Good morning!

Here's your Saturday 7 roundup!

🔬 The best kind of NO:

In 1992 nitric oxide (NO) was named “Molecule of the Year” by Science Magazine.

In 1998 a Nobel Prize was awarded to 3 scientists responsible for its discovery.

It’s one of the most important molecules in your body.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a vasodilator that keeps your blood pressure regulated, arteries open, and sex organs functioning. 

It’s vital for oxygen and nutrient delivery, cellular communication, and even critical immune functions like killing bacteria and preventing viral replication. 

But production of NO drops by over 10% each decade starting in your early 20s. By middle age, most people are only making 50% of what they use to.

One of the most important production pathways for NO happens in the mouth.

Bacteria living in the crypts of your tongue metabolize nitrates and nitrites from your diet into NO. 

You actually concentrate “prebiotic” nitrates in your salivary glands for the very purpose of feeding these bacteria. 

However, most people mess it up...

👄 Don't use these products:

A significant amount of your nitric oxide (NO) is made thanks to the bacteria living in your mouth.

But 2 out 3 Americans use mouthwash that kills these bacteria, and thus kills their nitric oxide production.

Studies show that using antibacterial mouthwashes kill the bacteria needed to convert nitrates to NO, and can result in elevated blood pressure. (r, r, r, r)

As ridiculous as it would be to take a daily antibiotic for gut health, this is akin to what most people are doing with their oral microbiome. 

Further, fluoride, in most toothpastes, mouth rinses, and tap water, is also antiseptic and can kill these bacteria.

Lastly, mouth breathing not only dries the mouth and leads to dysbiosis, but it also bypasses this fundamental nitric oxide production cascade.

My recommendation:

• Stop using antiseptic mouthwash
• Use hydroxyapatite instead of fluoride
• Breathe through your nose

P.S.

If you don't get my daily health Bite already, I'll be sending out a DIY mouthwash solution that doesn't ruin your oral microbiome.

👃 How to breathe through your nose:

Nasal breathing is imperative for a healthy oral microbiome and nitric oxide production.

With cold season around the corner, bookmark this video (my most popular ever!) on how to clear a stuffy nose, so you can keep the nitric oxide production going and get better, faster.

💡How to go viral:

As I was preparing to shoot some new videos this week, I re-watched the video above, taking some notes on why I think it went viral. 

Anatomy of a "3 R's" viral video:

1. Reveal: quickly reveal the outcome viewer wants / will discover
2. Retain: keep interest with steps (stories work too)  
3. Reward: video delivers value / insight promised in step 1

I think this particular video went viral because it had the "3 R's" but especially because of the 3rd one. 

It only takes a minute to clear your nose. So, I'm guessing people paused the video and tested it right then and there. Because it works (for most people :) it caused a shock factor that led to comments, and off and away the algorithm went.

NOTE: there is also a 4th "R" and that is to get Real Lucky, as I also posted this video on other social platforms without much traction 🤷‍♂️

🧠 What quote I've been thinking about:

"It's so simple: you spend less than you earn. Invest shrewdly. Avoid toxic people and toxic activities. Try to keep learning all your life. And do a lot of deferred gratification. If you do all those things, you are almost certain to succeed."

– Charlie Munger, on achieving success

💵 Whose problem is it:

Mike Ippolito:

If you owe the bank $1 million dollars, it’s your problem. 

If you owe the bank $1 billion, it’s the bank’s problem. 

If the banks lose $1 trillion, it’s the government’s problem. 

If the government has a problem, then you have a problem.

📈 How to live an asymmetric life:

Graham Weaver shares four ways to live an asymmetric life as part of Stanford's Last Lecture Series.

As always, it's an absolute pleasure and honor getting to spend some time with you, hope you have a great weekend!

Kevin

P.S.

How come no one ever told me this is how you fold sheets?

Dr. Kevin Stock
Meat Health, LLC

NED LLC (The Snore Solution)
 

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