https://www.facebook.com/395624670300713/

The Nutrition Nerd YMM, Fort McMurray, AB (2026)

03/26/2026

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀
(𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗜’𝗺 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀) 🌱🧠

I used a lot of homeopathic remedies when I was sick a few months ago — and honestly, I was pleasantly surprised by how successful I was at matching remedies and actually feeling better!

Joint pain from inflammation? ✔️
Digestion completely off, horribly bloated? ✔️
Reflux acting up? ✔️

I used a handful of remedies for different patterns… and they worked!

I really wish I had written down everything I used and why — because it would’ve been such a good case study 😅

That said, it wasn’t perfect…

One night I was horribly congested and could not find a clear remedy match. I got a partial match, learned a lot… and in hindsight, I don’t think that congestion was “from being sick” at all.

It was most likely a histamine flare, so I wasn’t actually matching the right pattern — which explains why the remedy only helped a bit.

And honestly? That’s still a win. Because that’s how homeopathy actually works.
Also… homeopathy is wild.

Like — how did someone in the 1800s look at a plant and go:
“Ah yes. This one will help with diarrhea that’s worse after rich food, anxiety, weakness, restlessness, and burning pain!”

😂

But once you understand how homeopathy was developed, it becomes way less mystical and way more nerdy pattern-mapping — which is why I vibe with it so hard!

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗪𝗮𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗙𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗢𝘂𝘁
Homeopaths didn’t guess.

They tested.

They used something called provings.
A proving =
Healthy people take a substance (in very small, diluted doses) →

and then record everything they experience:
• Digestion changes
• Mood shifts
• Anxiety or calm
• Energy levels
• Sleep changes
• Temperature sensitivity
• Cravings
• Fears
• Weird, oddly specific symptoms

They did this for months.

With thousands of people.

Across decades…

Each substance produced a consistent pattern of symptoms.

That pattern became the remedy picture!

For example:
𝗔𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗺 𝗔𝗹𝗯𝘂𝗺
When healthy people took tiny doses of arsenic, they developed:
• Burning GI pain
• Diarrhea worse after rich foods
• Restlessness
• Anxiety
• Chilliness
• Weakness
• Thirst for small sips
• Irritability

So that’s the pattern it treats.

Homeopathy isn’t chemistry.

It’s pattern matching.

Here’s a super simple analogy 👇

When healthy people drink too much coffee, they get:
• Jittery
• Wired
• Overthinking
• Insomnia

So the remedy made from coffee (𝗖𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗮) treats:
• Insomnia from a busy mind
• Overstimulation
• Excited, wired states

Same pattern.
Opposite direction.
Not guessed. Observed.
And the patterns are creepily consistent.

• 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗮 causes high fever, red face, pounding pulse → that’s the fever it treats
• 𝗜𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗰 causes nausea with no relief from vomiting → that’s the nausea it fixes
• 𝗥𝗵𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝘅 causes joint stiffness worse on first movement, better with motion → exactly the joint pain it treats

The remedy is basically the energetic fingerprint of the plant or substance.

So why does homeopathy work so fast for things like:
• Flu
• GI upset
• Nervous system states
• Acute inflammation

Because those are:
• Pattern-driven
• Nervous-system-driven
• Regulatory imbalances

Not structural damage.

When the match is right, the system responds immediately — which is exactly what I experienced!

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗿𝗱𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 🧠
Homeopathy looks weird until you realize it’s not mystical — it’s detailed pattern recognition. When you match the pattern correctly, the body recognizes the signal and responds.

And yes… I’m still surprised when it works 😂

But every time it does, I understand it a little more!

