Magnesium (Mg), the mineral that activates nerves and muscles, including the heart muscle. ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) is the main source of energy in our cells and in order to release stored energy and be biologically active, it must be bound to a magnesium ion. This means without Mg, you’re driving with your parking brakes on. You won’t go very far.
Recommended Magnesium intake is 320mg for women and 420mg for men, but most U.S. citizens get only about 20% of that amount each day. Our body has a widespread need for Mg as over 3,500 proteins have binding sites for this mineral.
Potential signs of Mg deficiency:
- Constipation and other digestive problems
- PMS, irregularities in menstrual flow and reproductive health
- Muscle spasms, muscle twitches
- Nocturnal leg cramps
- Migraine headaches
- Heart rhythm irregularities
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Osteoporosis
- Irritable bladder
- IBS
- Loss of appetite
- Chronic fatigue
- Numbness or tingling in the extremities
- Nausea
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Sensitivity to loud noises
- Anxiety
- Asthma
- Acid reflux
- Trouble swallowing
- Kidney Stones
Mg is important for maintaining the following conditions optimally:
- Heart rhythm
- Blood pressure
- Muscle and nerve function
- Blood sugar regulation
- Brain health
Also aids in:
- Digestion of proteins, carbohydrates and fats
- Building block for RNA and DNA
- Precursor for neurotransmitters such as serotonin
Numerous blood tests show that people are generally getting too much Calcium in relation to Magnesium. Too much Calcium causes muscles to over contract. Magnesium counters the Calcium by helping the muscles to relax. Correct Calcium(Ca)/Magnesium(Mg) balance allows the muscles to cycle naturally. Heart is a muscle and requires both Calcium and Mg to function optimally. Excess Calcium can over contract the heart that can lead to heart attacks and that’s why having Mg regularly is so important for heart health. In order to maintain sufficient supply of Mg for the heart, the body will steal magnesium from muscles and bones.
Magnesium Supplementation and Dosage:
According to most magnesium experts, 1:1 (Ca:Mg) ratio is best for our bodies. This contradicts the ADA recommendation of 2:1 (Ca:Mg) ratio which came from a misreading of famous researcher Jean Durloch, who actually said “Never ever go beyond 2 parts calcium to 1 part Magnesium in your food, water, or supplement intake”. It did not exclude 1:1 ratio. Just don’t go beyond 2:1 ratio.
It is possible to get sufficient calcium through foods with dense calcium content; however, it is difficult to get an adequate amount of Mg from today’s modern diet.
Not all Mg supplements are effectively absorbed by the body. Some such as Mg Oxide are very poorly absorbed. Less than 4% is absorbed by the cells. Most of that mg stays in the digestive system causing a laxative effect.
Drugs and Stress Deplete Magnesium:
When we are stressed, our adrenal glands need Mg. In an effort to keep our muscles relaxed and ward off anxiety and depression, the adrenal glands rapidly use up our Mg resources. Mg supplementation is especially needed if you are taking prescription drugs. A diuretic will drain your magnesium and potassium which will elevate your blood pressure. Calcium will go unchecked by the depletion of magnesium via the prescribed diuretic and a calcium channel blocker will be prescribed to prevent calcium levels to rise (Mg is a natural calcium channel blocker). Then comes the ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitor, another blood pressure drug. These drugs affect the liver and cause your cholesterol to be elevated. Blood sugar also soars. One of the signs of Diabetes is low Mg. The more you reduce your Mg, the more your cholesterol will go out of control as Mg helps to stabilize cholesterol. Statin drugs destroy an enzyme that magnesium needs.
When cholesterol levels are elevated, statin drugs are prescribed to lower cholesterol levels. Our bodies need cholesterol. Our bodies make 80% of the cholesterol we use. Cholesterol is an antioxidant. Cholesterol is a precursor to all the hormones in your body. If you are a man, and you’re on a statin drug that depletes your cholesterol, you’re going to need Viagra.
Carolyn Dean, M.D., author of The Magnesium Miracle, states that if a patient were to ask her doctor if she can take Magnesium instead of prescription medications, the doctors would say that magnesium will interfere with the drugs prescribed… To the contrary, says Dean, the magnesium will interfere with the blood pressure drug because it will help your blood pressure go down. So, you won’t need the drug. The magnesium will interfere with the cholesterol drug because it will lower your cholesterol–same with your blood sugar drugs. She advocates by saying, “Keep taking your magnesium. Take it in variety of sources including soaking in Epsom salts and so on. Take Mg Oxide if you’re constipated, but take other forms as well”. For more information and references on Magnesium, visit www.drcarolyndean.com.
