Ep:375 ELECTROLYTES - OVERHYPED or NECESSARY?

[@MyohoIsMe]

I was hospitalized with BP 234/134, doctors were at a loss, because they could not find anything wrong with me, but the BP IV was not lowering the BP. 3 days later, a doctor came in and told me that if they could not lower my BP, I would not leave the hospital alive. I called my cardiologist and asked him for a copy of my Blood work, and when I received it, I found that my blood lacked magnesium, sodium and chlorides. I am not a doctor, but I know that this means that my kidneys were failing because of dehydration. I called my cardiologist again, and he came right a way, and ordered to remove the bp medicine and replace with electrolytes. I was home after 3 hours, with a regular BP. I now drink water that contains the salt rich in essential minerals, and I am fine.

[@stephaniecatena7966]

Wow!

[@lyntaylor4131]

Same thing happened to me plus tachycardia and arythmia. Very unwell. My potassium was very low. I still have to make sure to take potassium and feel much better

[@MyohoIsMe]

@@lyntaylor4131 I upped my potassium to 4000 a day now, if I go below, I feel it right away. I have to make sure to have all my electrolytes in balance.

[@PaulaWarren-iy8ih]

Very amazing! So happy for you and very good to know. Thank you for sharing!

[@MrGoatlady]

As a farmer I can tell you we are only as healthy as the animals we eat. Soils are depleted, some areas in the world and my country are severely deficient in some minerals like selenium, but many others. I have to supplement my livestock with good quality loose minerals free choice every day to keep them healthy. If I didn't they would be prone to disease, heavy parasite loads, birthing issues, retained placentas, offspring born with weakness, and a general unheathy appearance, even death can occur from a lack or imbalance of some minerals. I was a bit taken back by the comment that some of our symptoms relieved by ingesting electrolytes could be in our head. Well it is in my head, not because I'm deceived by my brain but because we have been given the ability to discern what we need. And yes I'm one of those who is relieved with extra salt, and it works well for adrenals too. I will say we all need to continue to educate ourselves and while not everything on the internet is good, so much of it is so keep going. As for minerals to little or to much can be dangerous so information about the food you are sourcing if that's possible, knowing what deficiencies are in your area are things to look at. One person from one part of the world probably cannot tell us what we need but our wonderfully made bodies often let us know.

[@patriciad28]

Well said! Thank you!

[@NansGlobalKitchen]

What type of foods

[@sharonanddickfewkes5477]

I do agree with you. So many natural things are being depleted.

[@nancysmith-baker1813]

Thankyou , I've been hearing this all over . I almost deleted my minerals , not eating right . I take mineral supplements .and I do eat beef but .

[@avarysse5782]

@@sharonanddickfewkes5477 All planned out - read up on fertilizers

[@mclifer]

Over the last 5 years the people starting keto and moving on to carnivore have been stumbling around in the dark. From my experience there are only a few doctors that are worth following. Dr. Cywes and Dr. Berry are those guys.

[@hawaiingirlbeth]

The "coaches" have become grifters in my opinion. I unsubbed from all of them. Dr. Berry, Dr. Cywes, Chaffee, Kiltz is okay. Dr. Westman.

[@jenjabba6210]

Dr Baker!

[@marcdanieltheriault3955]

Dr Cywes, Dr Berry, Dr Chaffee, Dr Kiltz…. BUT NEVER DR SALADINO

[@laurahuston2187]

​@@hawaiingirlbeth add Lustig with the book Metabolical

[@zamfirtoth6441]

Almost all carnivore coaches (lol) sell LMNT. Most of these same "coaches" seem to have content quotas, meaning they make videos even if they have nothing interesting to say.....which is MOST of them. The clickbait has gotten to the point where they are as cringy as vegans. It's getting quite easy to see which ones are in it for the clicks. I've quit most, except actual scientists.

[@Damnthematrix]

That depends. Grazing animals can only get the trace elements in their meat if they're in the food they eat. Modern farm soils are heavily depleted after decades of chemical spraying etc. some places like Australia where I live have terrible soils... I bought a farm years ago to secure our food supply and I've spent a lot of money improving the soil, but here's a story for you. My neighbour moved his cows onto a spare paddock behind our property. A few months later one of them died, which is quite a burden on a small farmer. A few weeks later, another one died... So he decided he needed to know what was going on and had a 'post mortem' done on this last dead cow. It turned out, DRUM ROLL..... It was seriously magnesium deficient! So he had to spend thousands of dollars adding Mg to the cows' pastures.... Obviously if you were eating that meat you wouldn't have gotten much Mg from it. Soil is the source of all our nutrients, and that's why so many people are electrolyte deficient.

[@MrGoatlady]

Yes, I have worked in the farming industry all my life, they can drop dead from magnesium decency especially in the the spring, the fresh grass is high in phosphorus and imbalance of phosphorus to magnesium is what causes the mortality in bovines, especially cows. So we used to sell blocks of magnesium to put out in the spring.

[@dieselbourbon3728]

I also raise our own beef and noticed I don't get lower leg cramps when eating only our own beef. Cramps pop back up when my diet is predominantly store bought beef. Our pastures were fallow for over 40 years before putting cows on them. I'll probably get a soil sample soon.

[@hp-cs7mx]

Look up Percy’s powder, made in NZ currently, developed in Myrtleford Victoria, available in Australia. Very good all around formula, take each day when deficient eg on first diagnosis of illness, then maintain with dose a few times a week. Does no harm, story behind it online.

[@joevans5713]

@@dieselbourbon3728 I would love to know the results 😊

[@JimWooddell]

New methods on regenerative methods are changing soil depletion. And, saving farmers thousands a year buying supplementation and feed they won't need.

[@faithwins7713]

It’s EXHAUSTING everyone has their viewpoint ! I just do what is right for my body, mind and soul !

