I guess because there are no magnesium lobbyists (like there are for Calcium - the Milk Board Industry convincing us we need a milk moustach every day to have strong bones), this critically important mineral gets overlooked. There are tens of thousands of studies and many books written about this one element but most of the info doesn't trickle down to the public. (nor the medical profession)
Magnesium is the spark plug for the production of energy. It activates 300 different enzymes. And we all know that enzymes run the show in living systems. Plus, magnesium regulates calcium, so even if you take a ton of calcium, without enough magnesium and vit D, you won't absorb much of it, but instead, deposit it in places where it shouldn't be (joints, heart tissue, arteries)
Here is a long list of the health issues that magnesium significantly affects:
Cardiovascular problems:
angina
arrhythmia
cardiomyopathy
congesstive heart failure
cholesterol levels
heart attack
high blood pressure
mitral valve prolapse
stroke
Diabetes (both types)
Women's health concerns:
menstrual cramps
osteoporosis
pregnancy/pre-eclampsia
PMS
Miscellaneous conditions
asthma (intravenous mag drip will actually halt an acute asthma attack but now hospitals favor the dangerous drug albuterol)
fatigue
fibromyalgia
glaucoma
hearing loss
hypoglycemia
kidney stones
migraine
restless leg
muscle tension and spasms
constipation
You can find a whole chapter on each of the above conditions and how they relate to magnesium deficiency. Books with the title: "Magnesium" don't sell well, but we do know that studies of Americans (HANES, studying over 30,000 people) show us that about 85% of us are deficient in this critical mineral. WHY? Processing food removes magnesium (and every other good thing) and Americans eat far too many things that come in boxes and packages and take-out-bags. Even those who eat a mostly whole-food diet are getting produce from depleted soil unless you buy strictly organic (eating 13 servings a day!) and use JuicePlus+ to supplement your raw food intake food along with the enzymes.
We can't make the leap and say that all of the above conditions are caused by magnesium deficiency. However what we find is that everyone with any of the above conditions also happens to be low in magnesium. (check your magnesium level with your next blood test but be sure to specify red blood cell magnesium - not just the magnesium that shows up in the SMAC-24 panel)
It takes about 6 weeks to achieve significant elevations in magnesium. The suggested dose is 6mg of mag per kg of body weight. So that would be 300mg for a 110 lb person, 420 for a 150 lb person, 540mg for a 200lb person. Many people require 600-800mg daily to achieve an appropriate level.
Only use the forms that are bound to the Krebs cycle intermediates: citrate, malate, fumerate, succinate, glycinate. (glycinate is especially good for those that get too much bowel activity from magnesium.) Also helpful is magnesium oil: you can take a foot bath with it, put some in your bathtub, or spray it on your body. This absorbs very well. For more info on magnesium oil, google magnesium oil and find C.Norman Shealy, MD, PhD. He has done a lot of work/studies with magnesium oil and feels it is the superior way to supplement this mineral, I can vouch for the fact that a magnesium oil bath (4 oz in a bathtub) will give you a very relaxing night's sleep. And it's known to lower blood pressure.
The healthstore magnesium that many people love is called CALM. It's a good name as magnesium is a muscle relaxant and many people sleep more restfully if they take a Tbsp in boiling water (make night-time tea!) and sip it before going to bed. It does not make you sleepy, it just relaxes muscles. No more nighttime cramps!
Stay away from the cheapest stuff - magnesium oxide. It has an absorption rate of about 10%. Don't bother.
Stay CALM and happy this season!
Cheers to everyone!
mary |