I learned about pink Himalayan salt when my daughter was diagnosed with leaky gut syndrome almost two years ago. That, it turns out, is caused in part by poor gut flora. White salt, iodized salt, is toxic to good gut flora and feeds bad gut flora. The exact opposite is true for pink salt.
Pink Himalayan salt feeds good gut bacteria and the good bacteria flourish leaving no space for the bad.
Besides that, it tastes a whole lot better. I mean, there’s a noticeable difference between white and pink salt. The white is so bitter and not satisfying at all compared to pink.
We buy pink Himalayan salt in the rock form at Costco and use a grinder at home.
It’s freakin amazing!
I hope you find this helpful
Keep calm and keto on
Hello @Sugar-addict, I have been having the exact issues! I actually just posted a similar question, only my heart seems to thump at a normal pace. I keep reading into potassium as well and its a fine line between more or less supplements.
Today Im gonna try eating more potassium as opposed to supplements to see if that helps any.
One of the best things I’ve ever done for my anxiety was to get an EKG, be told my heart was good, and throw my Fitbit away. Not really, but I turned off the heart rate. It’s information a healthy person doesn’t need. Unless you’re doing zone training or have health issues that would concern you with your heart rate getting to high (your heart can’t physically overexert itself) with exercise it’s just one more thing to worry about. Just some food for thought.
Thank you for the information.
I’m very proud to say, with the exception of pork products, my diet is strongly represented in that list.
Sea weed and spirulina are also a part of my day, everyday.
1. Blood Pressure: The adrenals play a big role in helping to maintain normal blood pressure levels. A normal resting blood pressure should be in the range of 110-130 mm/Hg systolic over 70-80 mm/Hg. Diastolic. Individuals with adrenal hyperfunction (high stress hormones) will have high blood pressure while individuals with adrenal hypofunction (low stress hormones) will have low blood pressure.
A resting blood pressure over 130/80 mm/Hg can be a sign of high adrenal output. A resting blood pressure under 110/70 mm/Hg may be a sign of low adrenal output.
2. Orthostatic Hypotension Test: All you need for this one is a blood pressure cuff. Lie down for 5 minutes and then take your blood pressure and make note of it (especially the systolic – top number). Then stand up and take your blood pressure again immediately.
The systolic pressure should naturally rise about 10 mm/hg when you go from sitting to standing. If the systolic pressure remained the same or it decreased, there is a chance you have adrenal fatigue. When we stand, epinephrine is normally secreted to increase the blood pressure to overcome gravity and pump blood towards the heart.
3. Pupillary Constriction Test: This test was first described in 1924 by Dr. Arroyo. It measures the contraction of the iris in response to dark light exposure. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis helps to control the contraction of the iris.
When someone is dealing with adrenal fatigue, they are unable to maintain the contraction for a normal length of time. Here is how you do the test.
Set up the Room: Sit in front of a mirror in a dimly lit room.
Use a Flashlight: Take a flashlight and shine it into your eye from the side of your face (45 degree angle). When this happens, your eyes will naturally constrict and the diameter will reduce in size. Here are the possible results:
Pupillary Response:
Possible Finding:
Stays constricted for 20+ seconds Healthy HPA Axis
Fasciculates between 10-20 seconds Mild HPA Axis disruption
Fasciculates between 5-10 seconds HPA Axis Fatigue
Immediate pulsation and dilation HPA Axis Exhaustion/Failure
Adrenal Hyperfunction: This form of adrenal function is characterized by an excess of cortisol and stress hormones. In addition, this will result in high aldosterone levels, which causes sodium chloride retention and potassium dumping.
High aldosterone levels will cause hypertension and can also contribute to symptoms such as anxiety, irritability and headaches.
On a comprehensive metabolic panel, you will see a level for sodium, chloride and potassium. This is key to understanding what is happening with the adrenals.
Sodium: Sodium should normally be between 140-145 mmol/L. With adrenal hyperfunction, sodium will be in the high normal or above. So anything 144+, I start to consider adrenal hyperfunction.
Potassium: This should normally between 4.0-4.5 mmol/L. When it is low, 4.0 or under, it is a strong consideration for adrenal hyperfunction.
Chloride: This is a component of sodium – sodium chloride and is retained in adrenal hyperfunction. Normal levels should be between 100-106 mmol/L. When chloride levels are over 105 mmol/L, it is a sign of adrenal hyperfunction.
The end result of this is metabolic acidosis and is often seen with hypertension and anxiety.
Carbon Dioxide: The levels are usually low – under 25, which is a sign of blood sugar dysregulation
High Blood Glucose: Most people with adrenal hyperfunction have elevated fasting blood glucose and HgA1C because these individuals have high cortisol (which elevated blood sugar) and high stress hormones (or low) leads to insulin resistance and poor blood sugar control.
High Cholesterol: Individuals with adrenal hyperfunction will often have high cholesterol and the terrible triad of high LDL, low HDL and high triglycerides …More
Note: The context (glucose\sugar burner) of this information may not be in relation to ketogenic diet metabolism! For Dr. Jocker’s non-ketonian audience…
My heart rate is still much too high and I can feel that my blood pressure is too. Because I’ve never had BP issues, I do not have a cuff to measure my BP at home, but I can feel my pulse way too strong.
I had to run 50 metres for the bus today, because the train was late.
Couldn’t do it.
Leg muscles said N-O
Heart said N-O
Nothing. I could not even run 10 metres. It was trying to run through thick jelly.
