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Simple Maths for Men: Scrape your Tongue + Eat Rocket = Boost Performance

Ask a Man why they should clean their tongue and they will mumble something about bad breath.

They're not wrong.

The tongue is an excellent trap for food, coffee and alcohol debris that, if ignored, bacteria will convert to stale breath.

But ... what most Men DON’T realise is a simple and regular tongue scrape can have wider health benefits - that impacts on sports fitness, recovery, heart health and much more ...

Yes you read it right - all of these benefits from a simple and inexpensive tongue scrape ...

OK - it's not just about a clean tongue,  the other part of the equation is you need to eat the right 'Greens' - rich in Nitrates: Kale, Spinach and Rocket / Arugula. (So it turns out the advice to; "Eat your Greens" was spot on!)

What follows is based on the extensive research of Dr Nathan Bryan an International leader in molecular medicine and Nitric Oxide biochemistry.

Dr Bryan’s work shows how Nitric Oxide is a ‘miracle molecule’ providing a surprising array of benefits throughout our body.

The downside of this is if our Nitric Oxide levels decline we can then suffer issues – many serious. 

For those of us over 40 years of age, this becomes more crucial, since our Nitric Oxide levels drop as we age as much as half - from peak levels. Lack of exercise, poor diet and using antiseptic mouthwash can also adversely impact our Nitric Oxide levels.

Dr Nathan Bryan summarised the issue as regards Men in a Podcast in March 2019

“When you can't make Nitric Oxide, your athletic performance will decline and your cardio vascular performance declines ... it is very clear.”

Amazingly his research shows;

“Up to 50% of our daily Nitric Oxide production can be from 'good’ oral bacteria"

To be clear that's a certain type of bacteria in our mouth ... (see footnote 1.)

This is the bit we simply LOVE! 

And a clean tongue - from a simple tongue scrape - can have a BIG part to play in actually increasing Nitric Oxide production by our body!

As the World's oldest Producer of quality Tongue Scrapers - you can now see why we love this research!

As Dr Nathan Bryan explains;

"Tongue scraping to remove the 'bad' bacteria, food particles and debris (on the tongue) allows for the 'good' bacteria to flourish and generate Nitric Oxide"

(The precise chemical process as explained by Dr Nathan Bryan - and known as the Nitrate-Nitrite-Nitric Oxide pathway - is; 'Good' Oral Bacteria are 'Nitrate Reducers' that generate Nitrite as a by-product of converting ingested Nitrate-rich food, known as 'Arginine', which then builds up in our saliva. Once swallowed these Nitrites mix with stomach acid to produce Nitric Oxide – which then enters our blood stream).

If you prefer, here's the science on our Explainer Video:

 

 

                                     (Part of the AMANO 'Core' range - from £11 to £48)

So how can an increased level of Nitric Oxide actually help improve Men's overall sports fitness, recovery and beyond?

Here are 4 ways Nitric Oxide will help improve Men's Health & Wellbeing:

1.Nitric Oxide (NO) improves sexual function 

"Penile erection is a haemodynamic process, involving increased arterial inflow and restricted venous outflow, coordinated with corpus cavernosum smooth muscle relaxation. Nitric oxide (NO) has recently been recognised to play a key role in the physiology of penile erection."

(Cardiovascular Research, Volume 43, Issue 3, August 1999)

Translation: Increasing Nitric Oxide production can improve blood flow to the sex organ and so engorgement and so performance. Beyond the age of 40 over 50% of Men (in the USA) have issues with Erectile Dysfunction (ED).

2. Improve athletic performance and exercise capacity

"It is known that moderate physical exercise can prevent heart disease and many other diseases. This is due to the production of Nitric Oxide (NO). This is why exercise is medicine. However, when people do not exercise, they can develop endothelial dysfunction or loss of NO. When you lose the ability to produce NO, you become exercise intolerant and are unable to maintain any exercise regimen. Restoring NO production will allow the blood vessels to deliver more oxygen and remove waste products to working muscles and improve exercise capacity."

