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Health Is A Skill with Todd Vande Hei

Welcome to the Health is a Skill podcast with host Todd Vande Hei! Todd is the CEO of Stark, which exists to change the future of health and fitness in the communities they serve. For the last 15 years, Todd has been on a journey to discover what it means to be in a state of peak health. After suffering from a series of seizures and being diagnosed with high blood pressure and atrial fibrillation in his early 30’s, Todd decided it was time to make a change. Those changes fell into one of four categories: lifestyle, exercise, nutrition, and stress management. But the biggest thing Todd learned through it all? Health is a skill. You’re not born with it, like some would like you to believe, and it isn’t acquired by simply buying another product or starting that new diet. Health is something you can create for yourself, and over time it is possible to attain peak health.

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Health Is A Skill with Todd Vande Hei

Magnesium, Stress & Performance — Why This Mineral Might Be the Missing Piece

December 11, 2025 • Todd Vande Hei • Episode 33

In this episode, Todd Vande Hei sits back down with “the magnesium guy,” Dr. Robert Fredrickson, to go deeper into one of the most underrated levers in health optimization: magnesium.

Dr. Fredrickson explains why magnesium isn’t just a lab value to glance at — it’s a central regulator of stress, sleep, hormones, cardiovascular health, and performance. He shares how he personally needs ~1,000 mg per day to stay in balance as a high-output entrepreneur, clinician, dad, and coach, and why most people are dramatically underestimating their true needs.

In this episode, they cover:
• Why magnesium is a “stress buffer” and how allostatic load (work, kids, training, stimulants) determines your real dose.
• The role of magnesium in mitochondrial function and ATP production — and what low levels feel like.
• Links between magnesium, testosterone, thyroid, cortisol regulation, and sleep quality.
• How deficiency shows up as tight muscles, twitching, restless legs, low stress tolerance, cravings, and mood issues.
• Why our food has less magnesium than it used to — and what that means for supplementation.
• Serum vs RBC magnesium testing, and why “normal” on a lab doesn’t always mean optimal.
• How meds like diuretics and even high-dose vitamin D can quietly drain magnesium.
• Magnesium’s support role in long COVID recovery and autonomic balance.
• Forms vs fundamentals: why people over-fixate on glycinate vs threonate and under-focus on simply getting enough.

⚡ Final Takeaway:
Magnesium is low-hanging fruit for better health and longevity — but only if you get enough for your lifestyle, not just a generic maintenance dose.

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🤔 ABOUT Todd Vande Hei 🤔

Welcome to Todd Vande Hei's channel, where health mastery meets real-life transformation. Join Todd as he shares invaluable insights and practical tips to help you unlock your full health potential.

Whether you're struggling with chronic pain, seeking sustainable weight loss, or simply striving to live your best life, Todd's journey and expertise will inspire and empower you to take control of your health and well-being.

Join our community of health enthusiasts committed to making positive changes and thriving at every stage of life. Let's embark on this journey to vibrant health together!

DISCLOSURE

We focus on optimizing every aspect of your well-being. At Stark, our team of expert trainers, doctors, nutritionists and a complete medical support team, led by CEO Todd Vande Hei, is dedicated to helping you become the BEST version of yourself. We specialize in coaching executives, athletes, pop stars, astronauts and other noteworthy individuals in all forms of exercise, diet, lifestyle, stress management and personalized supplement protocols.

Our methodology is designed to tackle each facet of well-being comprehensively. We believe that optimal health encompasses ten key aspects, which...