The Most Important Molecule for Health You Have Never Heard Of: Nitric Oxide with Dr. Louis Ignarro

Apr 7, 2021

Dr. Louis Ignarro, a Nobel laureate in Medicine, reveals the incredible power of nitric oxide, a molecule crucial for cardiovascular health and overall well-being. He discusses its myriad benefits, like reducing inflammation, enhancing memory, and even its role in sexual health. Ignarro shares insights on how lifestyle choices, including diet and exercise, can boost nitric oxide levels. Additionally, he delves into the fascinating connections between genetics and longevity, and the importance of this molecule in fighting respiratory issues, including COVID-19.

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INSIGHT

Early Hypothesis

Dr. Ignarro hypothesized the existence of a molecule protecting against cardiovascular issues long before scientific training.
This curiosity, sparked by observing health disparities between active and sedentary individuals, led him to nitric oxide.

ANECDOTE

Viagra's Unexpected Discovery

Viagra, initially developed for blood pressure, had an unexpected side effect of causing erections.
Pfizer shelved the drug until Dr. Ignarro's nitric oxide research revealed its mechanism, leading to Viagra's development for erectile dysfunction.

INSIGHT

Nitric Oxide's Versatility

Nitric oxide is a versatile molecule with various roles like blood vessel dilation, blood clot prevention, and memory enhancement.
It also has surprising benefits like skin protection, digestive regulation, and even antimicrobial effects.

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The Most Important Molecule for Health You Have Never Heard Of: Nitric Oxide | This episode is brought to you by BiOptimizers, Thrive Market, and Beekeeper’s Naturals

What if I told you one single thing could work as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neurotransmitter, and vasodilator and that it helps promote memory and learning, increase arousal in both men and women, protect against sun damage and skin cancer, and regulate digestive enzymes and hormones? You’d want some of that, wouldn’t you? Well, nitric oxide is capable of all of this and more. Our bodies naturally produce this molecule but, due to lifestyle factors, some of us make more than others. Luckily for us, there are many things we can do to increase our nitric oxide levels and reap the health benefits.

Today I’m honored to sit down and talk with the man who actually discovered nitric oxide, Dr. Louis Ignarro. Dr. Ignarro is a medical research scientist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his breakthrough discovery of nitric oxide and how it positively impacts health and longevity. His groundbreaking research on nitric oxide paved the way for—among other innovations—Viagra. He is an award-winning Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Molecular & Medical Pharmacology at the University of California, Los Angeles, and has his Ph.D. in Pharmacology with over 35 years of experience teaching.

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Here are more of the details from our interview:

The observation that first got Dr. Ignarro thinking about nitric oxide (6:24)

How statin drugs boost nitric oxide (11:28)

The link between nitric oxide, inflammation, and antioxidants (14:39)

The surprising development of Viagra (16:18)

The many beneficial effects of nitric oxide (21:10)

How to boost nitric oxide with food and supplements (28:50)

How exercise boosts nitric oxide (44:14)

Producing nitric oxide with your breath (48:42)

Using nitric oxide to treat Covid-19 (54:02)

Learn more about Dr. Ignarro and his work at http://www.drignarro.com/. Follow Dr. Ignarro on Facebook @DrIgnarro and on Twitter @DrIgnarro.