Calcium, probiotics, antioxidants... we are constantly bombarded with what we are missing or what advertisers want us to believe we need. That orange juice has calcium and no pulp. This cereal is enriched with vitamin B. This cheese was hand massaged. We live in an artisan, grass fed, organic, GMO-free, hand reared society, but no one is talking about a key nutrient: magnesium.
Eighty percent of Americans are deficient in this mineral. Researchers have detected 3,751 magnesium binding sites on human proteins, according to GreenMedInfo. According to Epoch Times, magnesium is found in more than 300 enzymes in your body and is responsible for:
- Creation of energy molecules in your body
- Bones and teeth
- Proper bowl functions
- Blood sugar regulation
- Heart muscle integrity and action
- Slackening of blood vessels
And that's just the short list.
Basically every major organ system in your body requires magnesium, according to LiveStrong. Magnesium is recommended for heart attack survivors and those with congestive heart failure. Studies have found that magnesium helps regulate blood pressure and can prevent heart attack and stroke. "For example, one meta-analysis published earlier this year in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition looked at a total of seven studies collectively covering more than 240,000 participants," according to Epoch Times. "The results showed that dietary magnesium intake is inversely associated with risk of ischemic stroke."
Magnesium may also prevent bronchospasm, reverse osteoporosis, treat depression, migraines and insomnia, according to News Max. Fibromyalgia or premenstrual syndrome sufferers and those with type 2 diabetes could benefit from magnesium, according to Epoch Times. It is even used to prevent premature labor.
Magnesium helps the body process chemicals and manages the detoxification process. "Even glutathione, your body's most powerful antioxidant that has even been called 'the master antioxidant,' requires magnesium for its synthesis," according to Epoch Times.
So, how do you know you don't have enough magnesium?
According to Epoch Times, signs and symptoms can vary from the simple to the severe, including:
- Loss of appetite
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue and weakness
- Numbness and tingling
- Muscle contractions and cramps
- Seizures
- Personality changes
- Abnormal heart rhythms
- Coronary spasms
Only one percent of magnesium is found in the blood, so blood tests aren't very accurate. Your doctor may give you a 24-hour urine test or a sublingual skin test.
How do you get magnesium?