03/25/2026

𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻…? 🫠

Tried:
• apple cider vinegar
• magnesium
• going outside (against my will)
• telling myself “it’s just the season”
• staring at my dogs for emotional support

Still pending:
• sunlight that lasts longer than 3 minutes ☀️
• stable dopamine
• not being personally victimized by winter

Real talk though…

Sometimes it’s not a supplement problem. It’s a “my mitochondria haven’t seen the sun in 6 months” problem 🫠

⸻

🤓 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗿𝗱𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆:

Low mood this time of year isn’t just in your head — it’s circadian, mitochondrial, hormonal… all the things.

So yeah… ACV probably isn’t gonna fix that one 😅

⸻

03/25/2026

😂 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗲 “𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱” 𝗺𝘆𝘁𝗵 — 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗲𝘀, 𝗜 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗼

Confession: I only recently learned that most of what we call blackheads on the nose… aren’t actually blackheads 😅

Which feels mildly misleading after a childhood of painful pore strips and aggressive scrubbing. RIP teenage skin!

I’ve always been pretty au naturel with skincare (nothing wrong if you love a routine!), but skin physiology is actually fascinating — and this one is a classic naming fail.

Here’s the deal 👇

Most of those tiny dark dots on your nose are sebaceous filaments.

They are:
• Normal oil channels
• Meant to move sebum to the skin surface
• More visible on the nose because oil glands are larger there

They’re not dirt.
They’re not clogged pores.

And they refill quickly by design.

So why do they look dark?
• Oxidized oil (like an apple browning)
• Shadowing inside pores
• Oil and dead skin — not grime

True blackheads (open comedones) do exist, but they’re far less common than skincare marketing would have us believe.

Why the nose gets blamed:
• Highest oil production on the face
• Thicker skin
• Deeper pores

Even “perfect” skincare won’t erase that.

What actually helps (without wrecking your skin):
✔ gentle exfoliation (not daily scrubs)
✔ oil-soluble cleansers
✔ occasional clay masks
✔ niacinamide for oil regulation (topical)

What usually backfires:
❌ pore strips
❌ aggressive squeezing (sorry Dr. Pimple Popper fans!)
❌ over-washing

🧠 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗿𝗱𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆:
Many “skin problems” are naming problems…

Same pattern as:
• “allergies” vs sensitivities
• “detox” vs clearance
• “dirty pores” vs oil physiology

You’re not dirty. Your nose is just… doing nose things 😂

Welcome to the club of people who can’t un-know this stuff.

03/24/2026

🧠 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲, 𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗞 & 𝘁𝗵𝗲 “𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗢𝘇𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗰” 𝗠𝘆𝘁𝗵

I’ve talked about berberine before, and some of you know I’ve never been a huge fan of it as a go-to for blood sugar or weight loss — even though it does have a place in certain short-term situations.

Lately, I’ve been deep into Chris Masterjohn’s Energy Metabolism course (part of his paid subscription), and a lot of the pieces that made me uneasy about berberine finally clicked into place — especially around AMPK.

So let’s talk about it, clearly and without hype...
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⚡ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗞 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗜𝘀
AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) is often marketed as a “fat-burning” switch.

But biologically, that’s not quite right.

AMPK turns on when the cell senses low energy availability — when ATP is low and the system is under energetic stress. It’s a survival signal, not a vitality signal.

When AMPK is high, the body:
• slows down building and repair
• suppresses growth and reproduction signals
• conserves fuel
• shifts into energy-saving mode

Yes, fat oxidation can increase — but this is the same reason fat burning goes up during illness, fasting, or overtraining. That doesn’t mean the system is thriving.
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🧪 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀
Berberine lowers blood sugar largely by activating AMPK.

In practical terms, it:
• reduces glucose absorption
• lowers liver glucose output
• restricts fuel availability
• suppresses appetite
• alters gut and bile signalling

So numbers improve — blood sugar drops, weight may drop — but this happens because energy access is being limited, not because metabolism has been rebuilt.