(Nathan Bryan PH.D Blog; Top Ten Reasons Nitric Oxide improves Woman's Health, February 2019)

Translation: Increasing Nitric Oxide production can improve fitness levels.

3. Improves healing and recovery from injury

"Our own resident stem cells are responsible for repairing injured or worn out cells and tissues. Nitric Oxide (NO) is the signal that tells stem cells to mobilise and go to the site of injury and differentiate and repair dysfunctional cells and tissue. If your body can’t make NO, then the body loses the signal to repair itself. Restoring the production of NO will allow for much faster healing and quicker recovery from injury".

(Nathan Bryan PH.D Blog; Top Ten Reasons Nitric Oxide improves Woman's Health, February 2019 )

Translation: Increasing Nitric Oxide production can improve recovery from sports injury and slow the ageing process.

4. Prevent the number one killer, heart disease

"It is crystal clear that maintaining endothelial function and proper Nitric Oxide (NO) production can not only prevent heart disease but reverse and cure existing heart disease. NO prevents the inflammation, oxidative stress and immune dysfunction that occurs in heart disease.”

(Nathan Bryan PH.D Blog; Top Ten Reasons Nitric Oxide improves Woman's Health, February 2019)

Translation: Increasing Nitric Oxide production can improve heart health and prevent the number one killer of Men and Woman!

(Video with kind permission of Dr Nathan Bryan)

It's incredible to think that a simple tongue scrape can help increase your daily Nitric Oxide levels - with all the health benefits outlined above. 
Owning an Italian crafted AMANO Tongue Cleanser is really an investment in your very own Nitric Oxide production plant !

But remember you still need some raw materials.

Dr Nathan Bryan recommends these foods, which are rich in Nitrates:

1. Kale

2. Spinach

3. Rocket/ Arugula

And these are his absolute No No's

Do not use antiseptic mouthwash or fluoride (on a toothbrush to clean the tongue) because these chemicals kill the 'good' oral bacteria that produce Nitric Oxide.

So in summary, follow this simple and inexpensive advice and your performance on the sports field and beyond will Rocket ...

Finally we are grateful to Dr Nathan Bryan for allowing us to reproduce his work and trialling our 100% Austenitic Steel Neoclassic AMANO

We close with his kind endorsement …

"I personally use the AMANO tongue scraper daily and highly recommend it"

        Dr NATHAN BRYAN, Baylor School of Medicine, Texas, USA

Why choose AMANO?

  • Crafted in Italy, the AMANO has been designed to give a superior and visibly effective performance
  • Which will take you less than 5 seconds (really - it's that quick)
  • Research has shown this routine is almost twice as effective as using a toothbrush
  • And with no GAG effect you will feel more relaxed about tongue cleaning as a daily routine

Using an AMANO is very quick and easy ...

Care to visit our SHOP? Click here

And get 15% off our AMANO range with this Code: SCRAPE15%OFF

Footnote 1.
In case you were wondering, the other half of our daily Nitric Oxide needs is made by a process known as, the 'Nitric Oxide synthase pathway'.
Basically this is an enzyme found in our endothelial cells, the cells that line all blood vessels throughout the body, that converts L-Arginine into Nitric Oxide.
Premier League Teams performance are being improved by AMANO™

Amazingly, a swift tongue scrape can really help improve Footballers performance on the pitch.

UPDATE APRIL 2017:
With the Premier League season nearing its climax we thought we would update you on how the teams that have trialled AMANO tongue scrapers are faring.
As the full article goes onto say we have signed confidentiality agreements to prevent us disclosing precisely who we have been working with.
That said with 5 Premier Teams trialling AMANO - and 3 actively giving us feedback we can say this ....
2 Teams actively using AMANO are at the top of the table competing for European slots as I write :)
It seems AMANO Tongue Cleansers reach the parts of sports performance - other approaches simply cannot reach!

 You can visit our SHOP here 

Original article AUGUST 2016

This is no idle claim – we are currently working with 3 Premier League Medical Teams … (and 5 teams have trialled the AMANO in total!)