This is NOT good.
I’m off the stupid potassium and magnesium drink, I’ve stopped adding any salt to my food and I’m not eating keto til this has settled down. Short of going to a hospital emergency department (which I feel would be over-doign it) I can’t get to a doctor before Friday, and even then, trying to get an appointment for a blood test will be nigh impossible.
The calcium in the mixed supplement can compete with the absorption of the magnesium.
Magnesium calms down a fast heart rate by competing with circulating calcium. But the magnesium needs to be absorbed into the body to work.
Like @Brenda has mentioned, checking in with a trusted medical professional and going through a process of checking body electrolytes balance by testing will give the best answers in relation to your unique self. Supplement, if needed, as needed.
Super high heart rate is what lifts your post outside of the more standard questions about getting palpitations (flutters) or pounding heart beats on a ketogenic diet. I hope @Stephanie_Manino sees this as well.
A heart rate above 100 when at rest is a condition named tachycardia and can indicate atrial fibrillation.
It happens in very fit people who do lots of cardio work outs, which can remodel the shape of the heart. If that base anatomical change is in place, then small triggers like a diet change, a big night out, a sudden psychological stress (receiving bad news) can set off an episode of tachycardia (fast heart rate). A diet change that unmasks or creates an electrolyte imbalance is a common trigger for palpitations (fluttering), pounding or tachycardia.
‘Normal’ serum levels of blood electrolytes may not be optimal for a ketogenic eater. Have a close look at where the values landed in the ranges. For example, normal magnesium, but low in the normal range, can indicate a possible underlying deficiency.
Mineral levels as electrolytes are highly preserved in the circulation as storage organs (usually bone), or as electrolytes are released from inside cells, slowly responding to any sudden low dip values. Unfortunately it is easier to lose electrolytes quickly and daily, depending on daily inputs and outputs.
That depletion of intracellular electrolytes (not seen easily on a blood test) can be particularly significant in heart muscles and their electrical activity in regulating heart rate and rhythm.
To have episodes of tachycardia at rest may indicate paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Search it in the forum as some of us go deep dive investigating on the topic.
Going to ER during an episode of tachycardia will get you a better diagnosis than a consult with the cardiologist, even if they run an electrocardiogram (ECG), when you have a more normal resting heart rate.
Definitely record what you are doing, what you recently consumed, before each episode occurred and diarise it. That information will be very important for eventual healing, if you are diagnosed with a heart problem.
Hmm, this is interesting. These values are before starting and then 2 months after keto. My sodium is 142/140, potassium 4.2/3.6, chloride 111/107, and CO2 is 21/25, and mag is 2(2016)/1.7. Of course my doctor said nothing at all. But I will ask the cardiologist about it. I realize that these are closer to the low end of normal.
Thanks, I work in the medical field so I am well aware of everything you wrote. Unfortunately, ER visits would not work because it stops and starts too quickly. A holter monitor would be best to capture episodes.
OK, but my post was intended as a response to an above post by sugar-addict.
I would however be interested in your final diagnosis of your situation if you wouldn’t mind sharing.
Good Luck.
I saw where you said you worked in the medical field so I didn’t think you probably needed that kind of response. I should have directed the post specifically so it was my fault.
It is interesting to see that decrease across the range of serum electrolytes. Thanks for posting the comparison. It sort of fits with ketogenic diuresis depleting electrolytes as one possible explanation.
You have mentioned that you’ve been in ketosis for 3 months and that the symptoms are only recent. It may indicate you are not replenishing initial electrolyte losses and ongoing daily losses over a longer period.
Going back to closely look at the formulation of the ketogenic diet you’re eating, in particular, the micro nutrients by using a tracker like chronometer may reveal some things to adjust.
Being in the medical industry, do you self medicate with caffeinated beverages (like so many of us do)? That can certainly add to a daily diuresis. Especially combining fasting and beverages like bullet proof coffees (it’s an exploratory phase many ketonians go through to see how it effects their blood ketone readings). The mental clarity is awesome for the thousand mile an hour thinking and decision making but it can have its hidden electrolyte tax.
1.7 mg/dl is at the bottom end of the standard normal magnesium range. That certainly is low enough to indicate a deficiency in a ketogenic eater. It’s low enough to create heart muscle electrical irregularities. Getting a RBC intracellular magnesium test done may be more accurate?
You are going to have a fun consult with the cardiologist, with all the questions being raised here.
Oh yes, I’m sure this consult will be interesting. I am willing to modify my diet, but not stop keto. I used to drink a diet dew on the way to work every night, but I stopped that, but I have had 2 in the past couple of weeks. I do use my fitness pal to track everyday. I watch my macros, but seems when I eat real close to them I just stay the same weight or go up a pound or two. Not sure. I am up two pounds now, unfortunately, and I am annoyed. Since 4/25 I have gained these 2 pounds back. It is not coming off as easy as it was. Not sure what to do. Probably another fast, which is fine, but I’d rather not just to break through the plateau. I hope this cardiologist isn’t a big butt about keto.
You’re welcome!
Look forward to seeing you find a solution that works for you.
I do regular blood tests to see where I’m at in relation to the various things I do.
I’ve checked my magnesium status and see that supplementing a bit above recommendation works well for me. Everyone’s different though.
When I’m do a lot of training (which I don’t usually do), I need some more electrolytes, naturally.
I also to bone broth from time to time.
But cold showers and cold baths coupled with meditation keeps me really calm and steady.
