Magnesium – the most deficient mineral in our bodies
The first thing I was prescribed to supplement from my naturopath was magnesium!
As women (and men), we are very deficient in magnesium. Due to the lifestyle we all live, it’s understandable why magnesium is so depleted in our bodies.
You see whenever we are stressed; emotionally, physically, mentally – our magnesium stores deplete.
When we have antibiotics or medication of any sort, even the pill for that matter – that depletes magnesium.
The foods we consume that have magnesium in them are not the quality they used to be, due to more demand and the soil quality may not be as good and stripped of its minerals as well.
So many factors come into play about the source of magnesium and the amount of continuous depletion of magnesium.
I read an amazing book “The Magnesium miracle” – Carolyn Dean MD
Carolyn went into every corner of magnesium’s need within the body and the repercussions of not having enough magnesium in our body. This really resonated with today’s health concerns world wide and how again we are misdiagnosed with without realising the depletion our body is in.
Facts:
The heart contains the highest amount of magnesium in the body, so the more magnesium deficient you are, the more your heart will suffer. Any painkiller – any medication, in fact – will delete the body’s magnesium stores. Such a deficiency only causes more migraine symptoms and magnesium deficiency symptoms, the worst being cardiovascular problems.
Absorption is highest from animal sources, not plant sources and magnesium is a very safe mineral for you to take.
There should be an equal part of calcium and magnesium in supplements (a ratio of 1: 1).
Magnesium sulfate, known today as Epsom salts, was used in ancient times as a laxative, and still is to this day. It was used for conditions such as skin ulcers, depression, vertigo, heartburn, worms, kidney stones, jaundice, and gout. And still is now.
Never take any amount vitamin D without magnesium.
Nuts and seeds and their brothers are the richest sources of magnesium.
Salt from the sea and salt high in magnesium are not only safe but can be therapeutic for someone with heart disease.
Magnesium chloride is the form of magnesium used to make magnesium oil
Magnesium is required for the body to produce and store energy. Without magnesium there are no energy, no movement, no life. It’s that simple.
Brain
Even our thoughts, by a brain neurons, are dependent on magnesium.
Calcium causes contractions in skeletal muscle fibres, and magnesium causes relaxin. When there is too much calcium and insufficient magnesium inside a cell, you can get sustained muscle contraction: twitches, spasms, and even convulsions.
Smooth muscles directed by too much calcium and insufficient magnesium can tighten the bronchial tracks, causing asthma; causing cramping in the uterus and painful periods; and causes spasms in blood vessels, resulting in hypertension.
Diuretics
Diuretics lower magnesium levels in the body. Diuretics throw off potassium, which is well known, but they also eliminate magnesium. Additional magnesium intake is recommended during administration of diuretics.
Adrenals
Not only do our overworked adrenals cause magnesium depletion, but even more adrenaline is released under stress when magnesium levels are low in the body, leaving people feeling, nervous, edgy, or even ready to explode. To put an end to anxiety, magnesium needs to be replaced.
Muscular
Muscle twitches are a sure sign of magnesium deficiency the nervous system is hyperexcitable and fires off small muscle groups to try to release some tension. But the only way to eliminate muscle spasms and twitches this is by relaxing the nervous system with the proper amount of magnesium.
(Just think of athletes with their recovery in salt water – it’s to relax and repair their muscles – the more your muscle recovers, the better and stronger your next match or training session!)
Obesity
The connection between stress and obesity cannot be overlooked. The stress chemical cortisol signals a metabolic shutdown that makes losing weight almost impossible. It’s as if the body feels it is under an attack such that it must hoard all its resources, including fat stores, and won’t let go of them under any inducement. Magnesium can neutralize the effects of stress.
Diabetes
Most important for diabetics, insulin’s main job requires magnesium; without magnesium, and insulin is not properly secreted from the pancreas, and what does get into the bloodstream doesn’t work correctly. At the cell level, magnesium is required to open pathways into the cell for the entrance of blood sugar. If magnesium is in short supply, sugar stays in the bloodstream, and as it becomes elevated, symptoms of diabetes appear. One of the symptoms of diabetes is copious urination – magnesium levels are elevated in diabetic urine, which means greater losses and more symptoms in a vicious cycles of depletion.
