Benefits of Magnesium

In today’s society we’re always talking about vitamins and antioxidants, but every bit as important is the role minerals play in our health. For example, the benefits of magnesium range from benefiting hearth health and preventing osteoporosis, to calming anxiety and relieving depression.

One of the most commonly known benefits of magnesium is that, like Vitamin D, magnesium helps your body to absorb calcium. More than that, it helps your bones specifically to utilize calcium. But if you have a magnesium deficiency, you’re risking more than just weak bones.

Magnesium also helps your body to absorb potassium- one of the most important minerals used to maintain healthy blood pressure and lower high blood pressure. Having a healthy level of magnesium can also help women- particularly when pregnant (helps to prevent pre-eclampsia and alleviate eclampsia), and can help relieve symptoms of  PMS and menopause. The benefits of magnesium even include encouraging thyroid health, and assisting diabetics to maintain healthy blood levels of both insulin and glucose. Magnesium helps to relax muscles, while calcium helps muscles to contract. A healthy balance must be maintained.

Magnesium Deficiency

A magnesium deficiency can contribute to heart problems, diabetes, and migraines. You may notice that if you have a magnesium deficiency, you may experience muscle aches, cramps and twitches. Brain fog, dental pain, fatigue, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure, and various types of headaches are also common symptoms.

Magnesium deficiency can contribute to or worsen kidney stones.

Excess Magnesium

Fewer problems are reported with an excess of magnesium, most of which are the result of excess magnesium throwing other minerals out of balance. However, osteoporosis, fatigue, depression, low blood pressure, dehydration, and diarrhea are among some of the symptoms of having an excess of magnesium.

As you can see, aside from blood pressure levels, dehydration, and diarrhea, many of the symptoms of excess magnesium are the same as magnesium deficiency.

Sources of Magnesium

Happily, magnesium can be found in many forms- supplementation is the most popular, and the easiest to use. However, a healthy diet including many dark leafy greens, nuts, and whole grains will supply a large amount of magnesium. Other sources of magnesium include water (particularly hard water as it’s the minerals that make it hard), Epsom Salts (magnesium can be absorbed through the skin), Milk of Magnesia, and an ingenius product by Magnetic Clay that works on the principles of transdermal supplementation (absorbed through the skin).

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This article contains much more information on concerns about having  out of balance magnesium levels.

Food Sources of Magnesium