Question 1

If your microflora is low, how do you increase it?

Accepted Answer

A couple of thoughts to consider: one, minimize or eliminate the use of antiseptic based chlorhexidine mouthwash and two, increase the frequency of consuming nitrate-rich plant foods such as arugula, beets, and other leafy greens.  The friendly bacteria containing nitrate-reductase will increase with such diets. You should see over a short period of time, ie, days, an increase in activity as shown with MyFitStrip.  I hope that helps and stay well.

Question 2

I know what it is claimed to indirectly infer, but what does the indicator directly indicate?

Accepted Answer

Good question and thanks for asking.  The direct and short answer is it measures the relatively stable metabolites of nitric oxide, nitrate (diet) and nitrite (probiotics).   As you probably know, nitric oxide is very short lived in the body, however, it's metabolites or oxidized forms, nitrate and nitrite, are accepted biomarkers or surrogate markers of nitric oxide.   Regarding the color scale, the first roll of color, referred to as, 'diet', tells you that your saliva gland has concentrated the plant-derived nitrate, hence, what you ate earlier in the day had ample nitrate, and the second roll of color, referred to as, 'probiotics' tells you that the friendly bacteria on the back of your tongue converted nitrate from the saliva gland to nitrite, which is a required and necessary metabolite for the subsequent formation of nitric oxide.  This nitrite, which is formed in the mouth by the microflora, goes to the stomach and is either reduced further to nitric oxide and/or absorbed into your blood stream and either stored in various cells or elicits a nitric oxide mediated effect.  Practically speaking, if you do not see red-pink colored pad after 90 min to 2 hrs after eating a 'nitric oxide-rich meal' such as a leafy green-beet salad, then your diet was low in the required nitrate and/or your microflora in the mouth is deficient in converting nitrate to nitrite, a required precursor for nitric oxide production.  Causes for low 'diet' is inadequate serving or in the case of supplements, it simply does not have or is low in nitrate.  And causes for low 'probiotic' can be do to harsh mouthwashes or recent exposure to antibiotic; as the later, the microflora that reduces nitrate to nitrite will re-populate the tongue within days after no longer using harsh mouth washes and/or antibiotics.  Simply return to your plant-based diet of leafy greens... with dark berries which actually help.  The key is the leafy green foods, such as arugula, and beets.   I hope this help and if you would like more info on the clinical and scientific papers please either email us direct at info - myfitstrip - com or see the list of reference we provide on the our site.  Again, please feel free to reach out for follow questions.  Thanks for supporting our initiative and stay well.  MyFitStrip

Nitric Oxide Test Strip - Track Both Prebiotic Nitrate and Biomarker for Nitric Oxide by MyFitStrip - 25 Self Care Saliva Test Strip

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