Ray Peat on Ammonia

 

Digestive Processing of Seeds and Associated Allergic Reactions

“When we eat seeds in their raw form, our digestive enzymes process gluten differently and produce some quite toxic peptides (chemically related to histamine) as well as some ammonia; these can, together with the starch, cause bloating and a variety of allergic reactions.”

– Nutrition For Women

Carbon Dioxide, Urea, and Water Regulation

“In addition to this fundamental stabilizing and regulatory function of carbon dioxide, it combines with ammonia to form urea. Urea contributes – similarly to carbon dioxide – significantly to the regulation of water by altering its properties. The elimination of ammonia protects against its toxic effects, which also include the generation of pseudohypoxia.”

– March 2020 – Ray Peats Newsletter

Connection Between Hypothyroidism, Chronic Stress, and Metabolic Problems

“In hypothyroidism, with reduced oxidative metabolism, the organism is never far from stress and hyperventilation, associated with the chronic production of lactate and ammonia. The inefficient metabolism in diabetes has similar effects.”

– July 2017 – Ray Peats Newsletter

Various Substances Increase Respiration and Reduce Essential CO₂

“Besides ammonia and lactate, other stress-related substances can also increase respiratory drive and thereby reduce essential CO₂ – for example endotoxin, acetylcholine, serotonin, hydrogen sulfide, nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, angiotensin, and estrogen.”

– July 2017 – Ray Peats Newsletter

Hypothyroidism, Stress, and Associated Physiological Complications

“Hypothyroid individuals, with low CO₂ production, are very susceptible to stress-induced hyperventilation and often exist in a state of physiological hyperventilation. They tend to overproduce ammonia (De Nardo et al., 1999; Marti et al., 1988) and lactate (Zarzeczny et al., 1996) as well as psychoses, especially depression and mania.”

– July 2017 – Ray Peats Newsletter

Immediate Effects of Energy Deficiency on Cell Health

“Energy deprivation, caused by insufficient glucose or oxygen, leads to immediate swelling of cells and is associated with excitation; the ammonia linked to energy deprivation and excessive excitation contributes to the swelling.”

– July 2017 – Ray Peats Newsletter

Effects of Glucose Deficiency on Cellular Metabolism

“Glucose deficiency causes glutamine to be used as fuel, increasing ammonia formation; and ammonia promotes (through an excitatory effect on cells and direct activation of enzymes) the glycolytic use of glucose, producing lactic acid even in the presence of oxygen and maintaining the glucose deficiency.”

– July 2017 – Ray Peats Newsletter

Stress-Induced Respiratory Changes and Their Consequences

“Stress alters our breathing and causes a vicious cycle in which lactate and ammonia, produced when stimulation exceeds our oxidative capacity, stimulate more intense breathing. This leads to greater loss of carbon dioxide, reduced oxidative efficiency, and further increases in ammonia and lactate formation.”

– July 2017 – Ray Peats Newsletter

Importance of Monitoring Ammonia and Lactate Levels

“Because of their role in generating and maintaining pseudohypoxia and stimulating hyperventilation, more attention should be given to measuring ammonia and lactate in blood, breath, and urine.”

– July 2017 – Ray Peats Newsletter

Treatment of Hypocalcemic Tetany with Calcium and Magnesium

“The doctrine of hypocalcemic tetany led to the practice of treating tetany with intravenous calcium solutions; veterinarians, for example, often treat grass tetany in cows with large intravenous doses of calcium. The treatment works, but tetany is now attributed to magnesium deficiency (since magnesium supplementation works better, as Koch found), and excessive ammonia produced in the cow’s rumen may contribute to magnesium deficiency.”

– 1999 – December – Ray Peats Newsletter

Koch’s Research on Cramps, Nephritis, and Toxic Compounds

“Koch found that seizures caused by removal of the parathyroid glands were associated with the development of nephritis and the appearance of the toxic substances guanidine and methylguanidine. These compounds – and ammonia – are now known to cause seizures by acting on excitatory amino acid receptors.”

– 1999 – December – Ray Peats Newsletter

Ammonia Poisoning and Its Defense Mechanism Against Seizures

“Ammonia does not cause seizures in chronic poisoning but rather drowsiness and coma, and at this point its connection with glutamic acid to form glutamine is probably important as a protective mechanism against seizures, since both ammonia and glutamic acid are eliminated.”

– 1999 – December – Ray Peats Newsletter

Reaction of Carbon Dioxide and Ammonia in Urea Formation

“Carbon dioxide reacts spontaneously with ammonia and other amines. The reaction of ammonia with carbon dioxide is the first step in urea formation and protects against the potential toxicity of ammonia.”

– 1998 – Ray Peats Newsletter – 3

Ammonia and Its Metabolically Related Substances in Biological Regulation

“For several years I have been interested in the biological effects of ammonia and compounds metabolically related to it. There is clear evidence of the antiviral effect of ammonia, which stimulated extensive research by pharmaceutical companies seeking patentable antiviral amines. Most simple substances have their own regulatory functions, in addition to their involvement in other systems. Besides viral immunity, I think ammonia is involved in regeneration and nerve modulation. Urea, inosine, GABA, the polyamines, and beta derivatives (e.g., gamma-butyrobetaine) are closely related to ammonia metabolism, and combinations of these substances will likely have many useful biological effects.”

– 1991 – July – Ray Peats Newsletter

Possible Risks of Orotic Acid for Metabolism and Liver Health

“It was known that orotic acid alters pyrimidine and ammonia metabolism, which is why I considered it unwise to use supplements containing large amounts of it. A few years ago, orotic acid was described, based on experiments in rats, as an excellent liver carcinogen.”

– 1990 – May – Ray Peats Newsletter

Cyanide Inhibition of Respiratory Energy and Cytochromes

“Since carbon monoxide binds to metal atoms, it could be held in a form that reacts easily with ammonia. During stress – which causes both lipid peroxidation and ammonia formation – rhodanese would be required to protect the respiratory cytochromes from cyanide, which would otherwise inhibit respiratory energy production and other processes involving the cytochromes.”

– 1989 – January – Ray Peats Newsletter

Stress-Induced Intracellular Toxins and Cell Blockages

“Stress also leads to the formation of intracellular toxins, including ammonia and carbon monoxide, which tend to maintain the blocked state.”

– 1988 – August/September – Ray Peats Newsletter
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Supplements according to Ray Peat

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