Vitamin E is a generic term that encompasses synthetic to natural, single isomer to multi-isomer, to el cheapo useful stuff like the ones find in multi-vitamins like tocopherol acetate.
Milk and sugar, custard with a minimum of egg (only
natural vanilla for flavor), eggs, meat, and sweet ripe orange juice, are
the easy things to digest. Even small amounts of plant material can cause
inflammation for some people".
egg shell powder is essentially calcium carbonate (+ useful nutrients). We need P to absorb Ca. But not at a meal with HD meat (acid pH 3-4).
I won't take Ca supplement if my acid-base balance is fine (K Mg Ca) and P in the lines.
I target 850 mg Ca. When I'm under the target like today (450 mg), I add phospho'cal 1.6 g, + 1 half dose Mg bisglycinate to reach my level (+/ 420 mg Mg) (1/2 of 3 g) + 1 big dose potassium bicarbonate (3.2 g).
So, no need to be over 550 mg Ca (like the hunter-gatherer tribes in the African savannah.
I do / proceed like the reed: Bend (flexibility) but I do not break 😉
I've only gotten weird gut issues with progesterone when taking 30mg+ topical in ethanol per day. And even then, it sorts itself out within 4 to 6 hours.
Small doses <12mg/day or so don't have this effect on me.
I've been observing my stools. They look rather pale and I may not be forming stools with the help of bile. And I have skin itching, and this could be from using Emeramide to detox lead. I suspect it's because the lack of bile is keeping the lead from being excreted thru the fecal route, and it is using my skin as an alternate route for excretion. Perhaps the urinary route can handle only so much.
You talked about the negative effects of darkness.
So, I was wondering. If someone is a night owl and he spends his night time with a good incandescent light turned on, drinking and eating some sugary stuff, calcium, sodium etc - would the negative effects of darkness be diminished in any way?
RP: Yes, even intermittent bright light can reduce the damage.
I've overdone thyroid before and the nerve-damage type symptoms will go away and you will recover.
Some thiamine, niacinamide, and a couple months of decent eating and rest and you should be back to normal.
@happyhanneke ok . I see. Then maybe some brewers’ yeast sprinkled on morning cereal and or in soup salad or stews will help add needed b vitamins in a naturally concentrated and tasty way. It can also add flavor microwaved popcorn. I like the solgar brand.
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@Mauritio so, I actually have one version of that, and tried that in camphosal, and I couldn't tell what disolved or didn't, as it also has niacinamide in it... I didn't see any significant improvement in my tongue, but it could've been due to the small amount I used as I was nervous about it actually working before I used all my camphosal (alternatively, could camphosal expire after 8 months after the date on the bottle?)...
I wonder if "cuprous nicotinic acid" dissolves in camphosal, just like regular copper.
This means that stimulating synthesis of CoA and CoA-Ac will strongly increase histone acetylation. Which should be a complement (or beginner's alternative) to inhibiting histone deacetylation (HDACi).
decreased acetylation of these proteins is associated with an impaired DNA damage response, decreased locomotor function and decreased survival. Decreased protein acetylation and the concurrent phenotypes are partly rescued by pantethine and HDAC inhibitors
Wrt to cancer there actually seems to be some specific merit to inhibiting CoA availability in lung and breast cancers, where the SMVT appears significantly upregulated, effectively supplying the tumorous cells with increased supplies of biotin (and pantothenic acid), promoting cell survival and proliferation (which we would like to see more of in non-tumorous but of course not in tumorous tissues).
@DakotaWorrell You will never, ever be able to "figure this out". We all have different diet histories, activity levels, etc.
I think that as long as you're staying well under known toxic doses, you feel good, and you have some degree of balance between nutrients that are known to interact (ex. vitamin d, k,a; phosphorous:calcium, protein:carbs), that's about the best you can do.
@PrinceTrebata yes I remember ray saying that. I also recall that he said a small amount of progesterone combined with a little dhea (for example 8mg p4 with one mg dhea) would have a similar effect as pregnenolone would have:
@Chud
the dentist suspected the infection had started 2 months ago which was a time when I was suffering from a build-up of the effects of chronic stress and inflammation. Cascara basically fixed my digestive issues and so I'll try that again along with carrot salad. one thing I am concerned about is the antibiotic treatment worsening gut health in some way. One thing I have noticed on the antibiotics is a very bad histamine response. I already had an issue with this and cyproheptadine makes it better but hasn't fixed the root cause. I suspect impaired liver function and lack of bowel movements, endotoxin as you mentioned is implicated in this. Read that Ray peat recommended taking sugar with amoxicillin to someone who had similar reaction as it is an anti-histamine. I'll try everything you mentioned, I imagine a lot of it will be important in maintaining a lack of any bacteria exposure to the gums that were affected once done with the antibiotics
Consider that “worsening gut health“ might be that the amox standard dosage, if that’s what you’re taking, is too high/too toxic.
I sampled the kindle version. It is indeed worth buying and learning from. While it may be somewhat flawed in its ideas on pumps, it still has a lot of empirical data to back up its claims on the K/Na relationship.
