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1. Why You’re Most Likely Dehydrated
2. THC, Delta 8 and CBD: What Are They? Are They addictive?
3. Uncommon Ways Inflammation Impacts You

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Why You’re Most Likely Dehydrated

Hey, It's Dr. Martin here…

Since I talk a lot about dehydration and how common it is. I want to talk about what it actually means to be dehydrated because dehydration is more than not drinking enough water.

Here's what I mean when I say, "You're dehydrated.”"

You're NOT hydrated with water that's in your blood. You're hydrated when water gets into the cells of your tissues. Water in your blood and water in your cells are two completely DIFFERENT things.

This is why some of you can drink water and STILL be dehydrated. So, when I talk about hydration and dehydration, I'm really talking about CELLULAR hydration and dehydration.

You want sufficient water in your cells. Otherwise, you're dehydrated. Now, the question is How do you make sure your CELLS are HYDRATED?

You need to get enough ELECTROLYTES. Electrolytes are minerals in your body that have many jobs; one is to regulate the amount of water in your body and cells.

Electrolytes act as a taxi that drives water and other essential minerals through the cell walls and into the cell. Without electrolytes, your cells are in trouble. Two electrolytes play a critical role in cellular hydration and unfortunately…Most people are deficient in both.

And when you don't get enough of either of these two electrolytes,
you're dehydrated and can experience any of the following symptoms:

• Headaches
• Dark-colored urine
• Dry skin
• Poor concentration
• Dry mouth
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Sugar Cravings
• Elevated heart rate
• Swollen feet
• Constipation
• Bad breath
• Gut issues
• Pain

What are the two electrolytes a majority of people are critically low in? SODIUM and MAGNESIUM.

Doctors have scared people away from salt. As soon as a person has high blood pressure or high cholesterol the doctor immediately recommends cutting out salt.

Imagine cutting out all the flavor in foods and then struggling with leg cramps, fatigue, and other symptoms of dehydration because if you're not getting enough salt — you're experiencing symptoms of dehydration you just don't realize it.

Doctors forget that high blood pressure is not a salt intake problem.
High blood pressure is a METABOLIC PROBLEM causing salt retention. That's why cutting out salt doesn't lower blood pressure.

To hammer home the importance of salt, let me quickly talk about headaches. This may surprise you but your brain has NO pain receptors. The brain itself doesn't feel pain. So, the ache from a headache isn't coming from your brain.

Most of the time, chronic headaches or migraines are caused by the contraction and expansion of the dura mater surrounding your brain.

Your dura mater is the outer, thick, strong membrane that wraps around your brain. When your dura mater contracts you end up with headaches.

The question now is - Why does the dura mater contract?

If you guessed cellular dehydration…you get a sticker.

If the dura mater cells aren't hydrated enough they contract…and you get a headache. That's why many who have chronic headaches get much better when drinking salt water (electrolytes).
(Of course, there are a lot of other causes of headaches, but dura mater contraction caused by dehydration is COMMON).

It's also why many with metabolic syndrome get headaches. They may be retaining water, they have swollen ankles and legs, but that water is in the blood and not going into the cells.

Now, let's talk about MAGNESIUM.

Magnesium is a common deficiency. In fact, I'd guess that more than 90% of the population is low in magnesium. Magnesium is an essential mineral. Over 300 chemical processes and enzymes rely on magnesium to function.

That's why if you're low in magnesium, you can have everything from muscle cramps, high blood pressure, anxiety, irregular heart rhythms, hormonal problems, insomnia, weak bones, obesity, fatty liver, heart disease, major depression, cancer, and Alzheimer's.

That's quite the list.

You can't even metabolize calcium properly without enough magnesium. When your magnesium is low, calcium accumulates inside your cells.

That's terrible news. It's one reason why studies show blood magnesium levels are SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER in patients with heart disease.

If calcium is getting stuck inside your cells — your blood vessels harden. (One reason magnesium is critical to controlling your blood pressure.) You can see why I talk about magnesium all the time.

