Dominick Cardone recovered from mercury poisoning
When Dominick Cardone recovered from mercury poisoning his IFBB Pro status in 2014, he knew that the road to glory was going to be long, but you do not win a show like NPC Nationals without the potential to achieve greatness. So Cardone was excited about the journey ahead, and he gave his all for the sport. However, that journey began with the unfortunate passing of his mother while he was preparing for the New York Pro.
“My mother got really sick, and I was in the hospital with her. She died three weeks out, and I went on to compete. That show was a disaster, and that’s why I fell off the net for a few years, he said.
Dominick Cardone had tried to get back on stage, and he had good guidance in the form of the seven-time Olympia 212 champion Flex Lewis. Lewis was a mentor and training partner for Cardone, and he went all in to get back on stage. His diet was also on point, eating fish as one of his main sources of protein because of how lean it is. It turned out that what he thought was a calculated strategy did more harm than good.
“In early 2020, it started with some bowel problems – abdominal pain, irregular bowel movements, and then there were skin problems,” Cardone said. “Then I started losing weight and got no pumps in the gym, no matter what I did.”
Dominick Cardone recovered from mercury poisoning tried to find out what was going on by talking to doctors, but he also wanted to stay on track. So he continued with exercise and diet throughout 2020.
“I only got worse and no doctors could give answers, now I have much less energy – lethargy all day,” he said in detail. While the physical charge it took could be seen, it was the problems that could not be seen that were worst for Cardone.
“The mental part of it, it got worse by the day. It felt like a roller coaster. Severe depression, focus problems, if I was not depressed, it was just “scroll,” he said. “I just could not be happy, and in 2021 I began to experience suicidal thoughts. I just wanted to sit on the couch and start thinking of ways to end my life. “
Lewis had expressed concern throughout this process, linking Cardone to a gut specialist who took several tests with stool, blood and urine samples. This was March 2021, and Cardone had been working on this issue for over a year. It was at this point that the answer was finally revealed.
“Mercury levels were through the roof,” Cardone said. “It was just through the roof.”
Asked why no other doctors were able to find the cause, Cardone said it was because not all options were considered.
“No one thought about looking for metal levels,” he shared. Now that he knew what the cause was, it was time to find a solution.
“Obviously I stopped eating fish,” he said. Among the fish he ate most of were tuna, yellowtail and mackerel. “I had eaten tuna several times a week, kilos of it.” He also revealed that he had eaten a lot of sushi after moving to Las Vegas. There was some progress when he cut all the fish out of the diet.
“Two months went by, and there was some improvement, but it was mostly just managing.” Cardone contacted another IFBB Pro bodybuilder who had experience with mercury poisoning, Jason Huh.
“Jason told me what kind of doctor I should look for, what kind of treatments were effective for him and his wife. He took a million pounds off my back.”
After contacting the doctor Huh suggested, Dominick Cardone recovered from mercury poisoning was put on several treatments, including pills, IV and other forms of therapy. He also learned a lot about mercury and mercury poisoning. One misconception is that there is an “acceptable” amount that the body can handle. According to WebMD, mercury is natural in the environment and can be released through pollution. It can fall and build up in bodies of water and become methylmercury, which is how fish get it. The levels vary with the amount of fish. Dominick Cardone recovered from mercury poisoning
“There is actually no use for mercury in the body. It is a heavy metal, it is toxic, and the body has no use for it,” said the 28-year-old. “The highlight of the test was .004. I was about 20.4. I was completely off the charts, literally. “
After several months of treatment, Dominick Cardone recovered from mercury poisoning has finally seen noticeable progress. Although he is not 100 percent yet, he is significantly better than he was before his first appointment with the intestinal specialist. He still has some issues he is struggling with.
“The only thing I really need to work on is my memory,” he said. “My short-term memory got a big blow from the mercury. I still have to work on my speech. I can put my thoughts together, and I do not stutter that much.”
From an awareness perspective, Dominick Cardone recovered from mercury poisoning wants to turn this negative into a positive one by helping other people learn how to prevent going through the problems he did.
“Know what you are eating and definitely limit the fish you eat, and know the mercury levels,” he said clearly. “You can easily go online and look up mercury content. Tuna, swordfish and yellowtail will be at the top of that list. “ Dominick Cardone recovered from mercury poisoning
He also advocated seeing more than one doctor if you can not find the answer to what is bothering you.
“If you feel you have high metal levels, consult a functional medicine doctor and have them test you. They can guide you through how to proceed. Metal does not leave the body naturally. It will break down your body physically and mentally. “
From a bodybuilding point of view, he is back in the gym, and he remembered the first noticeable pump he knew in a long time.
“It was mid-January 2022, and we were training legs. “I had seen my legs inflate in a way I had not seen in many years,” he recalled. “This feeling of relief made me so euphoric. It made me think of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s famous quote about the pump. It was the most euphoric feeling I have had in a long time. “
While Dominick Cardone recovered from mercury poisoning has reflected on his journey and wants to use it to help others, he is a forward-leaning man, and he has now focused on returning to his sport in a competitive way. Dominick Cardone recovered from mercury poisoning
“I’ll be back. It’s definitely. My goal is to win Mr. Olympia. Now that I’m well, my fire is back. I’ll let Flex help me choose a show. Again, he’s guide me on the road. Exactly “Now I’m having so much fun growing up. People can definitely expect to see me on stage either late this year or early next year.” Dominick Cardone recovered from mercury poisoning
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