Most Americans do not get enough magnesium from their diets, a problem that causes a range of health risks.
Magnesium is used in every organ in the body. This critical mineral is responsible for over 300 enzyme reactions and is found in your tissues, bones, muscles, and brain. You need Magnesium for your cells to make energy, to stabilize membranes, and to help muscles relax. As you age you have an increased risk for magnesium deficiency. Deficiency that can lead to a broad range of health problems, from mild to life-threatening.
Common deficiency include but are not limited to:
- Hypertension
- Cardiovascular disease
- Arrhythmias
- Sudden cardiac death
- Insomnia
- Sensitivity to loud noise
- Anxiety and depression
- Autism
- ADHD
- Palpitations
- Angina
- Sensitivity to loud noise
- Migraines
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic fatigue
- Asthma
- Kidney stones
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Obesity
- Osteoporosis
- High blood pressure
- PMS
- Menstrual cramps
- Irritable bladder
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Muscle cramps or twitches
Recent studies have shed new light on the interactions between magnesium and vitamin D, warning that low magnesium prevents your body’s ability to properly utilize vitamin D, even when it’s present.
A deficiency of magnesium has been associated with depression, interfering with the release of neurotransmitters, the aggregation of platelets, and the constriction of blood vessels. All of these processes are believed to be involved in migraine.
Food containing Magnesium
Magnesium is widely found in foods, including:
- Green leafy vegetables
- Legumes, like beans
- Nuts
- Whole grains
- Seeds
- Soy products
- Bananas
- Peanut butter
- Avocados
While it’s best to get your magnesium from your diet, but due to our mineral depleted soils many vegetables are likely to be deficient in magnesium and other minerals. Today our food crops are being drowned in glyphosate. Chemicals like glyphosate actually act as chelators, effectively blocking the uptake and utilization of minerals.
TIPS FOR INCREASING YOUR MAGNESIUM
- Take regular Epsom salt bath or Epsom foot bath
2. Apply magnesium oil topically
3. Magnesium lotion
4. Take high quality magnesium supplements avoid magnesium stearate
Who should not take magnesium
People with kidney failure should not use magnesium supplements.
People with kidney disease or kidney failure have a higher risk of problems from high doses of magnesium because the kidneys no longer removes the extra magnesium. Too much magnesium can be toxic in the body and may cause serious or potentially fatal side effects, including muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, extreme low blood pressure, vomiting, and heart attack.
We always encourage you to talk to your healthcare provider about your interest in, questions about, or use of dietary supplements and what may be best for your overall health.
Sources Used:
The multifaceted and widespread pathology of magnesium deficiency.
Role of Magnesium in Vitamin D Activation and Function
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/
A connection between magnesium deficiency and aging: new insights from cellular studies
BMC Medicine, December 8, 2016
Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine 2015; 28(2):249-256
Magnesium involvement in sleep: genetic and nutritional mode
Autismcanada.org:living-with-autism
psychcentral.com/blog/living-with-extreme-sound-sensitivity/
Muscle cramps and magnesium deficiency: case reports
Magnesium in the Central Nervous System
Magnesium for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease
Is Fibromyalgia Due to a Mineral Deficiency
americannutritionassociation.org/newsletter/magnesium-chronic-fatigue-syndrome
Effects of magnesium hydroxide in renal stone disease.
Comparison of Serum Magnesium Levels in Overweight and Obese Children and Normal Weight Children
Magnesium may prevent bone fractures
Magnesium Supplements May Help to Lower Blood Pressure
The natural remedy that’s often effective for calming an ‘irritable bladder’
Treating IBS Constipation With Magnesium
Glyphosate, a chelating agent—relevant for ecological risk assessment?
Love the details you provide. I was wondering if you can share natural remedies to help kill virus’. I know there are a lot of harsh chemicals like bleach, that works, but what are my natural options? I think many moms like me are worried about constantly using hash chemicals all day to kill COVID-19. We are told to wipe everything down with chemicals, to help slow down this virus, what are your thoughts on that?
Hi Maite,
I am not a doctor and I will say one should consult their doctor before making any changes in their prenatalcare. However, I found articles supporting pregnant and lactating women to take magnesium supplement. According to (https://www.biolectra.com/pregnancy-breast-feeding-period/magnesium-pregnancy/) they recommend magnesium “Due to various factors, the body’s magnesium requirement increases during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.” And according to “National Center for Biotechnology Information” or NCBI (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5590399/) Magnesium (Mg) is an essential mineral required to regulate body temperature, nucleic acid, and protein synthesis with an important role in maintaining nerve and muscle cell electrical potentials. It may reduce fetal growth restriction and preeclampsia as well as increase birth weight. This study aimed to assess the effects of consuming Mg supplementation during pregnancy on pregnancy outcomes. Read more “Effect of Magnesium Supplement on Pregnancy Outcomes: A Randomized Control Trial” at (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5590399/)
I hope this helps!
Very interesting article.
At one time I was told that pregnant or lactating women should not take magnesium supplements.
Is this true?