Now, there's something else magnesium does that you should know about. But first I want you to know. You can have normal blood magnesium levels — and STILL BE CRITICALLY DEFICIENT in magnesium.

That's because only 1% of all the magnesium in your body is found in your blood. The rest of your magnesium (99% of it) is stored and used elsewhere.

60% of your magnesium is stored in your bones.

20% is stored in muscles.

19% is stored in soft tissues.

The point is that you can have normal blood levels but low cellular magnesium levels and when you have low cellular magnesium…
You can't transport water and other critical nutrients into the cell and you end up being dehydrated.

That's why most people need to take a daily magnesium supplement.

P.S. Most people don't drink enough water. That's a fact.
Imagine what happens when you don't drink enough water
and don't get enough salt. Are they low in magnesium?

It's no wonder so many people are tired all the time.

Read more about Dehydration
Learn more about Electrolytes


THC, Delta 8 and CBD: What Are They? Are They addictive?

As of early 2023, thirty-seven of the United States of America have legalized medical marijuana. There are also nineteen states plus the District of Columbia that have legalized the drug for what is termed “recreational” use.

This means that more than 150 million adult Americans have access to marijuana that is either wide open or not very difficult to acquire. Americans in these thirty-seven states will also see businesses in their cities that either subtly or openly promote the drugs they sell. It is a good time to understand what these different products are, their effects, and which ones are addictive.

Types of Cannabis Products

In your town, you may see signs promoting the sale of THC, Delta-8 or CBD. These names refer to different consumable products of the cannabis plant. Before covering the differences between these products, it’s important to understand a few basic facts about the plant itself.

Cannabis sativa and cannabis indica plants are both used to create consumable products.

Cannabis sativa leaves are thinner than indica leaves. Indica leaves have seven points and sativa leaves have nine.
These plants contain more than 100 cannabinoids or active ingredients. These compounds all have some kind of drug-like effect on the body.

Both sativa and indica types of cannabis plants contain THC, Delta-8 and CBD, but in varying quantities.

The word “marijuana” simply refers to parts or products of the cannabis plant that contain a substantial amount of THC. In use, it is often synonymous with the word cannabis.

THC is an abbreviation for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. This is the major psychoactive component in cannabis, the one most desired by a person who wishes to become intoxicated.

Woman in pain and dizzy - THC effect

Medically, THC has been found helpful for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and for appetite stimulation for a person suffering from HIV or AIDS who is experiencing anorexia. However, THC is also a powerful intoxicant, capable of causing euphoria but also hallucinations, delusions, anxiety, panic, and psychotic episodes.

A person wishing to consume the highest ratio of THC will look for strains of cannabis that have been intentionally cultivated for ultra-high THC content. Smoking dried whole flowers from these plants provides an intoxicating result that can also be addictive.

Also available are high-THC oils for vaping, concentrates for smoking in special devices, all types of edibles and drinks, topical creams, inhalers, and much more. Anyone who consistently consumes high-THC products in any form may become addicted to them.

CBD is cannabidiol, the second-most prevalent cannabinoid in these plants. CBD has some pain-relieving, anti-anxiety, and anti-seizure qualities. CBD is found in salves, gummies, oils, bath salts, and cosmetic products, to mention just a few.

Note: The Cannabis indica plant has a higher ratio of CBD to THC, and the Cannabis sativa plant has a higher ratio of THC to CBD.

Delta-8 is short for delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, another of the cannabinoids. Delta-8 is chemically similar to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol but has a weaker effect on the human body.

The Food and Drug Administration notes that they have received reports of adverse effects from the consumption of delta-8 that include:

  • Hallucinations
  • Vomiting
  • Tremors
  • Anxiety
  • Dizziness
  • Confusion
  • Loss of consciousness.

Also, because the manufacture of delta-8 is not regulated or supervised, those processing hemp plants can use whatever chemicals they choose in the processing and potentially leave contaminants in the final products.

You may see stores offering to sell delta-8 even in states where marijuana is not legal for either medical or recreational use. That’s because delta-8 is made by manufacturers who have found a legal loophole.

Here’s the backstory to the delta-8 loophole.