That’s why berberine often feels similar (mechanistically) to drugs like metformin or even GLP-1 medications, despite being labeled “natural”
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🌿 𝗧𝗵𝗲 ‘𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹’ 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱
Berberine does come from plants — but in plants, it exists:
• in much smaller amounts
• alongside fibre, minerals, and polyphenols
• buffered by cofactors that shape its effects

In supplement form, it’s isolated and concentrated.

At that point, it behaves far more like a pharmaceutical compound than a food-based nutrient. Calling it “nature’s Ozempic” isn’t actually wrong — but it’s misleading if people think that means gentle or foundational.
________________________________________
🧭 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗜 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱
I’m not anti-berberine.

I do think it can be useful:
• short-term
• strategically
• with context
• ideally with guidance

But it’s not one of my go-tos for long-term blood sugar regulation or sustainable weight loss.

For that, I care much more about:
• mitochondrial capacity
• bile and gallbladder function
• mineral balance
• nervous system tone
• insulin signalling (not suppression)
• circadian rhythm and fuel timing

That’s terrain work — not metabolic force.
________________________________________
🧠 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗿𝗱𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆
Berberine works by activating AMPK — an energy-stress signal. That can lower numbers, but it does so by restricting fuel, not by rebuilding metabolic health.

“Natural” doesn’t always mean foundational. And short-term tools shouldn’t be mistaken for long-term solutions.

As always… it’s nuanced!

03/23/2026

𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗔𝟭𝗖, “𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀” & 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗟𝗮𝗯 𝗖𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗼 𝗠𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰 🧠🩸

A1C is one of those labs that sends people straight to Google — and Google does not do nuance!

So let’s slow this down...

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝟭𝗖 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘀

Hemoglobin A1C reflects your average blood sugar over ~3 months, not one bad meal or one stressful week.

General cut-offs:
• < 5.7% → normal
• 5.7–6.4% → prediabetes
• ≥ 6.5% → diabetes

So yes — an elevated A1C is important information. But it’s a flag, not a full explanation.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗔𝟭𝗖 𝗔𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆

A1C does not tell you:
• What type of diabetes is present
• Whether this is insulin resistance vs insulin deficiency
• What’s driving it
• How reversible it may be

Two people can have the same A1C with very different physiology underneath.

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁: 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗸𝗲𝘄 𝗔𝟭𝗖

A1C can read higher (or lower) due to:
• Anemia or iron deficiency
• B12 or folate deficiency
• Kidney or liver disease
• Recent illness or infection
• Steroid use
• Altered red blood cell lifespan

This is why good clinicians confirm with other labs, not just A1C alone.

𝗟𝗮𝗯𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲

Alongside A1C, it’s often helpful to look at:
• Fasting glucose
• Fasting insulin
• C-peptide (how much insulin your body is making)
• Lipids (especially triglycerides)
• Liver enzymes
• Kidney markers
• Iron status
• B12 & folate
• Thyroid markers
• Inflammation markers (CRP)

These help answer the real question: why is A1C elevated?

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 (𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀)

Even significantly elevated A1C values can come down — sometimes dramatically — once the right lever is addressed.

I’ve seen:
• Big improvements in 3–6 months
• Changes even without medication in some cases
• Major shifts once sleep, stress hormones, circadian timing, inflammation, or medication effects are addressed

This is not a death sentence. It’s information!

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 “𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲” 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀

Reversal isn’t just about lowering numbers.

It’s about:
• Restoring insulin sensitivity
• Reducing chronic insulin output
• Improving mitochondrial fuel use
• Lowering inflammatory tone
• Reducing pressure on kidneys and blood vessels

When that happens, glucose numbers often normalize downstream.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗿𝗱𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 🧠

Prediabetes isn’t failure. It’s a warning light, not a verdict.

When we:
• Reduce insulin demand
• Support mitochondria
• Calm inflammation
• Respect circadian biology

…the body often chooses a healthier metabolic set point again.