[@regalnut86]

my word, you are not kidding!

[@PaulaWarren-iy8ih]

This is so true

[@juliebutler8241]

Only blood tests can tell for sure

[@sunwm2003]

High fat diet and magnesium keep me pooping everyday. I haven’t had natural bowel movements for years before magnesium and carnivore. Carnivore saved my life! Feeling good everyday!

[@notaras1985]

Which form

[@sunwm2003]

@@notaras1985 nature made 400mg sold at Costco

[@terrydevaney8601]

​@@notaras1985Magnesium Glycine helps to sleep Magnesium melate for pain and energy

[@avarysse5782]

@@sunwm2003 Be sure to look into the fillers companies use - stearates, cellulose, nano's (palmitate), silicon dioxides etc - you probably take the citrate or oxide? They're both helpful for constip. When I ate more meat fat it helped with mine but I use Mag. glycinate.

[@ravenwilde3337]

What kind of magnesium please? Thanks 😊

[@sportysbusiness]

5 year carnivore here. Don't forget, we used to get electrolytes from our food (but soils are now deplete) AND water (but we now drink from a tap, not a stream). So yes, I add mineral drops to my water. Without it, within a few days I start to get leg cramps.

[@neri1086]

Would you mind sharing which drops you take and how many? Would be greatly appreciated as I am also suffering from leg cramps.

[@notaras1985]

Haven't met any drops of minerals that don't taste horrible

[@avarysse5782]

@@notaras1985 Ya but who cares. You put all the bad tasting stuff in one glass at teh same time & chug it down (plug nose if you have to) - followed by a chaser of something & you're all done. We have to get over the demand that everything taste fantastic, good health doesn't work that way

[@skinnydee1886]

​@@avarysse5782 Exactly!

[@peacewithHim]

The advice for constipation was so helpful. I'm 68 and have been eating a keto based lifestyle for 2 years. I've become more in line with the carnivore lifestyle recently to stop the muscle wasting due to my neglect of adequate protein intake for years. I have 5 autoimmune conditions; 2 blood related, 2 gut related and 1 thyroid related. Keto and now carnivore have not only helped me reduce my weight and size but improved my bloodwork proving I am on the right track. You have given me insight, education and direction to improve my metabolic health. I am so grateful for your continued care and concern for your fellow humans. Thank you.

[@aurorasinclair9471]

I‘ve been taking magnesium glycinate for ten years, almost as long as I‘ve been eating low carb-high fat. I just can’t get enough magnesium from my diet. A quarter dose a day keeps the cramps away. Every time I try to stop taking it, they come back. Also, don’t overlook the use of electrolytes in exercise. Sometimes adding salt to your food just ain’t enough.

[@simplechatelaine]

I have struggled with electrolytes since I first tried keto 15 years ago because didn't realize I needed to add salt when doing low carb. I've since been carnivore off and on but the electrolyte imbalance kept me craving carbs incessantly. Recently I started eating more protein (1g per lb of ideal body weight) and leaner meats so I didn't have to eat huge volumes of meat and that absolutely killed the cravings for sweets. Thank God, finally! I have struggled with binge eating and it "cured" that. I've dropped 10 lbs over the last month just making sure I get enough protein and eat low carb. I eat whether I'm hungry or not because it's about getting to the number of grams of protein not cutting calories, however, I am definitely eating less calories but it sure doesn't feel like it. Still struggling with the electrolytes however. I have had spikes in both glucose and blood pressure and believe one is causing the other but not sure which. I did several experiments over time and discovered if I take magnesium everyday without fail, I got rid of the migraines that have plagued me for decades. I then experimented eating pinto beans (yes, I know, high in carbs) and cooked with pork, between the two, they dropped my blood pressure into the normal range, but only if I eat them consistently. They don't appear to spike my blood sugar, I'm assuming because of the fiber. I am on two blood pressure meds and it's still not keeping my BP down but if I eat the beans, it drops like a stone. I'm chalking this up to the increase in potassium. I got the HBP after trying all these low carb diets, never had it before and I smoked back in the day, been quit 16 years and I also ate like a lumberjack. Just yesterday, I had a blood pressure spike, seemingly out of the blue (I can feel it in my ears when it happens, check it and sure enough it's up), it's been as high as 174/110 and so immediately made a pot of pinto beans and put 8 oz of salt pork in them and pressure cooked them. I ate THREE bowls of them last night for dinner, couldn't get enough of them. This morning I went to the dr and my blood pressure was 127/80. I've NEVER had a blood pressure reading that low with or without BP meds because I have white coat syndrome (because I know it's going to be high) and I was floored. I believe it dropped this low this time because there was so much salt in the beans with the amount of salt pork I used. I was worried I'd put too much in it but I still couldn't taste the salt so had to add a little more! Crazy! This morning my waking blood sugar was 115. Not good but much better than it has been (and pretty good for having had so many beans for dinner), it was running close to 140 at one point before I started eating more protein. I have NOT been diagnosed with diabetes and they didn't diagnose me with it today when I went either. I was doing OMAD and eating all the protein in one sitting (that's why I went leaner because it's hard to get in if the volume of food is a lot) but after listening to Dr Cywes's video on the protein spiking blood sugar I decided maybe I should just spread it out over 3 meals and check my blood sugar and just keep reducing the protein amount per meal until my blood sugar is not spiking so high to let me know how much protein my body can tolerate in a meal. I had downloaded and was using Marty Kendall's Data Driven Fasting app to help me determine when it's appropriate to eat (you let your blood sugar drop to a specific trigger point the app calculates) and it's working but it's so true that WHAT you break your fast with is more important than how long you fast. I had uric acid issues in the past while eating carnivore and recently heard allulose will reduce uric acid levels so wanted to try it to see if it might help bring my blood sugar down because maybe the uric acid levels being high is contributing to the higher blood sugar numbers and subsequently the high blood pressure spikes. I am at my wits end but I'm not giving up. I am making progress, it's just a long road of trial and error and process of elimination. I will make a list and prioritize the different experiments I've mentioned here and try them one by one to keep working towards sorting it out. I just hope when I finally arrive at the root cause I'll be able to eat relatively normally instead of looking like someone that has an eating disorder. I'll eat whatever I need to, to be healthy, I just honestly don't know what that is at this point. Sometimes I feel like I was healthier when I drank, smoked, cursed and chased men...lol I gave it all up but the cursing and now I'm falling apart...lol