We aren't claiming a direct cause and affect - that would be highly presumptuous. But 2 Premier League teams actively using AMANO sit at the top section of the table as we write.

And one of those teams specifically requested we supply their new squad players with AMANO Tongue Cleansers in July. And interestingly the Head of Football & Medicine said they had to personally pay for their AMANO's (!) in order to improve 'engagement'.

So what's the background to this?

As we know, a neglected tongue can be a major source for serious oral care issues down the line – and in a game where small things can be the difference between success or failure – every little helps!

A comprehensive clinical dental study by UCL Eastman Dental Institute, which included Premier League Clubs, has shown that 7% of the Footballers tested suffer oral care issues that are so bad - their performance on the pitch is adversely affected.

That means one player in each team is under-performing, due to poor oral care - per game!

That is a staggering statistic with so much to potentially win (and lose).

The British Journal of Sports Medicine reported that 187 players were involved in the clinical study at eight clubs, including Manchester United, West Ham, Swansea, Hull City and Southampton, which showed that nearly four out of 10 had cavities!

Nutrition is one of the primary suspects with frequent consumption of sugary or acidic foods during training potentially accounting for tooth decay and erosion.

Breathing through the mouth, during heavy exercise, can also dry it out so there is less protection from saliva – natures natural ‘cleanser’.

They found 53% had dental erosion, 45% were bothered by the state of their teeth and – amazingly - 7% said it affected their ability to train or play.

The 40% who had tooth decay, compares with 30% of people of a similar age in the general population.

Prof Ian Needleman, one of the researchers, told the BBC;

"There are two main groups - some have a catastrophic effect, they have very severe abscesses that stop them in their tracks and they cannot play or train.

"There'll be others experiencing pain affecting sleeping or sensitivity every time they take a drink.

"At this level of athlete, even small differences can be quite telling."

As an example of this (and this is in the public domain) in 2012 West Ham player, Ravel Morrison was rushed back from a pre-season tour to have SEVEN teeth removed. Yes SEVEN! The mind boggles to think how his performance was impacted whilst he had this level of discomfort raging in his mouth ...

The GOOD NEWS is that AMANO can provide a quick and effective solution.

And that is why we are being taken seriously by Premier League Teams right now.

We received this message of ‘thanks’ from one of the Clubs Head of Football & Medicine for assisting them in their campaign to;

“push the message of optimising oral health in order to potentially improve performance as part of our general athlete education”.

And in case if you are wondering which particular Premier League Teams we are assisting, I’m sorry we have understandably agreed to abide by their confidentiality rules - so we cannot reveal who they are. 

To recap, simply put - the AMANO Tongue Cleanser will effectively remove the post exercise debris and bacteria build up, that will directly lead to bad breath, plaque build-up and that distracting decay.

AMANO has been endorsed by UK and US Dental Professionals and we were featured in the May edition of The British Dental Journal.

At AMANO we also understand that time is of the essence for most Pro Footballers – so to any Footballer/Medical Director reading this, we suggest the following:

1. Try a swift tongue scrape with an AMANO – it will take less than 10 seconds (we promise)

2. There will be no dreaded Gag affect - due to the immaculate design of the AMANO

3. And you will be then able to show your teammates the gunge so visibly removed - that will shock them and you!

That will now allow you to concentrate on your game (and help with any breath issues in the post match celebrations)

Check out our Circle of Dental Despair

We acknowledge, educating Professional Footballers on yet another new health routine is never an easy challenge. That said the summer ‘close season’ is perhaps a good opportunity to introduce the concept of tongue scraping.

We are happy to send sample AMANOs to Medical Directors of Professional Football and Rugby Teams. AND do a short presentation to small groups of players at the Training ground (we can do the ‘lift pitch’ in 90 seconds – so will not take up too much of their time).

And we can also present in French and Spanish if required …

Please contact: Jenny Upson hello@amanotonguecleanser.com

(AMANO is also available in the UK from Selfridges, Harrods, John Bell & Croyden, Planet Organic and D.R. Harris)