One of my Starbuck’s buddies, Roger, recommended years ago that I watch “Mr. Saturday Night” with Billy Crystal http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104928/ If you haven’t seen it, it’s a classic show that deserves more stars… The star of the show is former comedian, Buddy Young, who was famous for building up the joke from the right field, and delivering the punch line from left field — and then would say: “You didn’t even see that coming, now did you?…”
What I’ve come to realize is that strategy is exactly what has shaped the world of nutrition in this country for the last 60+ years. Please, say more about that…
Here are some notable examples of “you didn’t see that coming…”:
- We were told to stop eating saturated fat, but were never told that this would lead to an emphasis on grains >> Insulin Resistance >> Diabetes;
- We were told to stop eating red meat, but were never told that three key components to produce proper levels of energy (Mg-ATP) in the heart are: CoQ10, Carnitine, and D-Ribose => all three found in red meat;
- We were then exposed to rBST milk which created an explosive reaction on the part of consumers, but were never told that GMO foods and ingredients were being incorporated quietly into many of the foods that we ate; and
- We were told to stop eating so much “Salt,” but no one ever told us that doing so would trigger a “Stress!” Hormone, Aldosterone, who’s job is to preserve Sodium in the body, at the expense of Zinc, Potassium and Magnesium.
Disheartening to learn, but it’s a “bait and switch” dynamic that is pervasive in our society.
While reading this morning, my focus began to settle on several articles on this critical “Stress!” Hormone, Aldosterone, and it’s powerful role in affecting the mineral balance and imbalance of the body. Like all hormones, it has a target job and it does it well. Maybe too well given our hyper-sympathetic lifestyle.
I knew of the Low Salt–Aldosterone dynamic, but was surprised to learn that two added mineral shifts caused a release of Aldosterone: 1) excess Calcium and 2) Magnesium deficiency. Does this sound like the Standard American Diet? Low salt, excess Calcium and lack of Maggie — OMg! And the wicked part of this dynamic is that the release of Aldosterone CAUSES Magnesium loss, along with Zinc and Potassium. This may, in fact, explain the growing issue of afibrillation that is fueled by mineral imbalances of Mg and Potassium.
My reason for bringing all this up… One striking observation over the last several years is the number of folks dealing with Adrenal Fatigue, with a decided emphasis on Cortisol control. But it turns that the Adrenal Cortex produces many, many Hormones, but notably Cortisol and Aldosterone, and yet no one ever talks about the latter — despite its damaging effect on our Mg status.
And thus, my mention of the “bet you didn’t see that one coming…”
Our focus has been conditioned to dwell on “Adrenal Fatigue” and excess Cortisol, but it I’m increasingly of the opinion that Hyperaldosteronism may be the sleeper issue… Excess levels of this powerful Hormone are wildly disruptive to the Electrolyte status, and the range of conditions that is attributed to the Hormone run amuk is notable.
And what keeps Aldosterone in check?…
Optimal levels of Magnesium. Period.
So what to do? Well there are many who think I’m a one-trick pony. I’ve not said this before, but I take great offense to that label…
Heck! I’m a two-trick pony! 1) please get your Mg status checked with the Mag RBC blood test, and 2) please take Mo’ Maggie! to deal with the relentless “Stress!” in your body… It’s all laid out here: www.gotmag.org/how-to-restore-magnesium/
A votre sante!
