In this week’s post we will be discussing the importance of the mineral magnesium. Most doctors don’t include magnesium status in their routine blood tests. Thus, most doctors don’t know when their patients are deficient in magnesium, even though studies show that low magnesium intakes and blood levels have wide ranging negative physiologic effects. Low magnesium levels have been associated with type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome (pre-diabetes), elevated C-reactive protein (Chronic inflammation – precursor to many diseases), hypertension (high blood pressure), atherosclerotic vascular disease (clogged blood vessels or stroke), sudden cardiac death, osteoporosis, migraine headache, asthma, and colon cancer.
According to statistics, nearly half of all Americans, and 70-80% of those ages 60 and above, are deficient in this mineral. Magnesium is the most critical mineral required for electrical stability of every cell in the body. A deficiency in this nutrient may be responsible for more diseases than any other. Magnesium is an essential mineral that is used for over 300 different biochemical reactions in the body, making it VITAL to health and life itself. We simply cannot live without it! Magnesium deficiencies in the general population have led to increases in sudden coronary deaths, diabetes, strokes and cancer. Even a mild deficiency of magnesium can cause increased sensitivity to noise, nervousness, irritability, mental depression, confusion, twitching, trembling, apprehension, muscle spasticity, constipation and insomnia.
The “Standard American Diet” (Aptly abbreviated as SAD), with its overabundance of refined grains, processed foods and high fructose corn sugars, actually contains precious little magnesium. Even the percentage of magnesium inside whole grains and fresh vegetables has been declining steadily in recent years because of depletion of minerals in our soils due to commercial agriculture, making magnesium supplementation necessary for most people.
Magnesium is one of the several “major minerals” required by our bodies to properly function. In general, minerals are inorganic (meaning not originating from living creatures) and occur in nature as either “rocks” or “metals”.
Magnesium is classified as a metal and so it must be “bound” to, or combined with, another compound to form either a “salt” or a “chelate” in order for it to be absorbed by the human body. Thankfully, plants do the work for us! Of course, if we aren’t being mindful or following a good diet, then supplementation is surely recommended. Among its many functions on a cellular level, Magnesium is directly involved in:
Maintaining Blood sugar levels and assisting with blood sugar metabolism
Promoting normal Blood pressure
Supporting a healthy immune system
Keeping the heart rhythm steady
Maintaining normal muscle tone and nerve function (conduction)
Balancing Hormones
Maintaining Gastro-intestinal motility
These are but a few of the essential processes magnesium plays a critical role in. Second only to Vitamin D in the pantheon of deficiencies in the Standard American Diet (SAD), magnesium can be found in abundance in: Whole Wheat, Spinach, Quinoa, Almonds, Cashews, Peanuts, Dark Chocolate, Black Beans, Edamame and Avocado.
Of course, like all minerals, even IF you ate the appropriate foods in sufficient quantity, magnesium is difficult to extract from foods and requires the presence of sufficiently strong enzymes and stomach acids in order to be properly and sufficiently extracted and absorbed. If you are a frequent sufferer of bloating after eating, bowel gas, constipation, diarrhea, or heartburn, there is a very strong likelihood that you are ill equipped to properly absorb the nutrients- especially minerals (rocks and metals)- that you need to maintain optimal health.
Magnesium supplementation is one way in which you can improve your health. However, before you go out to your nearest drugstore and purchase the first magnesium supplement you see on the shelf- be advised that there are many “types” of magnesium compounds, and some are more useful than others for specific purposes. For example, Magnesium Citrate is an excellent form for those who suffer from bowel irregularity or intermittent/chronic constipation. Patients who suffer migraines find Magnesium-L-Threonate to be more effective in maintaining brain blood vessel tone, because this form can actually cross the blood brain barrier-which will relax the blood vessel walls, allowing a more normal (less restricted) flow of blood within the skull.
If you suspect you might be low in Magnesium, we are happy to make personal recommendations through nutritional consultations. Once these recommendations have been made, you may purchase the supplements you need either over the phone or online through Wellevate. The supplements carried by this company are stored and shipped properly to ensure quality, potency and bio-availability.
1. Follow the link below and you will be directed to the Wellevate ℠ registration page:
https://wellevate.me/nova-headache-store or call 1-855-935-5382.
2. Enter your email in the registration field and click the blue “Register” button found below.
3. Simply enter your name and address.
4. You’re ready to order!
Why order online through Wellevate? Because Wellevate provides Competitive pricing and guaranteed therapeutic grade supplements that are third party tested for their quality. Free shipping is provided on orders over $49 and a flat rate of $4.95 for orders under that amount. Ordering online is simple and secure through this platform. Customer Support is available via phone, email or live chat (M-F 8:30am8:00pm EST).