Why You Need Magnesium in Your Diet

Why You Need Magnesium in Your Diet

The Vital Mineral – Magnesium

Magnesium is one of many minerals that are essential to health and wellbeing. But did you know the significance that magnesium plays in maintaining the ‘status quo’?

This article covers what we think are the ‘need to know’ facts about magnesium and why you should be including this mineral in your diet today.

What is Magnesium?

Magnesium is an alkaline metal and one of many crucial minerals required by our body. An adult possesses approximately 25 grams of magnesium. Of this amount, about half resides in bone, and a large percentage is also found inside muscle cells. Around 1% is found in the blood.

The Role Magnesium Plays in Our Body

Magnesium works at many different levels in our body and plays an important role in strengthening bones and muscles as well as energy production. Magnesium is a cofactor in over 300 enzyme systems that regulate biochemical reactions in our body, including protein synthesis, nerve and muscle function, blood glucose control and blood pressure regulation (National Institutes of Health).

Magnesium Deficiency and Muscle Cramps

According to an article by Carolyn Dean, M.D., N.D. (medical and naturopathic doctor) we need magnesium for bone health and a whole lot more. Magnesium actually works in tandem with vitamin D in different metabolic reactions.

Of concern here is if you take high doses of vitamin D while being low in magnesium, your body will drain magnesium from storage areas. This leads to muscle cramps, twitching, leg cramps and restlessness.

In a 2007 study entitled “Magnesium and the Inflammatory Response…” it was shown that at the cellular level, magnesium reduces inflammation. Consider this question: what would happen if your body was low in magnesium levels?

The idea is that magnesium deficiency, or low levels of magnesium, may predispose muscles to cramps. This is linked to the role magnesium plays in neuromuscular transmission and muscle contraction.

How Much magnesium do I Need?

According to the Harvard Medical School, men aged over 31 require 420 mg whereas women aged over 31 require 320 mg.

Good, natural sources of magnesium include a variety of green vegetables such as broccoli and spinach, legumes, nuts, seeds, whole-wheat bread and milk.

Magnesium is so important that sports Doctors regularly prescribe supplements to their athletes to boost overall health and recovery, to aid in muscle repair and to help maintain stable blood pressure.

The Take Home Message

If you experience musculoskeletal issues, such as back pain, headaches or posture problems (which chiropractors help with), a mineral deficiency may make your situation worse. The last thing you need to content with is additional muscle cramps, pain and discomfort.

Rate this article

No Comments

Leave a Comment