Lots of people are not familiar with the essential role of magnesium. Most Americans (above 80%) suffer from magnesium deficiency. The result of that is many health problems. You are going to read about Magnesium.
Dr. Carol Dean explains everything about the importance of this mineral. She is a doctor of medicine and naturopathic. In her book, “Death by Modern Medicine”, this mineral has been examined for 15 years by Dr. Dean, so when it comes to this mineral she can be treated as an expert.
She tells about the benefits that this mineral can do:
- Activates the muscles and nerves
- Activates the adenosine triphosphate (ATP), thus generating body energy
- Improves digestion of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates
- Acts as a precursor for serotonin
The percentage of people who get sufficient amounts of it is small despite its importance.
Many people have deficiency of magnesium, but they don’t know, and they are taking calcium amounts that are high. But in order to have a proper health, the essential thing is to keep up the minerals’ balance.
Magnesium deficiency and the amount of calcium that is excess causes muscle spasms.
According to Dr. Dean, this can cause the function of the muscles and nerves to be reduced.
Magnesium is very important for the cardiovascular health. An imbalance between magnesium and calcium can lead to heart attack.
She explains that the body’s organ with the highest quantity of magnesium is our heart, especially its left ventricle. The magnesium’s deficiency can damage the heart’s function.
Doctors advise women to take calcium supplements to prevent osteoporosis. Dr. Dean concluded that osteoporosis has increased especially among women who consume calcium’s amounts that are higher.
There is a myth according to which the amount of calcium that should be consumed should be 2 times higher than that of magnesium. And as a result of it, nowadays people take very little magnesium (few hundred milligrams) and a lot more calcium (1,200-1,500 mg).
The 1:1 ratio is more appropriate. However, the misinterpretation of the context led to the conclusion that a 2:1 ratio was more suitable.
In addition, vitamin D and vitamin K2 have influence on balancing the two minerals. Vitamin D in high dose causes magnesium’s overworking, which leads to magnesium deficiency.
The role of vitamin K2 is to ensure that the calcium is in place where it needs to be. Vitamin D is needed to be orally taken with food, vitamin K2 supplemental, and extra magnesium.
You shouldn’t take high doses of vitamin D supplements together with low doses of magnesium and vitamin K2 because it can lead to toxicity of vitamin D and deficiency symptoms of magnesium.
Vitamin K2 and magnesium support each other in the balance. Magnesium is helpful in regulating the blood pressure which is high.
When you take all of the 4 nutrients, it is essential to keep the balance between magnesium, calcium, vitamin K2, and vitamin D3 in order that they can work correctly.
Calcium’s sources are dairy products, seeds, nuts and deep green leafy veggies.
According to Dr. Dean, a century ago we used to gain 500mg of magnesium by a diet that was regular. However, today it is only 200mg.
In most cases the minerals that are essential, including magnesium, are drained off the soils due to the industrial agriculture. You could get high amounts of magnesium if you are consuming organic foods which are biologically-grown and are from soils that have received mineral fertilizer treatment.
Other sources of magnesium are:
- Avocado
- Green leafy veggies (as spinach and Swiss chard)
- Seaweed
- Seeds (sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds)
- Nuts
You need to learn how to notice the symptoms of magnesium deficiency which include:
- fatigue
- nausea
- headaches
- loss of appetite
- weakness
Also, there are other symptoms of magnesium deficiency as numbness, personality changes, tingling, seizures, abnormal heart rhythms, coronary spasms, cramps, and muscle contractions.
There are lots of types of forms of magnesium like supplements of magnesium oxide. However, they are hard to absorb, only 4% can be absorbed. The other 94% go through the intestines.
Epsom salt or foot baths can be used for improving magnesium deficiency status that can be absorbed easily.
The varying benefits of these different compounds:
- Magnesium Sulfate / Magnesium Hydroxide– They are used as a laxative. Directions are needed before you take them. The reason for that is that you can get overdose.
- Magnesium Glycinate– If you want to have a supplement with highest levels of bioavailability and absorption you should take magnesium glycinate. It will improve the magnesium level in the body.
- Magnesium oxide– It has 60% magnesium in it. It can soften your stool.
- Magnesium chloride and Magnesium Lactate – It has 12% magnesium. In comparison with the other types, it has a higher absorption.
- Magnesium threonate – This compound can get into the membrane of the mitochondria.
- Magnesium citrate– It is composed of magnesium and citric acid and has laxative properties.
- Magnesium taurate – is another option which has taurine, amino acid, and magnesium. It will calm your body and mind. Magnesium carbonate has 45% of magnesium and possess antacid properties.
According to Dr. Dean, when you suffer from stress which is at high level, the body is losing magnesium. Magnesium fights against anxiety and depression and relaxes the muscles. When you suffer from stress, the levels of magnesium are decreasing. That causes the blood vessels’ muscles to tighten, and that leads to increasing the blood pressure.
And, when you go to see a doctor, a diuretic will be given to you. The diuretic will lower the levels of body’s fluid, thus reducing the pressure in the blood vessels, resulting in a reduction in the blood pressure.
Diuretics cause magnesium to drain. When you go back to your doctor, you will still have a blood pressure because you have lost a lot of magnesium. And, the doctor will give you a blocker of the calcium channel. That can be a positive thing because in case the levels of magnesium fall, this leads the level of calcium to increase, leaving the blood vessels tighter. This is the reason why they want to block calcium.
But, fortunately, they don’t know that magnesium has the ability to act as a natural calcium channel blocker. And, your doctor may give you angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitor which is another drug for blood pressure.
When you go back to your doctor after 2-3 months, he will make a test of your blood to make sure that there is no damage to your liver and he will find out that the levels of cholesterol and blood sugar are higher. But, actually, the drugs are the ones that caused them.
Uncontrolled cholesterol can be caused when there is a reduced level of magnesium in the body. Magnesium has a responsibility in balancing the enzyme that participate in creating cholesterol.
Drugs that have statin can kill the magnesium-balanced enzymes. Diabetics in most cases suffer from magnesium deficiency and they are given drugs to reduce the levels of magnesium.
Dr. Dean considers that inflammatory effects are caused by calcium, while magnesium is known for its anti-inflammatory benefits.
Therefore, our recommendation for you is to keep a balance between magnesium and calcium. The consumption of calcium in excess without consumption of magnesium can cause heart disease.
Via: Mercola