And remember, it’s always nuanced 😉

03/21/2026

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗲𝗲 🧂😴
(and why this is physiology, not “woo”)

Years ago, I remember watching a video where Chris Masterjohn casually mentioned something that stuck with me:

👉 salt (and glycine) before bed can improve sleep

At the time, it sounded almost too simple. But over the years, I’ve tested the salt piece myself — and consistently, when I take a bit of salt in the evening, I’m far less likely to wake up to p*e overnight.

This isn’t a trick.

It’s straight-up physiology!
Let’s walk it through.
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𝗔𝗗𝗛 & 𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱
ADH (antidiuretic hormone) is released by the brain (hypothalamus → posterior pituitary) and its main job is simple:
→ tell the kidneys to reabsorb water instead of dumping it into urine

Here’s the key part most people miss:
👉 ADH is regulated largely by sodium concentration (osmolality), not just fluid volume.

Your body doesn’t measure “water” directly — it measures how concentrated sodium and other solutes are in the blood.
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𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝘄 (𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗱)
If sodium is low — or diluted by lots of plain fluid — here’s the cascade:
• blood osmolality drops
• ADH release is suppressed
• kidneys dump more water
• urine volume increases
• you wake up to p*e

This is why people who:
• drink lots of plain water in the evening
• eat very low-sodium diets
• sweat a lot without replacing salt

…often experience nocturia (nighttime urination) — even with a totally normal bladder.
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𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀
When you take a small amount of salt in the evening:
• blood sodium concentration rises slightly
• hypothalamic osmoreceptors detect this
• ADH is released
• kidneys reabsorb more water
• urine becomes more concentrated
• bladder fills more slowly overnight

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁:
👉 fewer wake-ups to p*e

This is exactly the logic behind Chris Masterjohn’s recommendation. This is about restoring the night-mode signal to the kidneys!
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𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲
Salt at night tends to help most when someone has:
• low sodium intake overall
• high fluid intake
• high cortisol or adrenaline (“stress p*eing”)
• disrupted circadian rhythm
• light, easily fragmented sleep
• nighttime thirst & frequent urination

In these cases, ADH signalling is blunted — not absent. Salt simply nudges it back online.
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𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 (𝗼𝗯𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗹𝘆 😌)
This does not mean:
• chug salt water
• mega-dose sodium
• ignore blood pressure context

We’re talking:
→ a pinch or two of salt
→ salted food
→ gentle electrolytes

Also important:
• If someone already has sodium retention issues, this may not be the right lever
• If nocturia is driven by prostate issues, sleep apnea, or blood sugar swings, salt won’t fix the root cause

Again: terrain matters.
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𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 (𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗱𝘀 🤓)
ADH doesn’t act alone. It works alongside:
• cortisol rhythm
• melatonin
• aldosterone
• kidney sodium handling

When sodium is too low, aldosterone rises to compensate — which can actually increase nighttime urination and restlessness.

Paradoxically:
👉 low salt can = more nighttime p*eing
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🤓 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗿𝗱𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆
• ADH is regulated by sodium concentration
• low sodium → low ADH → more urine
• salt at night → ADH release → less urine
• this advice is physiologically sound, not a hack

Sometimes the quietest minerals are the ones running the show 🧂

03/21/2026

𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘀: 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 “𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴”… 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 ⚡🌍

I’ve been using grounding mats for about two years now. I sleep on one at night and keep another on my computer chair in my office. In the summer, I take off my socks and shoes and try to ground in my backyard as much as possible.

Grounding (earthing) tends to get framed as something you should feel — calmer, buzzed, relaxed, tingly. But most of its real effects don’t live in sensation at all.

They live in redox biology, electrical balance, and electron flow.

𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁
It doesn’t push neurotransmitters.
It doesn’t activate hormones.
It doesn’t “do” anything dramatic.

Think of grounding less like caffeine and more like topping off a battery that’s been leaking charge all day.

