Magnesium More Than a Metal

Indisputably, magnesium is crucial for a healthy body. Magnesium is a key component of cells, bones, tissues and just about every physiological process in our bodies. Nearly all bodily magnesium is within cells. This explains why blood tests for magnesium are distressingly inaccurate.

Magnesium is necessary for both the action of insulin and the manufacture of insulin. But insulin is needed to get magnesium from the blood into cells. A magnesium deficiency places a person on the path to diabetes and heart problems. A shortage of dietary magnesium is known to correlate with an increased risk of sudden-death heart attack.

Another role for magnesium in our cells is to relax muscles to relax. With too little magnesium blood vessels constrict, blood pressure rises and our energy level lowers. When researchers studied the diets of 40,000 nurses and 30,000 male health professionals, they found lower blood pressures in people who ate more magnesium.

Low magnesium levels are also well associated with muscle spasm, tremors and convulsions. Without sufficient magnesium, the body accumulates toxins and acid residues, degenerates quickly, and ages prematurely.

Magnesium ions play important roles in many aspects of cellular metabolism. It stabilizes structures of proteins, nucleic acids, and has a critical role in cell division. It may be necessary for the maintenance of an adequate supply of nucleotides for the synthesis of RNA and DNA. It activates over 300 different biochemical reactions necessary our bodies to function properly.

Dr. James Michael Howard says, "Cancer and infections are both increasing and one of the basic reasons is reduced availability of DHEA, which stems from magnesium deficiency."

The bottom line is that magnesium is more important than calcium, potassium or sodium and regulates all three of them. Few people know that it is most important in building strong bones and preventing bone loss.

If there was more attention to magnesium, many researchers believe that the population would see lower levels of kidney stones , calcified mitral heart valve, premenstrual tension, constipation, miscarriages, stillbirths, strokes, diabetes, thyroid failure, asthma, chronic eyelid twitch, brittle bones, chronic migraines, irregular heart beats, muscle spasms, insomnia, sleep disorders, backaches, and anxiety reactions.

Now that you have heard all this good news, consider this: The U.S. minimum intake of magnesium is about 320 mg per day for women and more than 400 mg per day for men. But optimum daily amounts are closer to 500 to 700 mg per day. The problem is that studies show that most people regularly take in about half of that. Disturbingly, over 8 out of 10 people do not take enough daily magnesium for even the minimum daily amounts recommended.

What can you do? Besides taking magnesium supplements you can consume more magnesium-rich foods like green leafy vegetables, broccoli, spinach, fish, bananas, tofu, whole grains, seeds, and nuts.