[@GregariousAntithesis]

My labs, blood glucose have been doing great on Paleo and my weight has been stable. The cost of organic strawberries have gone back down so i bought some and i notice when i eat higher glycemic carbs my weight drops over night and today a new thing my BP systolic number was higher than normal. I have the mthfr gene mutation so it seems to be at the core of all this weird shite.

[@stevemiller1517]

My friend's mother called them electric lights. I could not correct it, real dumb.

[@GregariousAntithesis]

@@stevemiller1517 my grand father called condominiums condoms.

[@simplechatelaine]

@@stevemiller1517 lol

[@Gigi-uy3wt]

Not to be mean but do you think he read all that

[@LHarrolle]

I'm not a fan of supplements but electrolytes are a must for me. On the days I forget to take magnesium I wake up with horrible leg and foot cramping multiple times in the night. Dietary isn't enough for me.

[@janetf9076]

When I get occasional leg cramps at night, I take 2 tablespoons of yellow mustard and the cramps dissipate in a few minutes.

[@highlyfavored57]

There is a product called Stop Leg and Foot Cramps In About One Minute- old Amish formula: ACV, Ginger and Garlic juice. It works! Got it at local Health food store.

[@ktfrisbee46]

Dill pickle juice (from canned dill pickles) works well for a quick fix. All you need is a small amount.

[@avarysse5782]

In my case, I have nutrition absorbption problems due to leakygut, you can feel anemic pretty quickly!

[@jimsemler8832]

Same exact situation I am in. I use at least 4 LMNT packets a day. Sometimes 6. Any less and my calves cramp up throughout the night.

[@sdragnut]

Thank You Doc!!! Giving us the straight scoop. Thank You!!

[@timothydavis2568]

Im an athlete and just bought some bulk electrolytes for my upcoming competition. My mixture will be 10 parts salt, 5 parts potassium, and 2 parts magnesium

[@reccocon3442]

Most natural form possible. Not made in lab. Its not strictly "NPK" for humans; need microminerals along as a matrix to be bio- available and bioactive.

[@LizB55]

I agree about an imbalance when taking electrolytes. When I have experimented and taken too much potassium in comparison to sodium I get severe heart ‘flutters’. Even when I’m taking way less than the recommended daily allowance. Now I eat avocados and meat and salt and occasionally a dose of magnesium glycinate. Histamines in the avocado a problem at times so I’ll deal with that I’m sure. An experiment in listening to the body and connecting the dots physically and emotionally for me. No cut and dried one size fits all but these basic guidelines are so helpful to challenge the popular narrative. Thanks Doc!

[@MonicaOverlock]

My cardiologist has me on a diuretic with a potassium supplement. I keep wondering what this vibration in my chest is. Could be the answer.

[@sunshinekis8583]

I just got my answer why after eating my breakfast eggs bacon with half avocado I feel allergies. That's AVOCADO! I had no clue that this fruit contains histamine. Thank you 😊❤

[@tb54321]

Just so you know, bacon is high histamine too. The longer the meat has been left out, or cured, the more histamine it collects. I had to cut bacon out of my diet. I’m basically beef, butter, eggs

[@ktfrisbee46]

Thank you for the histamine tip about bacon. I could not figure out where that was coming from. I have been eating pork belly off and on and feel so much better when I do. I wonder if it is in the smoking process with the bacon?

[@avarysse5782]

@@tb54321 I finally figured out why my nose was running all the time, I baked chkn thighs & kept them in the fridge for when I was starvng & wouldn't eat carbs instead. They'd be there 5-6days & now I know about leftovers/histamines. I also gain weight quickly on avo's so I don't buy them much

[@sherylburt7863]

I get severe leg and neck cramps if I forget to take magnesium. I also have had heart palpitations for a couple of years. Benign per cardiologist. The ONLY thing that stops them is supplementing with potassium. I cannot get anywhere near the recommended daily values of electrolytes from the meat I eat. I would love to stop supplementing...

[@w8losspros]

Benign 😂

[@NuclearCarnivore]

Reintroduce avocados?

[@gustavoguimaraeszardo1459]

I am carnivore about 2.5 years, but I still drinking coffee everyday. With coffee, I need to supplement magnesium to stop leg cramps, without coffee (I done this about 3 month straight) I don’t. Another thing that help me a lot was cut the all refined salt from my diet. I only use Redmond salt.

[@simplechatelaine]

That makes sense. I believe if you get too much or too little of an electrolyte the symptoms are the same.

[@dogcrazy25]

What kind of magnesium do you take?

[@markiangooley]

Magnesium citrate brine is a great laxative, yes. Used to be cheap and almost always available at Dollar Tree for $1 or later $1.25, but now it’s at least twice that cost.

[@MrRabiddogg]

glad you mentioned working out and electrolytes. The only time I take them is when I work out. I use a water mix powder with a sea salt base.

[@SHlELDS]

This is exactly the subject I needed been think about making adjustments to my supplement regime

[@stevopowell]

I’m a carnivore and can literally workout or hike all day with just water and no electrolytes. I just salt my meat. I do take electrolytes (unflavored) before I workout if I’m also several days into a water fast, which is rare.

[@mauriglisson6954]

Yes, Thank you!

