Magnesium is not just an important mineral for the body, one could argue it is the most important one. It is involved in many processes that are vital for your health, and many of us are deficient of magnesium.
Causes of Magnesium Deficiency:
- Many prescription drugs deplete us of magnesium
- Soil depletion
- Our foods don’t contain the same nutrition as they used to
- GMOs
- Glyphosate and other chemicals keep us from absorbing magnesium
- Digestive issues such as leaky gut
- Fluoride drains magnesium from the body
- Type II Diabetes
- Age
- Alcoholism
Why is Magnesium Important:
- Helps with the digestion of proteins, carbs, and fats
- Important precursor for neurotransmitters such as serotonin
- Important in creating energy in the body
- Activates muscles and nerves
- Required for the synthesis of the most powerful antioxidant in the body – glutathione
- Helps regulate calcium, potassium, and sodium in the body
- Needed in over 800 biochemical functions in the body
- Helps balance the enzyme that creates cholesterol in your body, thusly aiding in normalizing your cholesterol levels
- Bone health
Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency:
- Muscle contractions and cramps
- Seizures
- Personality changes
- Numbness and tingling
- Insomnia
- Muscle pain/fibromyalgia
- Anxiety
- High blood pressure
- Fatigue
- Migraine headaches
- Osteoporosis
What to look for in a Supplement:
There are many different types of magnesium, as magnesium has to be bound to another substance. This does lead to different levels of absorption of magnesium in your body.
- Magnesium oxide / citrate / sulfate / hydroxide – laxative properties
- Magnesium glycinate – highest level of absorption and bioavailability – ideal for trying to correct a magnesium deficiency
- Magnesium malate – good absorption in the body
- Magnesium lactate – better absorption than some of the others
- Magnesium taurate – tends to have a calming effect
Things to Consider:
- Consuming too much magnesium can cause diarrhea
- Consume between 300 – 400 milligrams and consult your natural health physician
- An appropriate ratio of calcium and magnesium is 1:1
- Finding good food sources for magnesium has become quite tricky. If you can find biologically grown, organic foods, those may still contain enough magnesium. Green leafy vegetables such as spinach and Swiss chard are good sources. Avocados, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds are good sources as well.