The 2018 Farm Bill

In 2018, hemp (Cannabis sativa L.—a variety of Cannabis sativa) was legalized as an agricultural crop. Prior to this time, growing hemp had been outlawed along with the cultivation or sale of marijuana. However, hemp has many uses in industry and the THC content of hemp is very low. Finally, hemp’s ban was lifted when the 2018 Farm Bill bill was passed.

Delta-8 drugs

Delta-8 products.
In this variety of cannabis, while there are very small amounts of THC or delta-8, there is enough CBD to be useful. Chemists worked out how to convert these small quantities of CBD into delta-8. Because hemp was no longer banned, those who wished to ride on the coattails of marijuana’s popularity claimed that delta-8 was also legal because delta-8 was derived from hemp, not marijuana.

As a result, you may see stores that offer “delta-8—no medical card required.”

Delta-8 products come in many forms:

  • Oils
  • Smokable leafy products
  • Gummies
  • Softgels
  • Cartridges for vaping
  • Sweets and treats
  • Other Cannabis Compounds, Synthetic and Natural

Because this industry is growing so rapidly, many people are looking for any way they can to claim a piece of this market. In addition to manipulating the small quantity of cannabinoids in hemp (a plant that is more readily available than restricted high-THC marijuana plants), there is a new partially-synthetic cannabinoid being created from hemp’s cannabinoids. It is called THC-0. It has psychoactive effects and, for the moment, is considered legal because it is a product of hemp.

The U.S. Department of Justice recently reported on a case where consumption of a combination of delta-8, THC-0 and a form of CBD called CBD-di-0 resulted in visual and auditory hallucinations that triggered criminal actions resulting in arrest.

No one yet has the full information on the effects of these drugs, which ones can be harmful and which ones are relatively harmless. Cannabinoids that turn out to be harmful may one day be regulated.

It is also possible to find CBG and CBN on the market. CBG is short for cannabigerol and CBN is short for cannabinol. Both are found in tiny trace amounts in cannabis plants. Both are non-psychoactive. Again, the easy availability of hemp enables some people to obtain enough hemp to refine out the tiny quantity of CBG and CBN. These cannabinoids can then be turned into oils or edibles for sale.

This isn’t even the end of the list. Cannabis is a huge industry. Chemists and growers are going to continue to work on producing and marketing more cannabinoids from the cannabis plant to take advantage of the profits available.

Two Other Drugs You May See: Kratom and Kava

Kratom leaves

  • Kratom. Image courtesy of nccih.nih.gov
  • Smoke shops that sell CBD and delta-8 may also offer kratom and kava.
  • Kratom

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, kratom is the name of a tropical tree in Asia. The consumption of its leaves is either stimulating or sedating, depending on how much is consumed. High doses can cause psychotic episodes and addiction.

In the U.S., kratom is consumed in tea or the leaves are crushed and smoked or placed in capsules. Kratom has been banned by six states, but it is not a federally controlled substance.

Kava Kava

Kava is an extract or drink derived from the Piper methysticumis plant. It is sold as a dietary supplement for anxiety, insomnia or other stressful conditions. Its use, however, has been associated with severe liver injury.

The cannabis industry will likely continue growing and developing for several years. It would be wise for parents to try to monitor the types of cannabis products developed for sale and their effects so they can identify potentially hazardous products in their children’s possessions.

Sources:

National Institutes of Health. “Cannabis (Marijuana) and Cannabinoids: What You Need To Know.” NIH, 2019. NIH.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “BD: What You Need to Know.” CDC, 2022. CDC.
Food and Drug Administration. “5 Things to Know about Delta-8 Tetrahydrocannabinol – Delta-8 THC.” FDA, 2022. FDA.
Food and Drug Administration. “Hemp Production and the 2018 Farm Bill.” FDA, 2019. FDA.
Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice. “Delta(8)-THC, THC-O Acetates and CBD-di-O Acetate: Emerging Synthetic Cannabinoids Found in Commercially Sold Plant Material and Gummy Edibles.” DOJ, 2022. DOJ.
Drug Enforcement Administration. “Kratom.” DEA, 2020. DEA.
National Institutes of Health. “Kava.” NIH, 2020. NIH.
Cannabis Information CBD Delta-8 Kava Kratom marijuana legalization


Uncommon Ways Inflammation Impacts You

Inflammation is a natural response of the body's immune system to protect against harmful external factors, such as pathogens or injury. While inflammation is a necessary and beneficial process in many cases, chronic or excessive inflammation can have various unwelcome effects on the body.