No buzz required.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗼𝘅 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲 (𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀)
At a cellular level, life is a controlled electron flow problem:
• Mitochondria move electrons to make ATP
• Some electrons leak → forming ROS
• ROS aren’t bad — unless electrons are scarce

When electrons are scarce, oxidative stress escalates. Grounding supplies free electrons from the Earth, helping shift that balance back toward resolution instead of escalation.

You don’t feel electrons moving.

Your cells respond anyway.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁
Over time (not instantly), grounding has been associated with:
• Lower inflammatory tone
• More stable nervous system recovery
• Improved microcirculation
• Deeper sleep (not sedation)
• Less “wired but tired” physiology
• Better tolerance to other therapies

Not flashy.
Very real.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 “𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴”
Feeling nothing doesn’t mean it isn’t working.

It often means:
• The nervous system is keyed up and expects stimulation
• Other terrain issues are louder (gut, minerals, hormones, stress)
• The benefit only shows up under stress or over time

You also don’t feel mitochondria make ATP — until they can’t.

𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀
Most supplements push chemistry internally and increase metabolic demand.
Grounding:
• Bypasses digestion
• Bypasses the liver
• Bypasses mitochondria
• Supplies electrons at the surface and connective tissue level

That’s why it’s often tolerated when supplements aren’t — and why it pairs well with nervous system regulation, lymph work, sleep repair, and inflammation calming.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲
Grounding isn’t something you do to the body.
It’s something you stop depriving the body of.

For most of human history, we weren’t electrically isolated from the Earth.
Modern life changed that.

Grounding doesn’t add something new — it restores a missing background condition.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗿𝗱𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 🧠⚡
If grounding feels boring, subtle, or unnoticeable — that’s often a sign it’s doing its job quietly.

Biology doesn’t need a show.
It needs electrons.

03/20/2026

𝗕𝗿𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗹 𝗡𝘂𝘁𝘀: 𝗧𝗶𝗻𝘆 𝗡𝘂𝘁, 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘂𝗺 ⚡🥜

Brazil nuts are one of the richest natural sources of selenium in the human diet. Just a couple of nuts can provide more selenium than many people get in an entire day.

❓𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗹 𝗻𝘂𝘁?
The tricky part is that selenium content varies a lot depending on the soil where the tree grew. There’s no way to look at a nut and know whether it’s a “high selenium” or “lower selenium” one.

On average:
• one Brazil nut contains about 50–90 mcg of selenium

For context:
• the recommended intake for adults is about 55 mcg/day

So yes… one or two nuts can technically meet daily needs.

That’s why these little guys are powerful but also something you don’t want to overdo long-term.

❓𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀
Selenium plays important roles in the body, including:
• supporting thyroid hormone metabolism
• helping produce selenoproteins and antioxidant enzymes
• supporting immune function
• protecting cells from oxidative stress

It works closely with nutrients like iodine, vitamin E, and glutathione in maintaining cellular balance.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁: 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗿

Both too little and too much selenium can cause symptoms like:
• hair or nail changes
• fatigue
• neurological symptoms

Food-based toxicity is much more rare, but it can still happen if very high intakes are consumed regularly for long periods of time.

❓𝗦𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲?
For most people, something like 1–3 Brazil nuts per day is a common range used to support selenium intake without pushing too high.

Personally, I usually eat around 3 per day, though sometimes 4–5 sneak in if I’m feeling snackish 😅

𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗽
Nuts contain a fair amount of fat, which means they can go rancid over time if stored warm.

I keep my Brazil nuts:
• mostly in the freezer
• with a small jar in the pantry for daily use

Freezing nuts isn’t required, but it’s a simple way to keep the oils fresh longer.

🤓 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗿𝗱𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆
Brazil nuts are a fantastic whole-food selenium source, but like many nutrients, more isn’t always better.

A small amount regularly can go a long way.

Balance > megadosing… even when it comes from food 🌿

03/20/2026

𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 ⚡

Most people are looking for something that makes them feel energized…

But real energy?

𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 — 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗱.