[@priscillaallen5276]

My mum exchanged everyday salt for potassium chloride 'Health Salt'. She hated the taste but did it because she was told to. She was 73 and in good shape. She had no health issues.The only medication she was on was a mild tranquilizer. She died of a brain aneurysm a few weeks later.

[@sarah9044]

I'm so sorry for your loss 💔 I hope he will do a deep dive into this topic. I recently bought a potassium chloride supplement for myself. I'll stop taking it, I didn't expect brain aneurysm as a side effect!

[@DeadZergling]

@@sarah9044 Not going to say it was or wasn't the potassium chloride that caused the brain aneurysm, but it sounds a lot from what OP said that they outright replaced salt with potassium, which sounds like a terrible idea to cut out all salt which is meant to balance out potassium.

[@sarah9044]

@@DeadZergling Thank you for clarifying!

[@ianstuart5660]

​@@DeadZergling Yes, that would cause a probable imbalance!

[@simplechatelaine]

So sorry for your loss. There are articles out there indicating the "experts" really don't know how much we need but they have decided it is a RATIO between potassium and sodium. That being said, I would think if you don't get enough potassium and you get too much sodium you could either reduce the sodium to be in line with the amount of potassium you're consuming (in whatever the ratio should be) OR you increase your potassium to be in line with the amount of sodium you're consuming. I suspect cardiologists know this but they know people don't like vegetables so they tell people to reduce their salt intake instead of increasing their potassium intake. The reason I think this approach probably doesn't work long term is because people reduce their salt intake too much and now the ratio is off in the opposite direction and it causes the same type of symptoms. This is why I think a lot of people go on HBP meds and they don't work so the dr just keeps upping the dosage. A lot of people that have heart attacks don't have blocked arteries either. It wouldn't surprise me at all that your mom's aneurysm was caused from the electrolyte imbalance and the adjustment in them causing the ratio to be more off than it was previously. And all because we just don't know what it SHOULD be. I firmly believe you have to go based on how you feel and you have to try one thing at a time to rule things out that just don't work. It's unfortunate that we have to stumble around in the dark to try and figure it out and no matter what we seem to do we can't attain health.

[@fatbikejamie]

That said - I have some condition where my ankles crack loudly. No pain, just like a finger knuckle snap but that you can hear in the next room. That is completely gone after taking daily: taurine, magnesium bi-somethingorother and creatine. I haven't bothered trying to determine which of the (best guess is the magnesium) but if I stop taking them it returns and when I start again it stops. This is a condition I've had for at least 4 decades until recently.

[@dennisward43]

I remember my jaw cracking at times. Since going keto/carnivore it has gone. May be coincidental. Who knows?

[@cindytitus7214]

I have atrial fibrillation. I have to take eliquis daily and I have had one ablation surgery 9 years ago and many times a week prior to a low-carb keto carnivore diet. I would go into atrial fib and atrial flutter. Since following a carnivore or ketogenic diet and eating fully my macros, I still find that depending on what my heart is doing on a moment-to-moment basis, I need to work with electrolytes throughout the day to keep my heart in rhythm and in a strong steady rate. I salt my food and still end up needing supplemental electrolytes or else sometimes I will even wake up in the middle of the night in atrial fibrillation. My body is very sensitive, especially my electrical system in my heart and at least for me the supplements are necessary

[@simplechatelaine]

Makes sense that we all have to be our own doctor to a point because most doctors doctor based of reference ranges that have been determined by a sick population. It's crazy! No one knows your body better than you.

[@11mareck]

I am in a similar situation. I am now taking at least 10 grams of potassium powder and no episodes of afib at all.

[@collettesnoozy7950]

Our farm soils are depleted and we aren’t getting as much minerals as we think. When I am doing keto strictly and urinating all day I get headaches and my heart races. When I drink electrolytes (LMNT) it stops. I only drink them on walking and work out days.

[@martinbecklen6486]

Fantastic presentation, Dr. Cywes. Most informative, and cautionary.

[@SuccessfulKetoLifestyle]

Ketovore here and over the last 28 days my ketones have averaged 2.3 (morning numbers). Being in consistent ketosis has depleted my electrolytes as well as working outside in the garden in the heat. I am tracking electrolytes in Cronometer and have determined that I need AT LEAST 4,600 mg of potassium per day to not get leg cramps in the night time. I must supplement because I cannot get the amount of potassium I need from food alone. I would need: 26oz of Salmon or 7 Avocados or 3.75 pounds of 80/20 ground beef (Source: Cronometer) I’d really like to discuss this with you in person (where are you speaking this year? Will miss our convos in Omaha) because our keto group is not able to eat that much protein or carbs on a daily basis doing high fat keto, high fat ketovore or high fat carnivore. We have found we MUST supplement and often recommend NoSalt or NuSalt as a reasonably priced potassium supplement.

[@christinasmith8937]

Dr Cywes thank you so much for addressing this. It’s completely off to say I am eating the perfect diet and then say also I am taking this and this to supplement with. If your diet is perfect you wouldn’t have to. Before there was a Walgreens or Amazon people relied on food only. In the form of fermentation and seasonal foods. I feel the same about hormone replacement. It’s just not necessary.

[@billtravis100]

High and tight haircut. Looking good Doc!

[@robertcywes2966]

Weight loss🙂

[@MyohoIsMe]

Two years ago I was hospitalized with extremely dangerous high blood pressure. I had taken my blood pressure medicine, as I have CHF diagnosed in 2002. I was in the hospital with a BP of 234/134 and the doctors were a

[@RC-qf3mp]

I agree about getting electrolytes from food - but there’s the issue of what to do in hot, humid weather, and/or engaged in strenuous activity, all of which make you sweat a lot. See Gear Skeptic’s videos on electrolytes for hikers, who need electrolytes as a matter of life or death. It’s the best I’ve seen on the topic. I take Redmond’s with potassium and eat tons of pistachios and pumpkins seeds.

