and blood flow in the lungs.
• NO also has antiviral properties, protecting the lungs against viruses.

"Inhaled nitric oxide, starting two years ago, was used very successfully in treating patients with severe COVID."

• NO inhalation was effective in treating severe COVID-19 cases, reducing ICU admissions.

"NO is a bronchodilator. It widens the airways, so if you decrease NO in COVID, you constrict the airways."

• NO helps keep airways open, which is crucial for COVID-19 patients with respiratory issues.

"Nitric oxide is a fantastic antiviral chemical."

• NO's antiviral properties contribute to its effectiveness in treating viral infections like COVID-19.

• Despite its effectiveness, inhaled NO did not receive widespread public attention or use.
• The treatment was primarily used in hospitals and clinics due to the need for controlled administration.
• The limited availability of NO machines and the high cost of treatment restricted its broader application.

"I have come out against the press at Harvard University and several other places where these studies were done and published in the best of journals."

• The speaker criticizes the lack of media coverage and public awareness of NO treatment for COVID-19.

"The inhaled nitric oxide was used in every clinic and hospital in the US and in Europe and especially in China."

• NO treatment was widely used in medical facilities but not well-known to the public.

"The number of patients that were treated with inhaled nitric oxide was more in the hundreds, maybe a thousand."

• The limited number of patients treated with NO highlights the accessibility issues.

• There is ongoing research and development to create small, home-use NO devices.
• These devices could potentially treat common colds and flu, especially in vulnerable populations.
• The biotech industry sees a significant market potential in developing such devices.

"Biotech companies are trying to develop small units that can be kept at home to breathe nitric oxide."

• Efforts are being made to create accessible NO devices for home use.

"Believe me, that's a trillion-dollar market."

• The speaker emphasizes the vast market potential for NO devices.

• The body produces NO from the amino acid arginine, with citrulline being a byproduct that can be reconverted to arginine.
• Citrulline is more effective than arginine in boosting NO production because it is not metabolized by the liver.
• Citrulline supplementation can significantly increase NO levels, benefiting athletes and those looking to improve circulation and recovery.

"Your body makes NO from arginine, but when arginine is converted to NO, citrulline is also formed."

• The process of NO production involves both arginine and citrulline.

"Citrulline is better because when it goes through the liver, it's untouched, so all of the citrulline you consume goes right into the blood."

• Citrulline's advantage lies in its efficient absorption and conversion to NO.

"Weightlifters claim that they get an incredible boost taking these products and get less pain after a while."

• Athletes, particularly weightlifters, benefit from citrulline supplementation due to improved circulation and reduced muscle soreness.

• Nasal breathing increases nitric oxide (NO) production, which has several health benefits.
• Mouth breathing does not produce NO.
• NO is produced in the nasal mucosal cells and delivered to the lungs when inhaling through the nose.

"Your nasal mucosal cells in the nose, the nasal cavity, the nasal cavity makes very large amounts of NO gas and that diffuses into your nasal cavity so if you inhale or breathe through your nose all that nitric oxide is immediately delivered into your lungs."

• NO production aids in increasing airway diameter, improving blood flow, and protecting lungs from viral infections.

"When you breathe the NO through your nose, that nitric oxide again, we think... the reason we make NO in the nasal cavity and breathe it into your lungs is three reasons... increase the airway diameter to get more oxygen, improve blood flow because NO is a vasodilator, and to keep our lungs free of viral infection."

• Nasal breathing can enhance immune response by protecting against viruses and bacteria.

"Every day if you can inhale through your nose, especially when you sleep or even during the day, you are offering that much more protection against the possibility of getting a common cold, influenza, or any other type of respiratory problem caused by a virus."

• Using mouth tape at night can improve sleep quality by forcing nasal breathing.
• Nasal breathing during exercise can enhance performance by increasing oxygen and blood flow.

"Many people use mouth tape such as this during exercise as well... when you exercise you want to dilate your blood vessels, you want to increased air, increased blood flow so try as best you can to inhale through your nose instead of your mouth."

• Improved sleep efficiency and recovery from workouts are observed with nasal breathing.

"I use a WHOOP, this wearable activity tracker on my wrist here... I got measurable better sleep in terms of my sleep efficiency went up, I had longer and more deep sleep."

• Certain supplements like Arginine and Citrulline can increase NO production.
• Beets and beetroot juice are commonly used to boost NO levels.

"I put beet powder in my post-workout... that's been shown clinically measurements have made to boost NO."

• Personal experiences indicate enhanced sleep and recovery with NO-boosting supplements.

"My wife never misses a dose, she likes to double the dose of her Arginine and Citrulline every day and she swears that she gets such an incredible night's sleep."

• Humming can significantly increase NO production, up to 15-20 times more.
• The vibration from humming stimulates mucosal cells in the nasal cavity to produce more NO.

"When this study was first published... what they discovered is that humming increases that NO production by 15 fold not 15%, 15 times."

• The mechanism involves keeping the mouth closed and creating vibrations through the nose.

"When you make that humming sound you are exhaling through your nose, but you're creating tremendous vibrations... it's the vibration that stimulates these special mucosal cells to make more nitric oxide."

• Incorporate humming into daily routines to increase NO levels.
• Practice nasal breathing, especially during sleep and exercise, to maximize NO benefits.

"If somebody wanted to boost nitric oxide in their body for whatever reason for sleep for working out, they could just hum, inhale, mouth exhale."

• Emphasizing the importance of maximizing the body's natural physiology.
• Practices such as proper diet, regular exercise, and mindful breathing contribute to overall health and longevity.

"I live a life ever forward taking advantage of my own physiology... I try to do whatever I can do to maximize the efficiency of my body whether it's my brain, thinking clearly, getting a good night's sleep."

• The speaker encourages integrating these practices into daily life to enhance health and performance.

"The more chances I get to explain to the world what nitric oxide is and how easy it is for you to boost your NO, the happier I am."

These notes summarize the key ideas and topics discussed in the provided transcript, offering a comprehensive overview of the benefits and practical applications of nasal breathing and nitric oxide.