—

What I showed in this video isn’t a “pick-me-up” stack.

It’s a foundation stack that supports how your body actually makes energy 👇

—

𝗕 𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘀 = 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

They help convert food → usable energy

𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺 = 𝗔𝗧𝗣 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁
You literally can’t make or use energy without it

—

𝗕𝟲 = 𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲 & 𝗼𝘅𝘆𝗴𝗲𝗻
Doesn’t feel energizing… but helps you carry oxygen so you can make energy

𝗕𝟭𝟮 (𝗵𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗼𝘅𝘆 / 𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘀𝘆𝗹) = 𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 & 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁

Not pushy — just supports capacity

—

𝗖𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿 & 𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻 = 𝗼𝘅𝘆𝗴𝗲𝗻 𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
It’s not just about having iron…
it’s about being able to use it

👉 this is where a lot of fatigue gets missed

—

𝗠𝘆𝗼-𝗶𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗹 ≠ 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆
It’s more about 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 & 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

You don’t suddenly have more energy…
you actually want to use it

—

𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗢𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 🌿
For that deep, “I have nothing left” kind of exhaustion

Not physical energy —
𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

—

𝗜𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗲 = 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲
Supports thyroid → which sets how fast your body runs

But…

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿

This is very terrain-dependent

—

🤓 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗿𝗱𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆
Energy isn’t just about “feeling energized”

It’s about:
• making energy
• carrying oxygen
• running your mitochondria
• having the drive to use it
• and having a metabolism that supports it

—

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹… 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 😉

—

03/19/2026

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱: 𝗔 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆, 𝗔 𝗙𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀… 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 🧠🔬

Every now and then a topic circles around the internet claiming that lead isn’t actually toxic, or that lead was removed from paint and gasoline so governments could “spy on us” more easily… or something along those lines!

Since this keeps popping up, let’s do a quick nerdy walk through lead, history, and biology.

Because as usual… it’s nuanced!
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🤓 𝗔 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱
Lead has been used by humans for thousands of years because it is:
• Soft
• Easy to shape
• Widely available

Ancient civilizations used it for:
• Plumbing
• Cookware
• Cosmetics
• Wine sweeteners
• Pipes and storage vessels

The Latin word for lead was plumbum, which is where the word plumbing comes from. And, apparently, it was World Plumbing Day on March 11th… which is when I did my research for this post (how exciting, right?!)

Fast forward to the 1900s and lead found its way into something much bigger: gasoline.

A compound called tetraethyl lead was added to fuel because it prevented engine knocking and allowed engines to run more smoothly.

The problem?

Cars burning leaded fuel were essentially spraying microscopic lead particles into the air, which then settled into:
• Soil
• Homes
• Water
• Food systems

By the mid-1900s, atmospheric lead levels were dramatically higher than anything seen in earlier history.
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𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲-𝗢𝘂𝘁
As environmental and medical research improved, scientists discovered that lead exposure was affecting human health, especially children.

Beginning in the 1970s many countries began removing lead from:
• Gasoline
• Household paint
• Plumbing systems
• Consumer products

The last country to stop using leaded gasoline for cars was Algeria in 2021, officially ending the global era of leaded fuel.
________________________________________
🤔 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀
Some online groups now claim that lead was removed from paint or gasoline to make it easier to:
• Spy on people
• Transmit radiation
• Allow surveillance technologies

The physics here doesn’t really hold up.

Lead is good at blocking ionizing radiation (like X-rays), which is why it’s used in radiology rooms.

But the signals used for phones, Wi-Fi, and modern communication are radiofrequency waves, which are blocked much more effectively by materials like copper or aluminum mesh.

In other words, removing lead from paint wouldn’t meaningfully change surveillance technology.

The far more mundane reality is that leaded gasoline was contaminating the environment at a massive scale.
________________________________________
☠️ 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗜𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁
This part is important.

Despite what some online communities claim:
Lead has no known biological role in the human body.