Magnesium deficiency triggers or causes the following conditions:
Material excerpted from Dean, Carolyn. The Miracle of Magnesium (2003 Ballantine Books: New York, NY), 2003. pp. 5-7.
- Anxiety and Panic attacks- Magnesium (Mg) normally keeps adrenal stress hormones under control.
- Asthma- Both histamine production and bronchial spasms increase with Mg deficiency.
- Blood clots- Mg has an important role to play in preventing blood clots and keeping the blood thin, much like aspirin but without the side effects.
- Bowel disease- Mg deficiency slows down the bowel causing constipation, which could lead to toxicity and malabsorption of nutrients, as well as colitis.
- Cystitis- Bladder spasms are worsened by Mg deficiency.
- Depression- Serotonin, which elevates moods, is dependent on Mg. A Mg-deficient brain is also more susceptible to allergens, foreign substances that can cause symptoms similar to mental illness.
- Detoxification- Mg is crucial for the removal of toxic substances and heavy metals such as aluminum and lead.
- Diabetes- Mg enhances insulin secretion, facilitating sugar metabolism. Without Mg, insulin is not able to transfer glucose into cells. Glucose and insulin build up in the blood causing various types of tissue damage.
- Fatigue- Mg-deficient patients commonly experience fatigue because dozens of enzyme systems are under-functioning. An early symptom of Mg deficiency is frequent fatigue.
- Heart disease- Mg deficiency is common in people with heart disease. Mg is administered in hospitals for acute myocardial infarction and cardiac arrhythmia. Like any other muscle, the heart muscle requires Mg. Mg is also used to treat angina, or chest pain.
- Hypertension- With insufficient Mg, spasm of blood vessels and high cholesterol occur, both of which lead to blood pressure problems.
- Hypoglycemia- Mg keeps insulin under control; without Mg episodes of low blood sugar can result.
- Insomnia- Sleep-regulating melatonin production is disturbed without sufficient Mg.
- Kidney Disease- Mg deficiency contributes to atherosclerotic kidney failure. Mg deficiency creates abnormal lipid levels and worsening blood sugar control in kidney transplant patients.
- Liver Disease leading to liver failure- Mg deficiency commonly occurs during liver transplantation.
- Migraine- Serotonin balance is Mg-dependent. Deficiency of serotonin can result in migraine headaches and depression.
- Musculoskeletal conditions- Fibrositis, fibromyalgia, muscle spasms, eye twitches, cramps, and chronic neck and back pain may be caused by Mg deficiency and can be relieved with Mg supplements.
- Nerve problems- Mg alleviates peripheral nerve disturbances throughout the whole body, such as migraines, muscle contractions, gastrointestinal spasms, and calf, foot and toe cramps. It is also used in treating central nervous symptoms of vertigo and confusion.
- Obstetrics and Gynecology- Mg prevents Premenstrual Syndrome; prevents dysmenorrhea (cramping pain during menses); is important in the treatment of infertility; and alleviates premature contractions, preeclampsia, and eclampsia in pregnancy. Intravenous Mg is given in obstetrical wards for pregnancy-induced hypertension and to lessen the risk of cerebral palsy and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Mg should be a required supplement for pregnant mothers.
- Osteoporosis- Use of calcium with Vitamin D to enhance calcium absorption without a balancing amount of Mg causes further Mg deficiency, which triggers a cascade of events leading to bone loss.
- Raynaud’s Syndrome- Mg helps relax the spastic blood vessels that cause pain and numbness of the fingers.
- Tooth decay- Mg deficiency causes an unhealthy balance of phosphorus and calcium in saliva, which damages teeth.
Join us for the 30 day BACK TO YOU challenge this fall to learn more about how magnesium can specifically affect your health and become your newest best friend!
Start by attending a fall cleanse and rejuvenation seminar workshop!
- Sat. Sept. 12, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Thurs. Sept. 17, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Thurs. Sept. 17, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Click here to register: www.fitnessarts.org/backtoyou or call 847-397-2787 to make your reservation today!
Friends and family welcome.