We are all very familiar with inflammation when it comes to injury, the gut, and joints, but there are also many ways it manifests unexpectedly.

Here are some uncommon ways inflammation can impact you:

Cardiovascular System
Chronic inflammation has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), heart disease, and stroke. Inflammation can contribute to the formation of plaques in blood vessels and disrupt normal blood flow.

"Mental Health"
Research suggests that inflammation may play a role in the development of certain mental health conditions, as it effects the gut.

Metabolism and Weight Regulation
Studies have shown that chronic low-grade inflammation can interfere with metabolic processes and contribute to the development of insulin resistance, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Again the gut health is important.

Skin Disorders
Certain skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis, result from inflammation of the skin as it is an autoimmune reaction. Inflammation can lead to redness, itching, and the formation of rashes or plaques (i.e., psoriasis).

Respiratory System
Inflammatory lung diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) involve chronic inflammation of the airways again due to an autoimmune response. Inflammation can cause breathing difficulties, wheezing, and coughing.

So, what can you do?

It's important to note that the effects of inflammation can vary depending on the person and the specific condition. For whichever way inflammation may manifest with you, there are many things you can do to counteract its effects. Eating a diet low in sugar and simple carbohydrates, staying active, and intermittent fasting help, but sometimes additional support is needed.

Why your Sodium to Potassium Ratio Is Important

If you eat a lot of processed foods, which contain processed table salt, your sodium to potassium ratio is likely out of balance.

It's generally recommended that you consume five times more potassium than sodium, but most Americans get the opposite ratio, eating two times more sodium than potassium

Consuming more potassium is just as important for limiting chronic disease risk factors as limiting sodium (table salt).

A New England Journal of Medicine study found those with the lowest risk for heart problems or death from any cause were consuming three to six grams of sodium a day — far more than U.S. daily recommended limits.

Unprocessed, natural salt, such as sea salt and Himalayan salt, is higher in potassium than table salt.

Salt has long been vilified as a risk factor for heart, kidney and other chronic diseases. And the medical dogma to limit your salt intake to protect your health runs deep. But it's not that simple. There are different types of salt — some healthy, some not. Your body requires healthy salt to function properly. If you get too little, you'll increase your risk of heart problems, not lower it.

The other part of the equation is potassium, a naturally occurring mineral your body uses as an electrolyte. It, too, is vital for optimal health, and studies clearly show that having the correct balance of potassium to sodium is far more important to health than lowering salt alone.

Why You Should Focus on Increasing Potassium

It's generally recommended that you consume five times more potassium than sodium, but most Americans get the opposite ratio, eating two times more sodium than potassium. But realistically, it's best to get a minimum threshold of about 5 grams of potassium from fresh fruits and vegetables and then your sodium intake becomes less of an issue.

While conventional health care practitioners may suggest you remedy this by limiting salt intake, especially when it comes to lowering the risk of health conditions like high blood pressure, focusing on increasing potassium is key. Research shows an association between higher potassium intake and lower blood pressure, regardless of sodium intake.

Further, when University of Southern California researchers reviewed 70 studies, they found consuming more potassium is just as important for limiting chronic disease risk factors as limiting sodium. Potassium works in your body to relax artery walls, keep your muscles from cramping and lower your blood pressure.

"Along with exercise, consuming a surfeit of dietary K+ [potassium] is a good strategy, since our physiology evolved and was optimized to deal with high-K+–low-Na+ [sodium] intake, often referred to as a Paleolithic diet," the team explained. As for how it works

"When dietary potassium intake is elevated, the kidneys — composed of millions of small tubes working together — shift fluid to the area near the end of the tubes where potassium secretes into the urine. This shift reduces the amount of sodium and water that's reabsorbed into the body. In this way, high potassium diet signals the body to reduce the amount of sodium that is retained.

