We are all aware how important it is for all of us to consume enough calcium, Vitamin C and protein, but somehow we always manage to forget about the other crucial vitamins and minerals. Nowadays, magnesium is becoming more and more well-known and appreciated in the medical and nutrition communities, but according to medical experts, magnesium is still one of the most common nutritional deficiencies and it’s affecting up to 80% of the American population. That’s something we should be very concerned about.
What is Magnesium Deficiency?
Many people around the world still don’t know that they suffer from magnesium deficiency. Insufficient amounts of this mineral in your organism can cause many different health problems, such as: anxiety, memory loss, muscle cramps etc. The regular consumption of this vitamin can help you with many other things, too.
Magnesium is a mineral present in relatively large amounts in the body. According to researchers, the average person’s body contains about 25 grams of magnesium, and about half of that is concentrated in the bones. 1% of it is in your blood. Magnesium is very important for more than 300 chemical reactions that keep the body working properly.
Magnesium is responsible for:
- Active transport of calcium, potassium, silica, vitamin D, and vitamin K across cell membranes
- Nerve impulse transmission and muscle contraction
- Energy production
- Detoxification
- Nutrient metabolism
- Bone and cell formation
- A precursor for neurotransmitters like serotonin
If you suspect you have a magnesium deficiency you should be on the lookout for these symptoms:
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue and weakness
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Muscle contractions and cramps
- Seizures
- Personality changes
- Abnormal heart rhythms
- Coronary spasms
- High blood pressure
- Blood clots
What causes magnesium deficiency?
Magnesium deficiency has been linked to modern farming techniques and it’s believed that they deplete the minerals and vitamins from the soil in which the food we eat is grown. And it’s even worse if the soil has been treated with chemical fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides. In layman’s terms, the food that’s supposed to contain magnesium doesn’t and this leads to a deficiency. There are also some medical conditions which can make it more difficult for your body to absorb magnesium such as: kidney disease, Crohn’s disease or other conditions that affect digestion, parathyroid problems, taking antibiotics or drugs for diabetes and cancer, old age and alcohol abuse.
How to get more magnesium?
Products containing magnesium citrate, one of the forms of magnesium supplements that’s best absorbed in the body, are available and inexpensive.
On the other hand, magnesium chloride, also known as magnesium oil (not a real oil, though), is available through various online sources, so just Google magnesium oil products to locate some. Also, you can use transdermal magnesium chloride topically as this gets easily absorbed through your skin.
If you have a magnesium deficiency your best option is to consume more foods rich in magnesium. Here’s a list of the top 12 foods rich in magnesium:
- Cashew Nuts– 1 ounce is equivalent to 20% of your daily value.
- Almond– 1 ounce supplies 19% of your daily value.
- Avocados– 1 fruit is equivalent to 15% of your daily value.
- Bananas – 1 medium fruit supplies 8% of your daily value.
- Lentils– 1 cup of cooked lentils is equivalent to 18% of your daily value.
- Chocolate– 1 bar gives you 58% of your daily value.
- Figs– 1 cup of dried figs is equivalent to 25% of your daily value.
- Okra– 1 cup of boiled okra gives you 14% of your daily value.
- Seeds– 1 ounce whole, roasted pumpkin or squash supplies 19% of your daily value.
- Squash– 1 cup is equivalent to 11% of your daily value.
- Rice – 1 cup of long grain brown rice supplies 21% of your daily value.
- Spinach – 1 cup of cooked spinach gives you 39% of your daily value
Source: http://www.healthylifefusion.org