It may just be the answer (or if not a key piece to solving the puzzle) to my 2 decade long quest to lower my blood pressure naturally.
I am reminded of Dr. William Kelley, a dentist who invented the metabolic typing diet, which for many years before discovering Peat I relied to improve my metabolism, with success. He relied on empirical evidence but his basis was not as solid as Peat's, as he explained that people take to food differently depending on their metabolic type, and that the metabolic is largely dependent on the parasympathetic and symphatetic responses which vary according to metabolic types. I held on to these ideas until I encountered Ray Peat's ideas and found Peats's ideas more coherent while still finding more connecting dots in Peat's ideas than those of William Kelley's. Kelley's is very empirically based, and Ray Peat goes further by explaining the biochemical connection to what basically couldn't explain beyond empiricism.
I liken Rogers using pumps to explain away his observations to Kelley's use of parasympathetic/sympathetic activity to explain his take on metabolism. Both may need more discovery which the passage of time and effort by real scientific approaches eventually bridges, and for people like Ray Peat to connect and put into a more coherent whole of understanding.
Following is Peat's persona in the Delphi persona explaining potassium sufficiency as helpful in lowering blood pressure:
Increasing your potassium intake to meet or exceed the RDA of 4,700 mg could indeed have a significant impact on lowering your blood pressure, Michael, especially when combined with other pro-metabolic lifestyle changes. Potassium plays a central role in regulating blood pressure by balancing sodium levels, relaxing blood vessels, and supporting kidney function. Let’s explore how this works and what you can do.
Potassium and Blood Pressure
Sodium-Potassium Balance: Potassium works in opposition to sodium to regulate fluid balance and blood pressure. While sodium is essential for maintaining blood volume and metabolic function, an imbalance—too much sodium relative to potassium—can contribute to hypertension. Increasing potassium intake helps the kidneys excrete excess sodium, reducing blood pressure [1][6].
Vascular Relaxation: Potassium directly relaxes the walls of blood vessels, improving their flexibility (compliance) and reducing vascular stiffness, which is often a factor in hypertension, especially with aging [8].
Kidney Function: Potassium supports healthy kidney function by reducing the activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), a hormonal system that can drive hypertension when overactive. Sodium restriction, ironically, can worsen this system, while adequate potassium helps to regulate it [7][8].
Lifestyle Changes to Support Blood Pressure Reduction
Increase Potassium-Rich Foods: Focus on potassium-dense, metabolically supportive foods:
Fruits: Bananas, papaya, cantaloupe, and oranges are excellent sources.
Dairy: Milk and cheese provide potassium while also supplying calcium, which is critical for blood pressure regulation.
Coconut Water: A great source of potassium, though moderation is key to avoid excess phosphate.
Cooked Greens: Spinach, kale, or chard are rich in potassium and magnesium, both of which support vascular health.
Maintain Adequate Sodium: Contrary to conventional advice, restricting sodium can worsen blood pressure by activating stress systems like RAAS and increasing vascular stiffness. Adequate sodium intake, paired with sufficient potassium, helps maintain blood volume and metabolic rate while preventing the maladaptive stress responses associated with low sodium [6][7].
Magnesium and Calcium: Magnesium acts synergistically with potassium to relax blood vessels and prevent spasms, while calcium helps regulate vascular tone and counteracts the effects of phosphate and parathyroid hormone (PTH) on blood pressure [1][4]. A diet rich in milk, cheese, and cooked greens can provide these minerals in balance.
Thyroid Support: Hypothyroidism can contribute to hypertension by increasing vascular resistance and reducing metabolic rate. Supporting thyroid function with adequate protein, carbohydrates, and thyroid-friendly nutrients like vitamin A and selenium can help normalize blood pressure over time [5].
Reduce Stress Hormones: Chronic stress elevates cortisol and adrenaline, which can drive hypertension. Ensuring stable blood sugar with frequent meals that include protein, carbohydrates, and fat can help reduce stress hormone production. Avoiding excessive caffeine and ensuring adequate salt intake are also important.
Potential Impact on Blood Pressure
The degree to which increasing potassium and making these lifestyle changes will lower your blood pressure depends on the underlying causes of your hypertension. If your high blood pressure is primarily driven by factors like low potassium, high stress hormones, or thyroid dysfunction, these changes could lead to significant improvements. In some cases, dietary and lifestyle adjustments alone can normalize blood pressure without the need for medication.
Practical Steps
Track your potassium intake to ensure you’re consistently meeting or exceeding the RDA of 4,700 mg. Apps or food diaries can help with this.
Pair potassium-rich foods with adequate sodium and calcium to maintain mineral balance.
Monitor your blood pressure regularly to observe how these changes affect it over time.
Let me know if you’d like help designing a specific meal plan or have other questions about managing blood pressure!
UPDATE: After remembering how good I felt within that last 6 months, I decided to give famotidine (PepcidAC) a try. Within about 1.5 hours my symptoms of worry, rumination, anxiety and fear were gone.
I don't know what the mechanism of action is, but I'm assuming it's either the blockage of the H2 receptor or the reduction of serotonin. It's good to feel human again.