This circular pattern regulates the levels of both minerals in the body, which in turn helps lower blood pressure. Higher intake and excretion of potassium has also been found to slow the progression of kidney and heart disease."

Even the American Heart Association explains, "Foods with potassium can help control blood pressure by blunting the effects of sodium. The more potassium you eat, the more sodium you process out of the body."

I personally get all my potassium from food and not supplements. I take in about 5 grams of potassium per day with primary sources being watermelon, boiled red potatoes, oranges and orange juice. My sodium intake is about the same at 5 grams (half from salt and half from baking soda) so am not convinced on the general recommendation to take twice as much potassium as sodium as long as you are getting about 5 grams of potassium from your food.

The Type of Salt Matters

When considering what type of salt to eat, keep in mind that it's not all created equal. Salt provides two essential elements — sodium and chloride. In the U.S., the majority of salt that's consumed comes from processed foods. This processed salt contains 97.5% sodium chloride, with about 39% sodium.

The rest is made of chemical additives, such as moisture absorbents, anticaking agents, such as sodium aluminosilicate, and, often, iodine.8 Unprocessed, natural salt, such as sea salt and Himalayan salt, contains about 84% sodium chloride9 with about 37% sodium. The remaining 16% is composed of trace minerals such as silicon, phosphorus and vanadium.

Further, natural salt is higher in potassium than processed salt. Compared to iodized white table salt, which contains 151.68 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of potassium, pink Himalayan salt contains 2,085.71 mg/kg.

Further, as explained in the book, "The Ultimate Age-Defying Plan," "In particular, Himalayan salt is much higher in potassium and lower in sodium compared to other salts. Himalayan salt contains 0.28% potassium, compared to 0.16% in Celtic salt and 0.09% in regular table salt." So it's possible to improve your sodium to potassium ratio just by switching the type of salt you eat — from table salt to natural varieties such as pink Himalayan.

Why Low-Salt Advice Can Be Harmful

From my recent review of Ray Peat's work, it is clear that low sodium intake is associated with a decreased breakdown of serotonin, just like an SSRI drug. You might be thinking that was a good thing, but you would be mistaken as serotonin is not the "happy hormone" it is promoted to be but a toxic neurotransmitter when levels reach high concentrations.

Studies suggest that excess serotonin, rather than a dopamine deficiency is likely a major contributor to Parkinson's. Dopamine is the highly beneficial neurotransmitter, and it has an inverse correlation with serotonin. So when its levels are low, it tends to increase serotonin which is likely the greater contribution to the disease.

James DiNicolantonio, Pharm.D., author of "The Salt Fix," explains that the rise in high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes that began in the early 1900s parallels a reduction in salt intake. Further, he explains that your body strives to maintain an optimal level of sodium regardless of your intake.

Your body uses magnesium and calcium levels to control your sodium level. As your intake declines your body begins to pull sodium from the bone, and at the same time pulls out magnesium and calcium. As DiNicolantonio explained in Missouri Medicine, low-salt diets are therefore likely implicated in osteoporosis

"There is a large fraction of body sodium deposited in the bone, suggesting that bone might serve as a sodium reservoir which is mobilized during homeostatic stress. Salt also has a crucial role in maintaining positive magnesium and calcium balance.

If a reduction in serum sodium occurs, the bone may be stripped of sodium (as well as magnesium and calcium) to maintain normal serum sodium levels. Indeed, a low-salt diet has been shown to lead to negative calcium and magnesium balance which could result in osteoporosis. Thus, a low-salt diet may cause osteoporosis by stripping the bones of sodium, calcium, and magnesium."

Does a Low-Salt Diet Worsen Heart Risks?

Meanwhile, according to DiNicolantonio, your blood pressure may indeed go down when you reduce your salt intake. The problem is that your total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio, which is a much better predictor of heart disease than low-density lipoprotein (LDL), is worsened right along with it. Triglycerides14 and insulin are also increased.