Unlike minerals like:
• Iron
• Zinc
• Copper
• Calcium

Lead is not required for any enzyme or physiological process. Instead, it tends to interfere with normal biology.
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❓𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗱𝘆
Lead is particularly disruptive because it mimics other minerals.

The body can mistakenly treat lead like:
• Calcium
• Zinc
• Iron

This allows it to slip into metabolic pathways where it doesn’t belong.

For example:
• Lead can enter cells through calcium channels
• It can bind to proteins that normally use zinc
• It can interfere with enzymes involved in heme production

This is one reason lead exposure can contribute to things like:
• Neurological changes
• Anemia
• Oxidative stress
• Mitochondrial dysfunction
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❓𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗜𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱
Once lead enters the body it travels through the bloodstream, where most of it binds to red blood cells.

Over time, the majority of lead ends up stored in bones and teeth.

In adults, roughly 90–95% of total body lead is stored in bone tissue.

This happens because lead chemically resembles calcium, so it can become incorporated into the bone mineral matrix.

The tricky part is that lead can stay there for decades.

During periods of increased bone turnover, such as:
• Pregnancy
• Menopause
• Illness
• Rapid weight loss

Some stored lead can be released back into circulation.
________________________________________
🧬 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
This is where nutrition becomes really interesting.

Lead absorption is strongly influenced by mineral status.

When the body is low in certain nutrients, it may absorb more lead because the same transport systems are used.

Research shows that deficiencies in minerals like:
• Iron
• Calcium
• Zinc

Can increase lead absorption and worsen its biological effects. So while lead itself is not a nutrient, nutritional status plays a major role in how the body handles exposure.

This is one reason environmental toxins often affect nutritionally vulnerable populations more strongly.
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🤓 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗿𝗱𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆
Lead is not a nutrient, and there is no evidence that it provides a health benefit.
It is a metal that can interfere with mineral pathways, enzymes, mitochondrial function, and brain development.

At the same time, our biological terrain matters — mineral status, nutrition, and overall health influence how the body responds to environmental exposures.

Which brings us back to one of my favourite phrases: … it’s nuanced!

03/18/2026

𝗦𝘁. 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸’𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗡𝗲𝗿𝗱𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁: 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 🍺🍀

In honour of St. Patrick’s Day, I figured I’d share a fun nerdy science fact about one of Ireland’s most famous drinks — Guinness!

Fun fact:
𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸.

If you hold a glass of Guinness up to the light, you’ll notice something surprising — it’s actually deep ruby red.

So why does it look black in a pint glass?
________________________________________
🧬 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
The dark colour comes from roasted barley used during brewing.

When barley is roasted at high temperatures, it undergoes a chemical process called the Maillard reaction.

This reaction happens when amino acids and sugars interact under heat, creating hundreds of new flavour and colour compounds.

It’s the same chemistry responsible for:
• the crust on toasted bread
• the colour of roasted coffee
• the browning on grilled meat

In dark beers like stout, these reactions create pigments called melanoidins, which absorb most wavelengths of light.

The result: a beer that appears black in normal lighting, but reveals a deep red glow when light passes through it.
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𝗔 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗡𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀
I actually have a small amount of Irish heritage according to my 23andMe results.

We also have an old family history book that talks about how our last name originally had a more Irish spelling, but was later changed to a French version when my great-great grandparents came to Canada.

So apparently the St. Patrick’s Day nerdiness might be somewhat genetic 😄
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🤓 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗿𝗱𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆
The same chemistry that browns toast, roasts coffee, and sears steak is also responsible for the colour and flavour of dark beers like Guinness.

Food science shows up in the most unexpected places.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 🍀

03/17/2026

🥄 𝗧𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗶: 𝗧𝗶𝗻𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀, 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

I bought a jar of tahini this week because I was in desperate need of food variety.