[@simplechatelaine]

Thanks for the video recommentations!

[@ebigarella]

I do a lot of road cycling (reason: cause I like it, not for weight or health - well, it's mental health in a way). I find I doo need to supplement minerals cause the sweat. I appreciate it's a specific case but worth noting. I do Mag-Citrate and Potassium.

[@kathleensanderson3082]

While probably most people on carnivore don't really need the electrolytes, I've found that I do, especially magnesium. It's because a couple of years ago, I had a pinched nerve in my back which left part of my left leg numb. Ever since that happened, my left foot and calf have been really prone to charley horse cramps. I would have them any time I wasn't careful how I moved my foot, so multiple times a day, sometimes lasting for several minutes. Using 'lite' salt (salt and potassium) helped somewhat, but once I started taking magnesium, the charley horses stopped almost completely. That's a 'special situation,' I know, but just goes to show that one size doesn't necessarily fit all.

[@simplechatelaine]

A lot of people don't realize this but magnesium is a natural blood thinner but when you go to the dr now, they want you to take a baby aspirin. All these people on Warfarin and Coumadin and aspirin when what the all probably need is magnesium. Problem is once they get you on the meds they specifically tell you NOT to take magnesium because it will thin your blood out too much. Is that crazy or what?!

[@tb54321]

I need them on carnivore! Especially salt. In the morning if I don’t have some electrolytes I nearly pass out. And I put tons of salt on my food (yes, good quality salt). Despite electrolyte supplements and eating salt, my bloodwork still showed low sodium and electrolyte levels. So k guess i need them. I recently started taking organ meat supplements so hopefully that helps too.

[@matthewcarr4907]

Nice haircut Rob!

[@robertcywes2966]

Slimming

[@JimWooddell]

Hi Dr Rob. 5 yr ketogenic, 3 yr carnivore here. I never fell for much of this electrolyte stuff but I do use a little from time to time. Last blood test showed my calcium was at the bottom of the reference range, and my magnesium was high! Wife will be calling you soon to get set up and we sent you a little something! Cheers!

[@lvr2704]

I discovered my cramps are caused by dehydration.

[@cynthiastratton1034]

Regardless of whether "it's in my head" or not, I feel better drinking one a day... do I need it to survive... probably not. Do I want to feel better than "ok" YES!

[@mickeymichaels1298]

I'm glad you made this video. I'd always heard that we need much more potassium than sodium, which is why I find it ridiculous to see so many videos sponsored by the stupidly named LMNT, which has five times more sodium than potassium. At that point, just salt your food!

[@IDNHANTU2day]

YT always warns me about words in my comments. I really don't know what they are talking about because they don't tell me what words and what comments. I have hearing problems so I use the subtitles to understand Dr. Cywes and others . What is wrong with the YT nannies that block the word co (crap i'm afraid to write the rest of this virus because I'll get another warning) vid from the subtitles? I can't wait for the day when someday we get another platform that does not do this. We have a serious problem in America with these nannies. Anyone have a suggestion for another site where I can get great uncensored information?

[@darkpatches]

COVID. You definitely need a nanny. COVID.

[@IDNHANTU2day]

@@darkpatches in the video, covid does not appear in the sub titles. It displays the word "Co" with no vid. I don't need a nanny. Like I stated, I am hard of hearing even with my hearing aids. It would help if they didn't mess with the subtitles when watching life saving videos.

[@darkpatches]

@@IDNHANTU2day That's true. But he only said it once and YT text-to-speech often gets words wrong. It esp doesn't like Cywes South African accent, translating it more often to "covert." But I just checked a recent John Campbell interview (someone much more off the deep end about Covid) and the TTS had no trouble parsing "Covid." There's no conspiracy here. I was just showing you that you could type it in the comments (twice!) without the black helicopters appearing.

[@IDNHANTU2day]

@@darkpatches it is also possible to respond to comments without being sarcastic. Helicopters? WTF does that have to do with what we are talking about?

[@darkpatches]

@@IDNHANTU2day I was responding to you leaping to unsubstantiated conclusions about why YT doesn't perfectly translate some speech and being unjustifiably fearly to type the entire word COVID. It's a technological problem, not a nanny state/company problem. You seemed fearful of something that was nothing about anything. Like people who fear the black helicopters. I am sympathetic about your hearing issues. I will be your technological nanny; it's nothing to do with YT censoring anybody (though they do certainly do that, as is their right as a private company). It's just an error and one that fortunately was easily figured out by the context of what Cywes was saying. I sometimes turn on subtitles when I can't understand something in English and find that the YT couldn't figure it out either! :-)

[@jodycourt]

How do you feel about taking supplemental Lugol's Iodine? Especially if we are not using iodized salt? Thanks Doc.

[@emcasting2603]

I use Redmonds and Celtic sea salt for its ability to have water absorb on cell level due to the magnesium it has. Thanks

[@planner722]

During COVID I finalized my view of my PCP and started going to an Integrative Health (help the body heal itself) on the side. They ran tons of bloodwork and cont. every few months in order to adjust my supplements. My problem has been my Crohn’s does not allow me to absorb a lot of nutrients. I am now on a strict keto (5 weeks) amd will be looking forward to the next set of labs to see if I can eliminate a few more supplements. This practice (Integrated health) has been rapidly growing in my area. I guess people realize just how full of crap the medical industry is.

[@planner722]

I had an argument with my PCP during COVID that I should not get the vaccine (I never did) do to all my medical issues and lack of testing on any one with all my issues. She cont. sighting medical guidance- I asked her to use the 8 years of college and studying to make a real evaluation of me! Not to mention she has wanted to put me on statins every time she runs bloodwork- I have a borderline high levels that have remained constant (+/- 10 points) for nearly 20 years.

