Are You Magnesium Deficient?

Many people are already low of the recommended daily allowance of magnesium, and its intake has decreased over the years. Deficiencies can lead to serious problems like depression and anxiety. Poor dietary habits, pharmaceutical drug use, soil depletion and poor farming practices are the most common reasons for a deficiency.

Some foods high in magnesium include: halibut, mackerel, kelp, almonds, cashews, cocoa, pumpkin seeds, molasses, buckwheat, Brazil nuts, dulce, millet, and pecans. Unfortunately, levels in food have dropped as modern soil became increasingly depleted. There are many forms of supplements out there and they all have slightly different effects. Magnesium malate is a compound of magnesium and malic acid, clinically shown to soothe and energize muscle cells. Malic acid is a natural fruit acid is an important part of many enzymes key to ATP synthesis and energy production. Therefore, it is helpful in those suffering from fatigue due to fibromyalgia.

What Causes Magnesium Loss?

It's not only how we choose to take care of the soil we grow our crops in that can determine the outcome of how much magnesium we get from it. Other things we may be doing to our food, or what we are consuming daily could also be contributing to this loss. Things such as:

  • drinking alcohol
  • the refining and processing method used on many foods can cause up to 97% magnesium loss
  • drinking soft water
  • diuretic drugs
  • caffeine
  • sugar

Sources of Magnesium: Nearly all of where we get our magnesium intake from is through vegetables with some exceptions being seafood.

One of the most commonly overlooked health conditions today is a magnesium deficiency. A deficiency in this mineral can contribute to a multitude of common ailments. Before we go any further, let's discuss exactly what magnesium is and why it plays such a crucial role in our bodies.

Magnesium is one of the most abundant minerals on earth and should also be one of the most abundant minerals in the human body. It is essential for over 300 chemical reactions and metabolic functions within our body at any given time. These reactions refer namely to ATP, the body's primary energy source. Every cell in the human body relies on magnesium intake and utilization. Magnesium works in conjunction with calcium, which is a mineral that gets a great amount of attention. Unfortunately with all of this attention on calcium, magnesium has been historically overshadowed in its importance. Proper magnesium ratios are actually important for the body to properly utilize calcium within the cells.

You might be curious as to what exactly magnesium does for the body. Some examples include: enhancing circulation, regulating blood pressure, easing muscle cramps and spasms, helping to make proteins, encouraging proper elimination, ensuring proper vitamine D absorption to cells, and helping with prober carbohydrate digestion. A deficiency in this important mineral can lead to a very long list of symptoms and conditions, such as insomnia, muscle soreness or spasms, headaches, irritability, fatigue, constipation, carbohydrate cravings, gut disorders, and thyroid and kidney problems.

The best way to ensure proper magnesium intake is through supplementation. There are many ways to supplement, including liquid form, a transdermal method (oil) applied to skin, and a delicious powder drink mix called Natural Calm. The recommended daily intake stands at 420 mg a day, and while eating leafy green vegetables and sea vegetables is a great way to maintain magnesium in your diet, the only way to achieve it in the recommended daily dose is through supplementation.