If you’re anything like me, you know how easy it is to get stuck eating the same few foods over and over again. I’m not picky — it’s just my personality type. Once something is easy and works, I tend to repeat it.

Add in a picky partner, and food variety sometimes shrinks even more because it’s easier to prep meals we’ll both eat.

So this week I decided to bring back something I used to eat quite a bit: tahini.

Years ago I loved it on toast with honey, but I also ate it in a lot of dishes when I lived in Australia. The family I stayed with had Lebanese roots on the mother’s side, and tahini showed up in all kinds of foods — sauces, dips, dressings, and savoury dishes.

It’s one of those foods that’s been around for thousands of years, and nutritionally speaking, it’s actually pretty interesting.

Let’s nerd out for a second!

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🧬 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝘀 𝗧𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗶?

Tahini is simply ground sesame seeds.

That’s it.

Traditionally, sesame seeds are:
• soaked or lightly roasted
• ground into a paste

Some tahini is made with hulled seeds (milder flavour) and some with unhulled seeds (more minerals, slightly stronger taste)

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🥜 𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀

Sesame seeds are surprisingly mineral-dense. Roughly 2 tablespoons of tahini provides:
• healthy fats
• ~5 grams of protein
• fibre
• magnesium
• calcium
• iron
• zinc
• copper
• manganese
• vitamin B1 (thiamine)

Sesame seeds are especially rich in copper, which plays roles in:
• collagen formation
• antioxidant enzymes (like superoxide dismutase)
• iron metabolism
• mitochondrial energy production

So nutritionally, sesame is more than just a fat source — it’s actually a mineral-supportive food.

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🧪 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲

Sesame also contains some compounds you don’t find much of in other seeds.

These are called lignans, including:
• sesamin
• sesamolin
• sesamol

These compounds have been studied for their roles in:
• antioxidant activity
• liver support
• lipid metabolism
• inflammation regulation

Interestingly, these compounds are one reason sesame oil is relatively stable, meaning it doesn’t oxidize as quickly as some other oils.

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⚖️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗢𝘅𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀?

Yes — sesame seeds do contain oxalates. But context matters.

The amount per typical serving of tahini (1–2 tbsp) is generally considered moderate, not extremely high. For most people this isn’t a concern.

People who may need to pay closer attention include those with:
• oxalate kidney stone history
• those following very strict low-oxalate diets

One interesting nuance: sesame seeds also contain calcium, which may bind oxalates in the gut and reduce absorption.

So once again…

It’s nuanced.

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🥄 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗧𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗶 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝘂𝘁 & 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀

Compared with some other spreads:
• almond butter tends to be higher in oxalates
• peanut butter contains fewer minerals overall
• sunflower butter is high in vitamin E but also higher in omega-6 fats

Tahini stands out because of its mineral profile and unique lignans.

It’s not necessarily “better” — but it’s a really nice option for variety.

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🍯 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗶

Tahini can be used in both sweet and savoury foods, including:
• hummus
• tahini lemon sauce
• salad dressings
• drizzled on roasted vegetables
• mixed into smoothies
• spread on toast with honey (or by itself)
• traditional desserts like halva

It has a slightly nutty, earthy, mildly bitter flavour, which is why it’s often paired with lemon, garlic, or sweetness like honey.

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🧠 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗜𝘁

For me, tahini is a reminder that traditional foods often carry a lot of nutritional wisdom.

Simple ingredients.
Whole foods.
Used across generations.

And sometimes we just need to reintroduce foods we used to enjoy to bring a little variety back into our diet.

This jar might be making a comeback in my kitchen again!

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🧠 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗿𝗱𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆

Tahini is:
• a mineral-rich seed spread
• a source of unique sesame lignans
• moderately high in oxalates (but usually fine in normal portions)
• a traditional food used in many cultures
• an easy way to add variety and nutrition to meals

Sometimes the simplest foods are the most interesting.

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The Nutrition Nerd YMM

03/26/2026

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