[@planner722]

BTW, with every bit of bloodwork at my Integrated Health they have modified my supplements. In fact I am taking half of what I was taking. Since going to them I have never felt better.

[@suewilkinsonmorrobayca6590]

You are the best! Thank you

[@marklanders630]

Salt is required for me. I ran 10 k in the desert yesterday. Today I spent three hours in the ocean. Have I absorbed anything? I don't know, but I do feel better when I get lots of salt, well, what I call a lot might not be that much to others.

[@michaelbonato7470]

The Ocean is negative Ion, you WILL feel GOOD as your body gets bombarded with positive Ions, as your body makes full contact with the atmosphere. 🙏🥰

[@scoobydadog246]

Yes you have! It is no mystery why people have always gone to the 'sea' to feel better. I only use real sea salt , not 'earth' salt like Redmonds (which sponsors him hence the fear porn re: sea salt). Best way to bring the sea to me. I put a little in all my drinking water. Also a little anti-bacterial effect.

[@lynnwilliams5432]

I think it is different for malabsorption patients especially magnesium. I feel better. I take to stop night leg cramps. Even Dr Lustig takes calcium for his leg cramps.

[@motorfan09]

Thanks for the information

[@StephenCampbell-yf7zp]

Thank you, doc ! Of all the carnivore advice that I get off of KZbin You seem to make the most sense.

[@JacquesTreehorn]

Alka-Seltzer Gold is a good cheap electrolyte. The Gold version does not have any aspirin and it is inexpensive because it is not marketed as an electrolyte. Anhydrous citric acid 1000 mg, Potassium bicarbonate 344 mg, Sodium bicarbonate (heat-treated) 1050 mg

[@Joy-y31]

Thanks Doctor.

[@mattfisano]

Wow, what a kick in the balls. I feel I need a scoop of electrolytes in my pre-workout water and sip during workout(32oz bottle of water). After my workout, I am soaked in sweat, by the time I drive home and start drying, you can see a white ring from sweat stain as it dries. I don’t know if I would mast as long without that scoop in my water.

[@simplechatelaine]

All you can do is experiment to figure out what you do an don't need. If you quit it and don't change anything else and you start having symptoms, you know you need it.

[@CoryHobbs2178]

Check out Seasonello with added iodine as well. It's got some of the best lab results. Redmonds is also great. Also, I don't get sick anymore since going carnivore. I stopped my zinc, D3 and Vit C supps and haven't been sick in 6 months. Normally I would have been sick with my wife and kids 3-4 times. Also don't get sunburned anymore, or at least can handle the sun 10 times longer

[@JenniferStormyWeather]

Les is more!! Truth!❤

[@mackie3875]

You are awesome doc

[@elizabethsiebel2807]

Sounds like good, seasonal vegetables, some protein, home cooked. Oh, and no super processed or takeaway food. 😊

[@cotrutvitaly6470]

I start having problems after taking elocrolits + some extra potassium sodium iodine. I was feeling how some of my organs are in pain. But I am not sure was from this or it was because of the higher stress start having. But definitely some of the pain went away after quitting electrolytes and quitting the tablet of Potassium sodium iodine.

[@pattiemcd8790]

Thank you so very much for this information ❤

[@grietjehuggan]

Thank You so much. : )

[@melissal3383]

ABSOLUTELY had to supplement with Potassium. Massive leg cramps without it. I almost failed low carb, keto, carnivore until I found “Trace Minerals” electrolyte powder. It has 1,000 mg per little dose plus mixed well. I’ve always loved chocolate LMNT in my coffee. But that had no impact on my night leg cramps. Also tried other electrolytes including Mg but ONLY extra Potassium helped. My personal experience only.

[@MyFatAdaptedLife]

It's starting to get really warm here in the California central valley; and I run 100 miles a week on only ruminants, water & salt. So, keeping my electrolytes up is important due to the workload.

[@fransiereinhardt3343]

Thank you doctor for the good information. This is a question i have as i am on the carnivore diet for 10 weeks now.

[@dogcrazy25]

I get severe leg cramps and was advised to take magnesium or even pickle juice. I say no to pickle juice. Im just not consistent with magnesium.

[@Tatman1212]

I heard pickle juice is the best cure for leg cramps

[@gillianaddams6733]

I am always suspicious of anything touted on the internet and in this case we need to remember we are depriving “Big Food” of quite a sizeable portion of the market. We are not eating vast quantities of their junk food and it’s their mission to sell us as much as they can possibly push on us, of course they are going to try to capture this market again. When I go to the supermarket now I visit the meat aisle and the dairy aisle do me and my daughter and add bread and a few veg and fruit for my husband and granddaughter. I buy a good quality salt.

[@billyhw5492]

It's what plants crave.

[@greenlight679]

Brawndo!

[@infinitespiritsongs9722]

I’m Not Sure.

[@user295295]

As endorsed by President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho.

[@notaras1985]

​@@infinitespiritsongs9722its a quote from the futuristic comedy movie idiocracy

[@infinitespiritsongs9722]

@@notaras1985 Of course, I know! That is why I said “Not Sure”!!! Maybe you need to watch Idiocracy again to understand why I said it.

[@nancyfahey7518]

I spent several years with the magnesium debacle. 4 years keto then 2 years dirty keto and I became very ill. I finally discovered carnivore, on day 57, and I'm putting my trust in what im learning. I stopped the magnesium and my cramping is so minimum it stops before I react to it.

[@stephwessel7346]

Hi Dr. Cywes. What types of symptoms would over-supplementation of magnesium glycinate potentially cause?

[@simplechatelaine]

Obviously, not Dr. Cywes, but I would think if you got severe diarrhea that would be the easiest way to tell you need to back off. You might have it in the beginning of taking it but if it gets worse or doesn't improve seems like you'd just want to back off on it. You could even try taking it every other day if once a day is too much. Also make note of any symptoms you have that you didn't have before and it being the only thing you changed would tell you it is likely the cause. Good luck!

