Digital Social Hour: The Truth About Electrolytes: Don't Fall for This Myth | Brendan Ruh DSH #878

Release Date: November 11, 2024

Hosts: Sean Kelly and Brendan Ruh from Santa Cruz Medicinals

In this enlightening episode of Digital Social Hour, host Sean Kelly engages in a deep dive with guest Brendan Ruh, exploring the myths and truths surrounding electrolytes, diet, and holistic health practices. The conversation spans a variety of topics, offering listeners valuable insights into optimizing their health through informed choices.

1. Understanding Electrolytes and Their Importance

[00:52 - 02:22]

Sean and Brendan kick off the discussion by emphasizing the critical role of electrolytes in athletic performance. Sean explains the misconception surrounding salt intake, particularly for athletes:

Sean Kelly [00:56]: "The big thing with electrolytes is you're losing sodium and potassium at about a 3.5 milligram to 1 milligram ratio. We in this country have scared people about salt intake... that's not really right for people who are athletic."

Brendan highlights the practical aspect of their electrolyte products, praising their taste and solubility:

Brendan Ruh [00:27]: "I got dragon fruit and it tastes amazing, man. Dissolved really easily."

Sean contrasts their electrolyte supplement with competitors like Liquid IV, criticizing the latter for adding excessive sugar and compromising on electrolyte quality:

Sean Kelly [02:15]: "Liquid IV... has no artificial sweeteners. No... it's just sugar water... I prefer to get that through fruit, honey, maple syrup, stuff like that."

2. Debunking Salt Intake Myths for Athletes

[00:35 - 02:22]

Sean delves into studies demonstrating significant sodium loss during intense athletic activities, using the Philadelphia Eagles' training camp as a case study:

Sean Kelly [01:18]: "They were losing three on the low side to 30 grams of sodium. That's a lot."

He criticizes the government's recommended daily sodium intake for not aligning with the needs of active individuals, stressing the necessity of proper electrolyte balance to prevent issues like headaches and nausea during workouts.

3. Dairy Consumption: Raw vs. Pasteurized

[03:22 - 05:00]

The conversation shifts to dairy, where Sean advocates for the benefits of both raw and pasteurized milk. He challenges common misconceptions about raw milk, emphasizing its probiotics and nutritional advantages:

Sean Kelly [03:35]: "Besides the taste and probiotics from raw dairy, there isn't much data out there that shows that pasteurized dairy is worse."

Brendan shares his personal experience overcoming dairy intolerance using lactase enzymes, highlighting practical strategies for incorporating dairy into one's diet without adverse effects.

4. Natural Skincare vs. Processed Products

[08:50 - 11:12]

Sean critiques the skincare industry's reliance on processed products, advocating for natural alternatives like beef tallow:

Sean Kelly [10:12]: "Skin health comes from within. There's the gut, skin axis..."

He references anthropological studies showing that traditional diets correlate with better skin health, questioning the necessity of expensive skincare routines:

Sean Kelly [09:34]: "Not a single pimple... their diet was a traditional diet. Meat, fruit, vegetables... no processed food whatsoever."

5. Advocating for an Omnivorous Diet and Critiquing Plant-Based Trends

[11:12 - 17:16]

Sean passionately defends an omnivorous diet, particularly the consumption of high-quality red meat, against contemporary plant-based and vegan movements. He disputes claims linking red meat to cancer, attributing negative studies to poor diet quality and processed meat consumption:

Sean Kelly [11:15]: "Red meat's one of the most controversial things... Your ancestors ate red meat."

Brendan expresses frustration with restrictive diets, and Sean counters the arguments made by plant-based proponents like Paul Saladino, emphasizing the importance of balanced, species-appropriate nutrition.

6. The Seed Oil Debate and Processed Fats

[15:22 - 17:59]

The duo examines the controversial topic of seed oils, acknowledging their prevalence in modern diets while criticizing their health impacts:

Sean Kelly [16:15]: "Seed oils didn't exist until about the 1950s... they're cheap... highly processed."

Brendan recounts critiques from experts like Tetsumori Yamashima, who link seed oils to health issues such as Alzheimer's, while Sean advises moderation rather than complete elimination due to their ubiquity in processed foods.

7. Supplements and Optimal Usage

[34:00 - 35:28]

Sean discusses his supplement regimen, advocating for a balanced approach rather than excessive intake:

Sean Kelly [34:10]: "I'm taking around 10 to 12 supplements a day... I like Ashwagandha in the evening because it lowers cortisol."

He warns against the extremes of supplement consumption, using Brian Johnson's intake of 150 supplements as a cautionary example.

8. Addressing Health Trends: Parasites, Vaping, and Sweeteners

[26:00 - 38:26]

Parasites and Gut Health: Sean and Brendan explore the often-overlooked issue of parasitic infections and their impact on gut health. Sean shares his personal experience with Cryptosporidium, emphasizing the growing importance of gut microbiome testing:

Sean Kelly [26:44]: "60% of their lab tests on the GI map are gonna bring back some parasites."

Vaping Concerns: The conversation shifts to vaping, with Sean expressing strong disapproval due to its rising popularity among youth and potential health risks:

Sean Kelly [36:39]: "Vaping is one of the biggest epidemics with these young kids... it's horrible."

Sweeteners: They discuss artificial sweeteners like xylitol and stevia, acknowledging their benefits when used appropriately:

Sean Kelly [37:44]: "Xylitol... can actually benefit your teeth health and have been shown to actually be beneficial for your gut microbiome."

9. The Jiu Jitsu Phenomenon and Upcoming Events

[19:30 - 22:25]

Sean and Brendan delve into the dynamic world of Jiu Jitsu, sharing insights about major events like ADCC and the emergence of new competitions offering substantial prizes:

Sean Kelly [20:20]: "Craig Jones said... I'm going to give people, if they win their bracket, $1 million."

They discuss the implications of such competitions on the sport and express enthusiasm for attending and supporting these events.

10. Final Thoughts on Modern Health Practices

[35:28 - 39:38]

Sean emphasizes the importance of aligning modern health practices with our evolutionary biology, advocating for natural light cycles, grounding, and avoiding artificial disruptions:

Sean Kelly [36:36]: "We can't outrun our evolution... we evolved a certain way... as Homo sapiens."

He concludes with recommendations for maintaining holistic health, including proper sun exposure with mineral-based sunscreens and embracing natural remedies over processed alternatives.

Notable Quotes

• Sean Kelly [00:56]: "There's a species appropriate diet. You can make little tweaks. Human beings can thrive off a lot of different things."

• Brendan Ruh [02:15]: "Liquid IV... now it's just cane sugar... it's just stupid."

• Sean Kelly [03:35]: "Dairy is a really good source of calcium, really good source of vitamin A."

• Sean Kelly [11:16]: "The answer is to eat real food. We know the answer."

• Sean Kelly [15:32]: "I recommend everybody get into Jiu Jitsu, okay."

Conclusion

In this episode, Sean Kelly and Brendan Ruh provide a comprehensive overview of various health topics, challenging mainstream narratives and advocating for informed, natural approaches to wellness. Their dialogue underscores the importance of understanding the underlying science behind dietary choices, supplementation, and lifestyle practices to achieve optimal health.

Learn More and Connect

To explore Brendan Ruh's products and delve deeper into their health philosophies, visit Santa Cruz Medicinals on Amazon or follow them on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Additionally, tune into their ongoing series Locked In, where participants engage in intensive health and fitness activities such as Jiu Jitsu, hill sprints, and surfing.