Magnesium gets no love!
Historically, people got their daily dose from organ meats, seafood, mineral water, or swimming in the ocean - which are all activities performed less frequently by modern populations. In addition, modern soils have mineral depletions and magnesium sometimes gets removed from our water supply. The RDA in the US for adults is between 320 and 420 mg daily, and the average US intake is around 250mg daily.
So, now that we've established you probably have a magnesium deficiency, what does that mean?
We see commercials from dairy lobbyists on television - milk farmers, yogurt companies - demonstrating that calcium builds bones or that calcium has been demonstrated to help people lose weight. What these commercials do not indicate is that supposed super-star minerals like calcium and vitamin D rely on magnesium to be activated into the 75 trillion cells in our bodies.
If we are consuming calcium and not enough magnesium, that calcium will build up in our heart, organs and tissues. Although its widely practiced, calcium supplementation can cause a wide range of health issues due to an imbalance when there is a magnesium deficiency. Calcium and potassium work in tandem to with magnesium in the body to perform a number of functions.
Magnesium is also very important on a cellular level for cellular energy and biochemical reactions. If your magnesium is too low, you can experience muscle cramps, arrythmias, and even sudden death.
What will more magnesium mean?
Historically, people got their daily dose from organ meats, seafood, mineral water, or swimming in the ocean - which are all activities performed less frequently by modern populations. In addition, modern soils have mineral depletions and magnesium sometimes gets removed from our water supply. The RDA in the US for adults is between 320 and 420 mg daily, and the average US intake is around 250mg daily.
So, now that we've established you probably have a magnesium deficiency, what does that mean?
We see commercials from dairy lobbyists on television - milk farmers, yogurt companies - demonstrating that calcium builds bones or that calcium has been demonstrated to help people lose weight. What these commercials do not indicate is that supposed super-star minerals like calcium and vitamin D rely on magnesium to be activated into the 75 trillion cells in our bodies.
If we are consuming calcium and not enough magnesium, that calcium will build up in our heart, organs and tissues. Although its widely practiced, calcium supplementation can cause a wide range of health issues due to an imbalance when there is a magnesium deficiency. Calcium and potassium work in tandem to with magnesium in the body to perform a number of functions.
Magnesium is also very important on a cellular level for cellular energy and biochemical reactions. If your magnesium is too low, you can experience muscle cramps, arrythmias, and even sudden death.
What will more magnesium mean?
- Your ability to sleep through the night without waking up, and
- Your body's overall management of stress
Where can I get more magnesium?
The following foods provide more than 100 mg per one cup serving. Look at the list and be honest with yourself. How many of these foods are you eating on a regular basis?
- Almonds
- Artichokes
- Barley
- Buckwheat
- Cashews
- Halibut
- Navy Beans
- Oats
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Seaweed
- Spinach
Consult your doctor before beginning any health program or taking any new supplements, but I've had great success in consuming Natural Calm, a Canadian magnesium supplement product, before bedtime. I'm a fussy sleeper and I've noticed that I fall asleep more quickly and sleep more soundly through the night. They make some great cases for magnesium as an aid to insomnia on the Natural Calm website.
Posts
5 comments:
As always...timely post here Jess as like most at the beginning of a new year I've decided to take a closer look at diet and exercise. One of the things I'm using right now is an iPad app to track intake/out-take and the app also helps you track your vitamin enhancement.
This topic then strikes home and taking your advice here will be sharing Natural Calm as part of my annual check up with my Doctor to see if it would be beneficial. Here's hoping that my refusal to call this self-enlightment a "resolution" allows me to keep on the straight and narrow in this regard for 2012. :)
hi jess, i've been a long time reader and glad to see u are back! i love using natural calm and thank you for your wonderful suggestions most especially essiac tea, i wouldn't have found it if it wasn't for here. i have given it to my grandfather and i truly believe it has helped.
Andy and Olivia, thank you both for your kind responses. Andy, I hope you are able to stay on track for 2012 and I look forward to hearing about your journey as it progresses. Olivia, thank you for your warm words. I'm so pleased to hear that you enjoy natural calm and that your grandfather benefited from essiac tea. This kind of feedback really reaffirms that these experiences are worth sharing and discussing with others.
I'll keep exploring health/diet innovations and share them with you accordingly!
Hey Jess - well it's the end of two weeks and already have lost 8 lbs by simply watching what I intake vs exert. 2012 will hopefully be a very healthy year ahead. :) Cheers,
Andy
I, on the other hand, have not been blogging with the frequency intended. :) Stay tuned for another post tomorrow!
Post a Comment