Why Is Magnesium So Important?
I talk a lot about magnesium and for good reason:
Magnesium is vital to mental and emotional health, proper sleep, healthy cell function, bone health and, probably also reduction of inflammation.
Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and we don't talk enough about it and the vital role it plays in great health and energy, as well as disease prevention.
Approximately 50 per cent of total body magnesium is found in our bones. Magnesium is required for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. It helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps heart rhythm steady, supports a healthy immune system and keeps bones strong.
It's also a wonderful mineral for helping us to relax. It can be particularly beneficial at night to assist with muscle relaxation and a good night's sleep.
Symptoms of a magnesium deficiency can include:
• Migraines
• Anxiety
• Fidgety legs
• Restlessness
• Muscle cramps
• Not getting a good night sleep
• Low energy levels
• Agitation and anxiety
• Irritability
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abnormal heart rhythms
• Low blood pressure
We actually store very little Mg in our bodies, so most of our daily requirement should come from the food we eat or mineral water we drink.
Although it is thought that many of us probably don't have enough magnesium in our diets, symptomatic Mg deficiency is actually quite rare, except in certain health conditions. This is because our kidneys regulate excretion of magnesium. If we don't have a healthy intake from our food, the amount of Mg removed from our body will be reduced, and vice versa. This self-regulation and "recycling" of magnesium ensures that most of us will have sufficient Mg in our bodies most of the time. This is less likely to be true for older men (over 70yrs) and adolescent girls, who have an increased requirement for Mg during their years of rapid growth.
Nonetheless, if you feel any of the above symptoms, just take a magnesium supplement, or drink mineral water or eat plenty of magnesium rich foods.
These include:
The magnesium content of refined foods is usually low. Whole-wheat bread, for example, has twice as much magnesium as white bread because the magnesium-rich germ and bran are removed when white flour is processed. Over 80% of magnesium in grains is lost in the refining of whole-foods. Early humans would most probably have obtained their magnesium from the mineral/spring water they drank, that might still be the best option today too. :-)
Magnesium is vital to mental and emotional health, proper sleep, healthy cell function, bone health and, probably also reduction of inflammation.
Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and we don't talk enough about it and the vital role it plays in great health and energy, as well as disease prevention.
Approximately 50 per cent of total body magnesium is found in our bones. Magnesium is required for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. It helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps heart rhythm steady, supports a healthy immune system and keeps bones strong.
It's also a wonderful mineral for helping us to relax. It can be particularly beneficial at night to assist with muscle relaxation and a good night's sleep.
Symptoms of a magnesium deficiency can include:
• Migraines
• Anxiety
• Fidgety legs
• Restlessness
• Muscle cramps
• Not getting a good night sleep
• Low energy levels
• Agitation and anxiety
• Irritability
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abnormal heart rhythms
• Low blood pressure
We actually store very little Mg in our bodies, so most of our daily requirement should come from the food we eat or mineral water we drink.
Although it is thought that many of us probably don't have enough magnesium in our diets, symptomatic Mg deficiency is actually quite rare, except in certain health conditions. This is because our kidneys regulate excretion of magnesium. If we don't have a healthy intake from our food, the amount of Mg removed from our body will be reduced, and vice versa. This self-regulation and "recycling" of magnesium ensures that most of us will have sufficient Mg in our bodies most of the time. This is less likely to be true for older men (over 70yrs) and adolescent girls, who have an increased requirement for Mg during their years of rapid growth.
Nonetheless, if you feel any of the above symptoms, just take a magnesium supplement, or drink mineral water or eat plenty of magnesium rich foods.
These include:
- Avocado, bananas, other veges that grow in the ground
- Leafy green vegetables, such as spinach and kale.
- Nuts (Brazil, almonds and cashews), seeds (sunflower and sesame) and some whole grains are also good sources of magnesium.
The magnesium content of refined foods is usually low. Whole-wheat bread, for example, has twice as much magnesium as white bread because the magnesium-rich germ and bran are removed when white flour is processed. Over 80% of magnesium in grains is lost in the refining of whole-foods. Early humans would most probably have obtained their magnesium from the mineral/spring water they drank, that might still be the best option today too. :-)
