How do you know if you have a magnesium deficiency?
Sometimes we neglect the most common things. Magnesium is abundant in the universe and the Earth's crust, but it seems we have trouble consuming enough of it. It is suspected that nearly half of Canadians do not consume the dietary magnesium they need to stay healthy.
Magnesium plays over 800 different roles in the body. Without enough magnesium, the body experiences enormous disruptions, including lack of energy, difficulty synthesizing proteins, and interruption of metabolic reactions.
Symptoms of magnesium deficiency
Magnesium is a powerful mineral that the body uses as fuel or as a basic component, in the same way it needs sugar, protein, and fat. Vital organs, especially the heart and brain, simply cannot function without it.
Since magnesium plays a fundamental role in all aspects of health, we often fail to recognize its deficiency until we experience symptoms. Some of the symptoms of magnesium deficiency include restless legs syndrome, muscle cramps, migraines, fatigue, anxiety, and insomnia.
What conditions is magnesium useful for?
Some of the common conditions linked to magnesium deficiency include acid reflux and heartburn, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Alzheimer's disease and dementia, stress, anxiety, blood clotting, inflammation, blood sugar sensitivity, bone and tooth formation, constipation, depression... the list is long!
However, unlike an antacid you might take to reduce heartburn or an antibiotic to fight an infection, taking magnesium when you have a deficiency doesn't just have one effect.
What is magnesium used for?
Magnesium is essential for various enzymatic functions in the body, from DNA synthesis and energy production to proper muscle function and nervous system health.
Magnesium is found in high concentrations in our bones, heart, muscles, nerves, but also in every cell of our body. Magnesium maintains heart rhythm, ensures muscle function, metabolizes glucose, ensures proper nerve function, creates cellular energy, and helps synthesize the basic building blocks of life – DNA, RNA, and proteins.
Why should we take magnesium?
Magnesium deficiency is common due to soil depletion, gastrointestinal disorders, chronic stress, and medications.
Our diet provides us with less magnesium than before. Modern farming practices have led to fruits and vegetables losing large amounts of minerals and nutrients over the last 50 years. In addition, food processing and refining remove large amounts of magnesium. Whole grains can lose more than 80% of their magnesium content simply by grinding. Even cooking vegetables can lead to magnesium loss. The typical Canadian diet consists of refined grains, oils, and sugars that provide large amounts of calories with little to no magnesium.
Magnesium is also harder for many people to absorb if they suffer from low stomach acid or chronic stress. Chronic gastrointestinal disorders, including Crohn's disease or colitis, also impair the absorption of key nutrients like magnesium.
Many common prescribed medications deplete magnesium, including antacids, acid blockers, and antibiotics. Nutrient-depleting medications like magnesium alter how this mineral is absorbed, converted, stored, or excreted.
Generally, we recommend consulting a healthcare professional or visiting your local health food store for more information before starting a new supplement.