Freedom Day, Crap-Nesium, Fantastic Potassium

Magnesium Supplements Corrupted?

I've finally gotten to the bottom of the diarrhea, fatigue, and pounding heart that's plagued me off and on since February: magnesium. I've taken magnesium supplements for years and was making Dr. Davis's magnesium water recipe until all available milk of magnesia contained sodium hypochlorite, also known as bleach. When I ran out of milk of magnesia, I started taking magnesium citrate tablets, which I've taken before without any ill effect. In fact, my favorite electrolyte mix contains magnesium citrate, and it had never bothered me before.

I don't remember when I started taking the tablets, but I didn't associate them with the diarrhea. I wondered if my yogurt got contaminated, so I started a batch with new bacteria. I took Candibactin, an herbal remedy for bacterial and fungal overgrowth. I tried sulfur tablets. I got a stool test that turned out negative. 

Then I started getting fatigue, a pounding heart and insomnia. I knew from experience that the pounding heart could be caused by a lack of potassium, so I bought a $360 potassium meter, found out what my readings should be, and ate food high in potassium if it was low. Sometimes, that meant going the nuclear route with a bag of potato chips.

On a hunch, I made magnesium water with the little bit of uncontaminated milk of magnesia I had. I felt better. When that was used up, I tried putting magnesium hydroxide in seltzer water, but much of it ended up in the bottom of the bottle. I used it as my supplement, not realizing this concoction contained very little magnesium. I started feeling like I wasn't digesting my food. I knew magnesium could help, so I took magnesium tablets...and got diarrhea...which flushed out potassium and magnesium. 

Last week, I finally figured out what the problem was: a positive feedback loop caused by magnesium supplements that might have actually been magnesium oxide, a laxative. I found a grocery store open late that stocked good quality vitamins. Going there took me through a sketchy part of town, but I decided that anyone who fooled with me was getting run over--I was that miserable and desperate. I picked up a few brands and decided to start with the chelated one (Doctor's Best--I don't have any affiliation with them). I'm feeling like a new person. 

Awesome Potassium Supplement

I also found a great potassium supplement: salt substitute, or potassium chloride. It's sold at the grocery store and you sprinkle it on your food. A quarter teaspoon provides over 600 mg of potassium, far more than the 99 allowed in supplements. The only downside is that it's a mucus thinner, so it's made the top of my throat a little sore at times. Otherwise, it's a miracle food. Between the new magnesium and the salt substitute, my diarrhea, racing heart and digestive problems are gone. I'm starting to sleep better and hopefully, my energy level will be back to normal soon.

Another Sheriff Refuses to Enforce COVID Orders

If there's any upside to defunding the police, it's that the police don't have time for nonsense. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva says, 

Forcing the vaccinated and those who already contracted COVID-19 to wear masks indoors is not backed by science and contradicts the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) has authority to enforce the order, but the underfunded/defunded Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will not expend our limited resources and instead ask for voluntary compliance. We encourage the DPH to work collaboratively with the Board of Supervisors and law enforcement to establish mandates that are both achievable and supported by science.

Last year, police officers across the US refused to enforce emergency orders that they thought violated the Constitution (see this, this and this). 

Freedom Day in England

It looks like Freedom Day is still on for tomorrow, when regular people can go out just like the muckety-mucks. The UK's COVID dashboard shows 12 people per million going to the hospital each day and 18 per day with COVID on their death certificate. Ninety percent of the country has antibodies. If you like those odds, if you think you're at low risk, think about going out.