So, overall, your heart disease risk increases rather than decreases, even though your blood pressure readings appear better. What's worse, salt deficiency also increases your chances of developing insulin resistance, because one of the ways in which your body preserves salt is by raising your insulin level.

Higher insulin helps your kidneys retain more salt. Insulin resistance, in turn, is a hallmark of not only heart disease but most chronic diseases. DiNicolantonio and colleagues explained in the American Journal of Medicine:

"There is evidence that a low sodium diet may lead to a worse cardiovascular prognosis in patients with cardiometabolic risk and established cardiovascular disease. Low sodium diets may adversely affect insulin resistance, serum lipids, and neurohormonal pathways, leading to increases in the incidence of new cardiometabolic disease, the severity of existing cardiometabolic disease, and greater cardiovascular and all-cause mortality.

Although a high sodium intake also may be deleterious, there is good reason to believe that sodium intake is regulated within such a tight physiologic range that there is little risk to leaving sodium intake to inherent biology as opposed to likely futile attempts at conscious control."

Further, rather than focusing on reducing salt intake, researchers suggested that using self-monitoring tools to gauge sodium to potassium ratio via urine is a practical strategy for achieving healthier blood pressure levels.

"Reducing the Na/K ratio is essential for preventing hypertension and CVDs [cardiovascular diseases] prior to clinical onset …

The individual estimate of the 24-h urinary Na/K ratio that can be obtained by the repeated casual urine Na/K ratio may be useful in detecting individuals who need an easy dietary lifestyle modification during the prevention stage. For the treatment stage, self-monitoring devices may increase patient awareness of their dietary level and help to maintain appropriate levels."

How Much Salt Do You Need?

DiNicolantonio recommends eating about 3,500 mg of sodium daily, which is far more than the American Heart Association's recommended maximum limit of 2,300 mg a day, and their "ideal limit" of less than 1,500 mg a day.

It's also revealing that a New England Journal of Medicine study found those with the lowest risk for heart problems or death from any cause were consuming three to six grams of sodium a day — far more than U.S. daily recommended limits.

If you're unsure how much sodium or potassium you're consuming, use cronometer.com/mercola, a nutrient tracker that allows you to enter the foods you eat and calculate the sodium to potassium ratio automatically.

However, your body also has a built-in "salt thermostat" that basically tells you how much you need by regulating your craving for salt. So, learn to listen to your body and remember that if you sweat profusely, either through exercise or sauna use, for example, or drink caffeinated beverages, you automatically will need more than usual.

A number of medical conditions can also increase sodium loss or prevent your body from absorbing salt well, such as inflammatory bowel diseases, sleep apnea, adrenal deficiency, bariatric surgery, kidney diseases, hypothyroidism and celiac disease. So, if you have any of these, you may need a bit more salt in your diet to compensate.

All of that said, there are some salt-sensitive subpopulations that may need to limit their salt intake to 2,300 mg per day.
This includes those with:

  • Endocrine disorders
  • High aldosterone levels
  • Cushing's syndrome
  • Elevated cortisol
  • Liddle syndrome, a rare condition affecting about 1 in 1 million individuals, causing them to retain too much salt. If treated with amiloride, salt intake probably does not need to be restricted

Three Steps to a Better Sodium to Potassium Ratio

So, rather than focusing on cutting back on salt, most people are better served by switching to natural salt and limiting intake of processed foods. In short, to optimize your sodium to potassium ratio for better health, focus on the following three steps:

1. Eliminate all processed foods, which are very high in processed salt and low in potassium and other essential nutrients

2. Eat a diet of whole, unprocessed foods, ideally organically and locally-grown to ensure optimal nutrient content. This type of diet will naturally provide much larger amounts of potassium in relation to sodium. Examples of potassium-rich foods include:

  • Watermelon
  • Orange juice
  • Boiled red potatoes
  • Avocado
  • Bananas
  • Cantaloupe
  • Oranges
  • Coconut water
  • Tomatoes
  • Yogurt
  • Winter squash
  • Wild-caught salmon

3. When using added salt, use a natural salt such as Himalayan salt

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