Magnesium… why is it so important?

Magnesium is involved in over 300 chemical reactions in your body, and the fourth most abundant mineral in the body, required by every organ. Magnesium helps support muscle health, heart health and a healthy functioning nervous system. Research suggests that even mild deficiency, which is quite common, can affect your heart health. Magnesium is also important for brain health, detoxification, cellular health and function and helps to optimise your mitochondria, the little ‘energy batteries’ in your cells.

As magnesium is required by most cells in your body, even a mild deficiency can lead to health issues, especially with regard to the health of your heart. Magnesium is important to help maintain normal blood pressure and is protective against stroke. Numerous studies have found that low magnesium intake is associated with known cardiovascular risk factors such as cholesterol and high blood pressure, atherogenesis (plaque build-up in the arteries), hardening of the arteries and calcification of soft tissues.

An increasing dietary intake of calcium that is not balanced with magnesium intake, therefore skewing the calcium to magnesium ratio with too much calcium, studies show that this increase in calcium is linked to the risk of heart disease. Whilst calcium intake is important for bone health (read my blog on Bone Density) magnesium is also an important component of bone health, and that is why it is best to EAT your nutrients, rather than incorrectly take supplements that may impact another important vitamin or mineral in your body. This is why it is always preferable that you consult a qualified health professional (like myself) before ‘self subscribing’ with supplements.

Good food sources of magnesium are green leafy vegetables, lentils, pumpkin seeds, almonds, avocados, figs and cacao found in dark chocolate…mmmm.

While foods and drinks such alcohol, caffeine and a high sugar diet severely decrease your levels of magnesium. It takes 32 molecules of magnesium to metabolise 1 molecule of sucrose, so no wonder more than a third of Australians are deficient in magnesium.

So if you think you may be need of some extra magnesium or just want to be proactive about your health, consult with your healthcare practitioner before starting any supplement regime, as there may be other factors that you need to consider.

Contact us if you would like to learn more about mangnesium and how it may benefit you and your family.