Issue #254: NO for Better Sex
Good morning. It’s Thursday, October 19th.
Today’s Quick Win
From the Lab: NO for Better Sex
Speed Read: Whoop’s AI Health Coach
Thursday Night In: Ultimate Immune-Supporting Soup
“There are very few things in the body that nitric oxide doesn’t regulate.”
The percent of 40 year old males that experience moderate to severe erectile dysfunction. This increases to 70% at age 70. It’s not hard to imagine, but as metabolic health goes down, ED increases. (Cleveland Clinic)
From the Lab
Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the keys to a healthy heart. (Issue #253)
But this amazing molecule/hormone does even more than that.
Only 7% of us are metabolically healthy.
NO supports every single measurement to determine if we’re actually fit:
Lowers blood pressure
Reduces our lipids (triglycerides)
Promotes insulin production to process our blood glucose
Prevents visceral fat (which increases our waist circumference)
For more of the science, see the post from Dr. Nathan Bryan on how NO improves our metabolic function.
It’s also the key to sexual health - for both men and women.
You can see in the Stat of the Day just how prevalent ED is amongst us middle aged guys and it’s only going to get worse - if we let it.
But just solving ED isn’t the answer. Men with ED have as high a risk of cardiovascular disease as men who smoke - 39% higher risk of strokes and 25% higher risk of death than guys who don’t have any problems down there.
Viagra (and other similar drugs) is a PDE5 inhibitor - which basically means it prevents the restriction of blood flow (in this case to the penis). But it also enhances the effect of NO - which is absolutely essential to get it up.
Why is ED such a problem these days?
Well for starters - it goes back to what we talked about earlier. Men with diabetes are 2x more likely to have ED. Our sexual health is directly connected to our metabolic health.
Second - it’s shown that many prescription drugs inhibit the production of NO and increase the chances of experiencing ED.
Third - chemicals and other environmental toxins in our home are known as endocrine disruptors. They crush our hormones - leading to infertility and ED.
So if you’ve got a problem in the bedroom - don’t just try to fix that with a pill. Lose the beer belly, get moving, check your blood panel, and ask your doctor about a calcium test.
Because everything is connected and your sex health is a signal of what’s happening in the rest of your body.
For Women
NO isn’t just tied to men’s sexual health. It really is the key for women to be turned on, ready for sex, and able to orgasm.
It’s the primary driver of sufficient blood flow and fluid for women to their private parts. This not only ensures that women are sufficiently lubricated for sex, but also that their sexual organs have increased sensitivity, and that there is enough vaginal and labial pressure to orgasm.
70% of women experience arousal issues (i.e., they’re not) and 25% never orgasm.
There’s a positive cycle of NO and oxytocin - NO releases oxytocin, making women more connected with their partner and then an orgasm significantly increases NO.
Bottom Line - keep up your NO so that you can continue living your best life for years into the future.
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Speed Read
Health & Longevity in the News
Whoop’s AI Health Coach: Whoop introduced the first wearable with an AI fitness coach. The coach is powered by OpenAI’s GPT4 and is currently in beta. It shares some conversational features with ChatGPT, but also includes personalized suggestions and workouts based on your strain, recovery and sleep data. (CNET)
Dispelling 8 Sex Myths: Everyone is having more sex than you. Nope. Men want sex more than women. False. Planned sex is boring. Not true. Talk through these myths with your partner - it’ll likely lead to (better?) sex. One truth - NO supports erectile physiology, bye bye ED - no pill, no problem. (NYTimes)
Top 10 Nutrient-Rich Foods for Fall: Check out the top 10 nutrient-rich foods to help stave off cold and flu, keeping you healthy as the weather turns. NNOXX has a device that measures muscle oxygenation and nitric oxide to help you reach your full potential. (NNOXX)
Thursday Night In | Ultimate Immune-Supporting Soup
So yeah, it’s that season…
Fortify your immune system with a savory soup brimming with health-boosting plants and spices. This flavorful blend combines garlic, ginger, and turmeric known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, with nutrient-rich leek and cauliflower. Perfect for staying resilient and energized during the cold season.
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The information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and may not be appropriate or applicable based on your individual circumstances. Thrive25 Labs LLC does not provide medical, professional, or licensed advice. Please connect with your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to your health needs.