[@robertcywes2966]

Diarrhea and leg cramps

[@robertcywes2966]

Best is to check rbc mg levels w bloodwork

[@taopaipaitjq3306]

Como dijo el Chapulin " Lo sospeche desde el principio "🤣

[@orpedsesama]

I have tried it, without electrolytes supplements, no cramps after i avoid too much water within half an hour before and 1.5 hour after big meal of only beef

[@lucyheart8033]

What foods does a Keto or Carnivore eat to get enough magnesium?

[@4StonesHandcraft]

My experience- Not taking magnesium every day= heart arrhythmias. Taking magnesium every day = no arrhythmias. Say what you like.

[@dogcrazy25]

Which magnesium do you take and how much?

[@4StonesHandcraft]

⁠ Life Extension Neuro-Mag, Magnesium L-Threonate Powder. I take a little less than their recommended amount. My arrhythmias have been checked by a cardiologist and determined to be “Nothing to be concerned about”. They were just very annoying. I think my Mg was low because I have been taking Prevacid for way too long. Trying to taper off that.

[@4StonesHandcraft]

I also use Redmond salt.

[@lr1732]

He clearly said to take it and if it works keep taking it. Surely some people need it. 🙂

[@adelinekeys6582]

I take magnesium glycinate every day for my arrhythmia, which they say is due to my graves disease. I still have the palpitations and arrhythmia.

[@juliesaadwellness]

Have you read Dr. Brownstein’s iodine book? There might be some insights in there that could help.

[@bbujic]

I love you and listen to all you have to say. But, here ... After my wife and I spent months on keto, she never complained that any supplement was needed. I am the opposite. If I do not take 2500mg of potassium and about 6-700mg of magnesium daily, my heart beats crazy, and muscle cramps (especially during the night) are unbearable. I tried to lower daily doses of K and Mg, but that did not work.

[@simplechatelaine]

Exactly! It's different, I think, for everyone. You have to figure it out by trial and error. No one knows your body better than you. The difference is those of us that are here actually pay attention to how we feel where as most people don't even realize what they're putting in their mouths are probably the single most reason they're sick.

[@rpellicer]

Hi Doc Cywes. In the context of gastric bypass surgery (BPD/DS) would your opinion be different? Whereas some folks get leg cramps at night, I get whole body cramps - arms, back, legs... Often my arm and back muscles twitch, and one arm in particular will suddenly cramp really bad if in a curled position; I have to use my other arm to straighten it out.

[@SilverJ56]

3:29----- "In the time of Chimpanzees, I was a Monkey..." (Beck, 1994) 😂 Thanks, Dr. Cywes!

[@JeffSanfordJr]

7-10 grams potassium doesn't sound right - the usual recommendation is 4700 mg, and even that is difficult to achieve without eating massive amounts of spinach and potatoes.

[@ianstuart5660]

Exactly, that's way overdone!

[@immodsr9348]

i need supplements to even hit 1 gram

[@trixieknits]

Spinach and potatoes equal oxalates which I’m trying to avoid.

[@ianstuart5660]

@trixieknits Many of us are, and for good reason! Best wishes sticking with your plan! For myself, chocolate is the big obstacle!

[@Midwest374]

The look he gave when he mentioned magnesium Taurate got me looking at my bottle LoL 🤣

[@GregariousAntithesis]

I will tell you why whole food is lacking in vitamins and minerals, because of our mono crop agriculture. Our soil is completely depleted of the nutrients. It even effects the animals especially being feed grain. K and NaCl a pinch in my am coffee. Mg gly, Mg cit, Zn, B12, evening drink including Spirulina, ginger, 1/4 lemon and lime. I buy all in bulk. Supplements B9 methyl folate, D3/K2. The Mg and K were critical i ended up in the ER with extreme anxiety heart palpitations, with low blood pressure and terrible muscle cramping twice and ended up being those minerals. Now all my labs are on the money. My blood pressure spot on, no muscle cramps and no more anxiety. I eat a whole food paleo diet and never had these issues eating a garbage diet only after giving up the garbage going whole food paleo.

[@cherylreed4377]

Wow 😮

[@simplechatelaine]

Please find my comment in this thread. Same experience as you. It's ridiculous how you end up in the ER and then have a 300 lb doctor tell you how you don't need to be doing "fad diets" but how's that healthcare recommended diet working out for them? They aren't exactly the picture of health, ya know?

[@GregariousAntithesis]

@@simplechatelaine consider drinking a lot more water. I think it is definitely part of it for myself.

[@joebray8276]

Electrolytes helped me over the transition

[@DianeBeckCoaching]

So you would add electrolytes after you exercise every day ? You said that at the end. So you would also replace lots salts not with more salt on food but with an electrolyte drink?

[@TazErrant]

Yes that got me too! I was just settling into the idea of 'great I only need salt' until electrolytes after exercise were mentioned very quickly at the end.

[@alexr6114]

I get leg cramps if I do not take potassium gluconate tablets. I also salt my food with potassium chloride.

[@Cacheola]

Not to mention, most ingredients in supps are from china/overseas. I'm down to a quality whey and an occasional multivitamin made in USA from whole foods

[@rredding]

I prepare my own Electrolyte. Potassium acetate, Magnesium ascorbate and - chloride, Himalaya salt, iodine/iodide from Lugols, Boron from sodium tetraborate, a bit nitrite (40 mg) and a tiny dash of lithium from the chloride salt. Selenium from two Brazil nuts per day, chromium and zinc/copper from capsules. Boron saved me from arthritis and potassium made my blood pressure drop to nice levels. Acetate is in vinegar (the much praised ACV) but in a nicer form. The nitrite/ascorbate returns NO in my body. Iodine is required, and my intake is 1000 mcg/day. Lithium in low dose (

[@jonathanlivingston7358]

Question If soils are depleted do we also need trace minerals?

