#222 Nitric Oxide, Nitrates and Nitrites in Food with Dr Rupy Aujla
Nov 15, 2023
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Dr Rupy Aujla, a medical doctor, unravels the mystery behind nitrates, nitrites, and nitric oxide. Topics include sources of nitrates in food, their impact on health, effects of antiseptic mouthwash on nitric oxide production, promoting nitric oxide through diet, benefits of sun exposure, and a summary of the controversial topics discussed.
Nitrates found naturally in vegetables are beneficial for health as they convert into nitric oxide, but artificial nitrates in processed meats can lead to carcinogenic byproducts.
Consuming nitrate-rich vegetables promotes nitric oxide production and offers cardiovascular, exercise performance, and brain health benefits.
Lifestyle factors such as avoiding antiseptic mouthwash, maintaining a healthy oral microbiome, moderating medication use, and incorporating sunlight exposure, exercise, and nasal breathing can support nitric oxide production.
Deep dives
Context is key: Nitrates in vegetables vs. added to meat products
Nitrates found naturally in vegetables are beneficial for health as they convert into nitric oxide, essential for various physiological functions. However, artificial nitrates added to meat products can lead to the formation of carcinogenic byproducts. Health benefits are associated with nitrate-containing plants, including cardiovascular and brain health benefits. Alternatively, processed meats should be limited to reduce the risk of potential carcinogenic effects and interference with nitric oxide production.
Health benefits of nitric oxide and nitrate-rich foods
Nitric oxide plays a crucial role in various bodily functions, such as blood pressure regulation, glucose metabolism, and brain function. Consuming nitrate-rich vegetables promotes nitric oxide production and offers cardiovascular, exercise performance, and brain health benefits. Dietary sources of nitrate include beets, dark green leafy vegetables, and lettuce. Nitrate-rich foods should be incorporated into daily meals to support overall health and well-being.
Factors influencing nitric oxide production
Supporting the production of nitric oxide involves various lifestyle factors. Recommendations include eliminating antiseptic mouthwash, as it disrupts the oral microbiome required for nitrate conversion. Monitoring the use of antibiotics and reducing reliance on acid-suppressing medications also supports nitric oxide production. Additionally, regular sun exposure, exercise, and nasal breathing can have positive effects on nitric oxide levels.
Cautions and considerations
While nitrate-rich vegetables are generally beneficial, caution should be exercised with processed meats due to potential formation of carcinogenic compounds. The context in which nitrates are consumed is crucial, with the presence of vitamins and polyphenols in vegetables mitigating the risk of carcinogenic byproducts. Whole food sources are recommended over isolated nitrate supplements, and it is important to consult healthcare professionals for specific needs and dosages.
Summary: Nitrates, Nitric Oxide, and Health Benefits
Understanding nitrates, nitric oxide, and their effects on health is complex, but key takeaways include the importance of context in nitrate consumption, the benefits of nitric oxide in the body, and the role of nitrate-rich vegetables in promoting nitric oxide production. Lifestyle factors such as avoiding antiseptic mouthwash, maintaining a healthy oral microbiome, moderating medication use, and incorporating sunlight exposure, exercise, and nasal breathing can also support nitric oxide production. Overall, adding nitrate-rich vegetables to your daily diet is a simple and effective way to improve your overall health and well-being.
You might’ve heard the terms nitrates, nitrites or nitric oxide in different contexts. There have been headlines about the “dangers” of nitrites in food, especially in processed meats like ham or bacon. But there’s also a lot of talk about the benefits of nitric oxide? It’s a very confusing topic, but hopefully after listening to todays podcast you’ll understand everything you need to know about these compounds!
In this podcast, I’ll go through:
What nitrates actually are, as well as the terms you might have heard - nitrates, nitrites, nitric oxide and nitrosamines
The controversy around these compounds
How the body handles them and their impact on health
Which foods are the highest in nitrates and why you want to eat them every day
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