I’m often asked what the most important nutrients are and my response is always, “All of them.”

But a certain one stands out from the others because a deficiency could be downright deadly.

Magnesium!

Here’s the scoop on all that magnesium does for you, why you may be low in it (because most people are!) and what you can do about maintaining a healthy level in your body.

Magnesium—the magnificent mineral

Healthy bones, teeth and muscles

Magnesium helps hold calcium in your tooth enamel to keep your teeth strong and supports healthy bone growth in your entire skeleton. 

As a matter of fact, magnesium deficiency is just as much of an osteoporosis concern as being low in calcium, although most women just hear about is calcium.

Magnesium and calcium are partners for your muscles too.  Calcium causes your muscles to contract, then magnesium makes them relax.  The most obvious example of this is your heart beating—the lub-dup, lub-dup is calcium and magnesium in action.

But when you have too little magnesium, it can cause irregular heartbeat, muscle spasms, tremors, cramps, twitching, restless legs and even convulsions!

In addition, calcium levels in your bloodstream are regulated by magnesium, so too little magnesium means that too much calcium can build up in your blood. 

When this happens, your body deposits the excess calcium in areas such as your gallbladder, joints, kidneys and artery walls. This can lead to gallstones, joint degeneration and bone spurs, kidney stones and atherosclerosis.

Strong immune function

Magnesium deficiency can weaken your immune system and make you much more susceptible to infections, viruses and disease.

Brain and nerve health

Magnesium is critical for proper cell energy production—so lacking in it causes fatigue.

Your body also uses magnesium to produce neurotransmitters like serotonin—so it’s not surprising that magnesium deficiency is common in people with depression. 

Magnesium deficiency has also been tied to symptoms such as confusion, delirium, sleep disturbances and schizophrenia.

And there’s even more!

Over 300 different enzymes in your body need magnesium in order to function.

Magnesium is also needed for digestion and for building RNA and DNA molecules, as well as proper insulin production (an important note for diabetics).

Magnesium deficiency is also linked to menstrual problems such as low back pain and cramps.

We’re running low!

Studies have shown that only about 25 percent of US adults are at or above the recommended magnesium levels, so deficiency is very common.

Deficiency is often difficult for a doctor to diagnose.  The initial signs of magnesium deficiency--loss of appetite, nausea and fatigue -- are also common symptoms of many other health conditions, making it difficult to pinpoint. 

Plus blood tests are of limited benefit since most of your body’s magnesium is in your muscles.

Magnesium Deficiency Checklist

Here are signs of magnesium deficiency—see how  many apply to you:

______ Behavioral disturbances

______ Irritability and anxiety

______ Lethargy; fatigue

______ Impaired memory and cognitive function

______ Anorexia or loss of appetite

______ Nausea and vomiting

______ Seizures

______ Muscle weakness, spasms, cramps

______ Tics, twitches, tremors

______ Impaired muscle coordination (ataxia)

______ Involuntary eye movements and vertigo

______ Difficulty swallowing

______ Elevated blood sugar

______ Irregular heartbeat

______ Depression

______ ADHD

______ Fibromyalgia

______ Epilepsy

______ Parkinson’s disease

______ Sleep problems

______ Migraine

______ Osteoporosis

______ PMS

______ Atherosclerosis

______ Blood clots

______ Hypertension

______ Type 2 diabetes

______ Asthma

Why could YOU be running low?

The most common causes of magnesium deficiency include:

1) Insufficient dietary sources of magnesium

2) Drinking beverages that interfere with magnesium absorption—soda, caffeinated beverages and alcohol

3) Drugs that impair magnesium absorption--diuretics, antibiotics and birth control pills

4) Poor blood sugar balance

5) Harmful bacterial overgrowth in the gut (dysbiosis) and intestinal permeability (leaky gut) that lead to poor nutrient absorption

6) Stress

Keep your levels healthy!

The good news is that you can help keep your magnesium levels healthy, and see some dramatic changes in how you feel as a result!

In addition to avoiding the medications that cause deficiency (diuretics, antibiotics and oral contraceptives) as much as possible (ask your doctor about alternatives) and reducing stress in your life, here are 4 ways to make sure your body is getting and keeping the magnesium it needs:

Eat your magnesium

Dietary sources of magnesium include:

• Milk and other dairy products
• Meats
• Seafood
• Nuts
• Blackstrap molasses
• Leafy greens
• Spinach
• Broccoli
• Sesame, pumpkin and sunflower seeds

Avoid the magnesium sappers

Avoid the foods and beverages that impair magnesium absorption including refined carbs, processed foods, fast food, soda, caffeinated drinks and overconsumption of alcohol. 

Take a multi-vitamin with magnesium

Getting your nutrients from food sources should always be one of your priorities, but if you want to make sure all of your nutrient bases are covered, (or if you “slip up” with your diet now and then!) a complete multi-vitamin and mineral formula like Super Core can help fill in the blanks where you may be running low.

Super Core provides a well-rounded, health-supporting blend of essential vitamins and minerals (including magnesium!), as well as natural sources of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories!

Supplement with a full-spectrum probiotic

In order to have proper digestion and absorption of nutrients (from both your food and supplements!) it’s vital to have a healthy gut microbiome.

In addition to having a diet of nutritious whole foods, supplementation with a full-spectrum probiotic formula like Super Shield can help ensure your friendly gut flora population stays in a health-supporting balance.

Contrary to what most people think, your helpful intestinal bacteria are not “permanent residents”—they only “reside” in you for about 12 days!

So it’s crucial to ensure their numbers stay high, and nothing beats Super Shield’s effective blend of 13 well-studied bacterial strains!

Now you are on the road to a healthy magnesium level, as well as other essential nutrients too!

And your body will thank you handsomely!

To your health,

Sherry Brescia