[@MissSadara]

I salt the bajeezes (that is a word 😂) out of my food. I love salt. But, I was having foot cramps like crazy. Could not sleep through the night without getting cramps. I started taking an electrolyte and the cramps went away. I admit, I do not use redmonds. This video might encourage me to give it a try. Been carnivore for two years.

[@lr1732]

i have some regular & consistent PVC's. I have a good diet (high fat animal keto) and am curious if I need some magnesium and or potassium. Eat a variety of meats and seafood. I also consume a bit of raw milk. I have been using Maldon sea salt. Absolutely delicious. The best I have ever had. The magnesium and potassium I worry about. I prefer to get it from food. Trying to ramp it up but still no where near the RDA (which I am sure is BS). That seems impossible on a high fat carnivore diet. I also have mitral valve prolapse so this could be it also. I know they are common but would rathe not have them. 😞

[@trixieknits]

Okay, I hear ya. One question. What about soil depletion and all that jazz? If the beef I eat (best I can afford) isn’t full of what I need?

[@barkeater7867]

i get your reservations, but when full gas keto my heart gets fluttery without salt and potasium.

[@vince1229]

How did they come upon the 4700 mg RDA for potassium?

[@HuFlungDung2]

Easy. It's the square root of 22,090,000 ;)

[@Teresa-xq5ut]

Is Himalayan Chef pink Himalayan Salt a good brand?

[@TopgunB]

Magnesium Glycinate helps lower blood pressure. . True or False?

[@DynamicBailey]

It hasn’t lowered mine. It’s still crazy high.

[@simplechatelaine]

Hasn't lowered mine either, however, Dr Berg had a video that indicated that if you have a potassium deficiency (that can also cause high blood pressure) you should take magnesium because it will help you hold onto potassium. You may or may not have a magnesium deficiency but if you have high blood pressure it could be caused from low magnesium, low potassium or high potassium (and this last one could be caused from not getting enough salt). Dr. Berg says you should get 1 tsp minimum of salt a day which is about 2000 mg of sodium. Dr Cywes says minimum of 3000 mg of sodium so you may want to keep track for a week and just see what your average is. People that eat whole food diets don't get near enough salt in my opinion because we're not used to adding salt to everything.

[@GctechIndustries]

Dr David Duarte from Academia Unani has a great was information on the matter , according to his research , there is not a single drop of pure water in the body the intracellular fluid and blood have a concentration of 6 gram per liter of Sodium Chloride which make it the most abundant electrolyte in the body, so he says all the fluid we ingest must be Isotonic meaning the sodium chloride must match that of our internal fluid 6g/liter so there is not any disruption of that concentration is quite long but very interesting. I been following his system which is primarily meat based and little to no carbs and been only drinking water with salt and lime for the past 4 years, have never taken any of the other social media “influencers” hyped electrolytes as we get this from meat and egg, as Dr Carb mention it creates an unbalance too much Cations which can lead to other issues mainly kidney stones, anions and cations must have the correct ratio.

[@Jay-h9d9h]

I take no added electrolytes or salts and do great. When I add I do poorly.

[@Terrierized]

You definitely need more sodium in sub tropical climates More water= more salt :)

[@robertcywes2966]

Drink less water

[@Terrierized]

@@robertcywes2966 If you're sweating profusely?

[@it5190]

The problem is not people wanting to pop pills. I don’t want to take any. The carnivore diet started giving me horrible muscle twitching and cramps. I put salt on my food. So tell me what’s wrong?

[@sunshinekis8583]

Me too😊

[@cherylreed4377]

I get cramps in my feet the last 2 years I've gone low carb ? So I take redmond relyte or lmnt ,I have low sodium and have had for years but have high bp controlled with 3 meds. 11 years ago, I lost 45 pounds and have never conquered my high bp? I normally stay under 10 carbs now and do eat avocados some i also take mg biglysinate🤷‍♂️

[@simplechatelaine]

Could be potassium and/or magnesium. I didn't have issues with HBP until I started low carb. Please see my comment on this thread. Dr. Berry says if you have twitching and cramps at night it's magnesium, during the day it's potassium. Dr. Berg says you must fix a magnesium deficiency before you can fix a potassium deficiency. I agree with Dr Cywes, it's best through food but you could try supplements just to figure out which one(s) you need and then figure out where to get them via food.

[@it5190]

Thanks for the input. I’m not trying to nitpick and o appreciate these guys but I think sometimes it gets confusing because some of them will start to go down that rabbit hole of discovering why you have symptoms on carnivore and then someone else will come along and say no no it’s simple. Just eat right and you don’t need pills.

[@rafinsirchemistrytutorial1703]

Celtic sea salt

[@Nuvinci88]

It’s because all water has been de mineralized through municipal filtration

[@karlkrassnitzer6819]

I train a lot endurance and ad no salt to my food. eat no processed food. Ad no electrolites. Why do I have absolute no negative effect. The opposite I feel so better and that for long time. I do not understand the hype of electrolites.

[@af5825]

Fibromyalgia originates in the central nervous system.

[@jonathanlivingston7358]

18:00 7-10g of potassium? I think that’s wrong. Please let’s check those numbers. And by the way what are you going to eat to get 7-10g of potassium??? You can’t without supplements. How did ancestors did it? They didn’t! Great video btw

[@Terrierized]

And to think, plastic was only invented last century..?!

[@sharonbice7490]

I drink pickle juice for electrolytes.

[@kevintappminville195]

Personally. I MUST use several grams of redmond's AND LoSalt Iodised every day, on my meat and in my water. And if i take less than 1g of magnesium bisglycinate a day. I get to bed, my hearth statt pounding, i'm itchy and twitchy and get angry at nothing... I NEED magnesium. For real! I can't even lower the dose for a day!