Osteoporosis
Women with Osteoporosis have a lower than average levels of magnesium in their diets, according to survey reports. Magnesium deficiency can compromise calcium metabolism and also hindered the body’s production of vitamin D, further weakening bones.
Adequate levels of magnesium are essential for the absorption and metabolism of calcium.
Magnesium simulates a particular hormone, calcitation, that helps to preserve bone structure and draws calcium out of the blood and soft tissues back into the bones, preventing some forms of arthritis and kidney stones.
Magnesium suppresses another bone hormone called parathyroid preventing it from breaking down bone.
Magnesium converts vitamin D into its active form so that it can help calcium absorption.
Magnesium is required to activate an enzymes that is necessary to form new bone.
Magnesium regulates active calcium transport.
Chronic fatigue syndrome, and Fibromyalgia.
1. Magnesium deficiency is common in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia sufferers.
2. Magnesium forms an important part of treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.
3. Magnesium ameliorates the fatigue, muscle pain, and chemical sensitivity of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.
Asthma
Magnesium is an excellent treatment for asthma because it is a bronchodilator and an antihistamine, naturally reducing histamine levels in the body. It has it calming effect on the muscles and the bronchial tubes and the whole body.
Study showed a correlation between intracellular magnesium levels and airway spasm. The investigators found that patients who had low cellular magnesium levels had increased bronchial spasm. This finding confirmed not only that magnesium was useful in the treatment of asthma by dilating the bronchial tubes but the lack of magnesium was probably a cause of this condition.
Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s patients also have a consistently low magnesium levels within the hippocampus, the area of the brain most damaged by Alzheimer’s. Aluminium is able to replace magnesium in certain and enzyme systems in the body, mimicking its function and causing harm. Aluminium can also replace magnesium in the brain, which leaves calcium channels in the brain nerve cells wide open, allowing calcium to flood in, causing cell death.
Dementia
Dementia may also be caused by magnesium depletion alone. Several studies show that the severe neurological syndromes can result when conditions cause extremely low levels of brain magnesium, such as with the chronic use of diuretics, which millions of people take to control high blood pressure. These neurological conditions can present as seizures, delirium, coma, or psychosis, which are quickly reversed by administering large doses of intravenous magnesium.
The body’s ability to absorb magnesium declines with age, so at particular risk are elderly people who do not eat an adequate diet and who use drugs that deplete the body’s magnesium.
When to take magnesium
Take your first dose of magnesium when you wake up in the morning and the last days at bedtime. If you take a third dose take it late afternoon. I feel the magnesium is sufficiently energising throughout the day, it’s as good as a sleeping pill to help get a good night’s rest. People, who suffer from leg cramps, restless legs, or general muscle tension, take magnesium at night and find that it just manages the pain and tension and helps sleep. There are so many ways and magnesium can work on the body that is important for you to decide what timing best for you.
Oral doses of magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts), magnesium hydroxide (milk of magnesia), magnesium oxide, and magnesium citrate contain high concentrations of magnesium to draw water into the colon and act as an effective laxative.
Magnesia phosphorica it’s a great antispasmodic remedy and the most commonly used magnesium homoeopathic remedy. it really treats cramping of all muscles, includes hiccups, leg cramps, writer’s cramp, abdominal colic, heart pain, lung pain, menstrual pain and accompanied by radiating pains, neuralgic paint, and all sorts of tics and tremors including twitching of the eyelids. It works especially with violin liberated subject to a both mentally and physically tired.
Magnesium intake has been effective in helping to restore health to many sufferers. Magnesium is also one of the best ways to strengthen the immune system and boost resistance against germs.
I love magnesium and I cannot see the rest of my life without this supplement!
Thank you for your time in reading this and here’s to your health.
Please share with all your loved ones, sharing is caring.
Kerrie
Professional Health, Fitness and Wellness coach
