Magnesium is one of the most important minerals that you can take. It is needed for so many things, and unfortunately, many of us are deficient. Plus, magnesium content in our food is significantly less now than in the past. Over the years, our soil has been depleted of magnesium. Many modern day fertilizers alter the way plants are able to absorb magnesium as well, again depleting the amount available in our foods. Cooking can also alter magnesium content in our foods.
There is also a very wide array of medications that wreak havoc on our magnesium levels; blood pressure drugs, diabetes medications, as well as some antibiotics and hormone replacement therapies, just to name a few. Please check with your doctor, pharmacist or naturopath if you are worried about your magnesium levels. Your meds may very well be to blame for deficiencies.
Here are five reasons that you need magnesium:
1. Stress, Anxiety, Depression and Insomnia
Magnesium supplementation has been shown to improve sleep quality, as well as decrease sympathetic nervous system action, improving anxiety. It can also have a cortisol lowering effect during times of stress. Inadequate magnesium levels have been shown to coincide with a reduction in natural serotonin levels, a hormone that regulates mood and sense of well-being (the “happy hormone”), and is closely linked to depression. For individuals who commonly wake up during the night and can’t get back to sleep, magnesium, alongside calcium, has been shown to be an effective treatment. Insomnia is one of the most common symptoms of magnesium deficiency.
2. Headache Relief
Move over, Tylenol. Studies have shown that magnesium relieves muscle tension and tension headaches. Migraine sufferers also tend to be magnesium deficient. Some studies show that more than 50% of patients during an acute migraine have lowered levels of ionized magnesium.
3. Constipation Cure
Magnesium can do wonders for digestive health and detoxification, by softening stool and relaxing smooth muscle thereby gently supporting regular bowel movements and treating chronic constipation.
4. Blood Sugar Balance
Diabetes is an ever-growing problem in our country, specifically the development of type II diabetes. Along with exercise and a healthy diet, magnesium supplementation can support balanced blood sugar levels.
5. Strong Bones
We all know that calcium is important to maintain healthy bones, but it can be said that magnesium is equally important. Some studies report women with osteoporosis showing significant increases in bone mineral density with magnesium supplementation alone. Vitamin D, also integrally important to bone health, relies on magnesium to convert it to its active form in the body.
We invite you to talk to one of our nutritional experts to see what type of magnesium suits your needs.
