Despite beets' reputation for improving performance via nitric oxide, modern agriculture has left them nutrient-depleted. An individual cannot realistically eat enough beets to gain a significant nitrate benefit. Furthermore, using mouthwash or fluoridated water negates any potential effect, rendering most beet consumption and supplementation useless.
Exercise improves cardiovascular health by stimulating nitric oxide production, which dilates blood vessels. Antiseptic mouthwash kills the oral bacteria essential for this nitric oxide pathway. Consequently, using mouthwash after a workout can completely reverse the blood pressure-lowering and cardiovascular benefits gained from exercise.
While tongue scraping beneficially disrupts biofilm, following it with an antiseptic mouthwash is the "absolute worst scenario." The scraping action opens up pores and crypts on the tongue, allowing the antiseptic to penetrate deeper and more effectively kill the beneficial bacteria required for nitric oxide production and oral health.
High blood sugar has a direct mechanical effect beyond empty calories. The excess glucose acts like glue, sticking to the enzyme responsible for making nitric oxide in a process called glycation. This locks the enzyme in a fixed conformation, rendering it physically unable to function and produce the vital molecule.
Most people use 10-20 times the recommended pea-sized amount of toothpaste, leading to a significant overdose of fluoride. This is concerning because fluoride is classified as a neurotoxin linked to lower IQ in children and thyroid dysfunction. It's absorbed systemically through the mouth's lining, even without swallowing.
The sinuses contain an enzyme that produces nitric oxide. Humming creates vibrations at frequencies that stimulate this enzyme, causing a release of nitric oxide gas into the airways. While the optimal frequency varies per person based on sinus volume, it offers a simple, free method for boosting nitric oxide levels.