All About Magnesium.....

After oxygen, water and basic food, magnesium may be the most important element your body needs. Magnesium activates over 300 different bodily processes, including digestion, energy production, bone formation, creation of new cells (pregnancy), activation of B vitamins, relaxation of muscles, as well as assisting in the functions of the heart, kidneys, adrenals, brain and nervous system. Lack of sufficient available magnesium in the body can interfere with any or all of these processes.

Below is a list of ways a lack of magnesium can affect us, click for more information.

Do You Have A Healthy Magnesium Level?

Eighty to ninety percent of the population are below healthy magnesium levels, including many who already use magnesium. Why? First, the amount of magnesium required by the body is greater than people think and as said above, it's hard to get an adequate amount of magnesium in our regular diet. Second, most magnesium capsules and tablets taken as supplements are not completely absorbed by the body and contain fillers.

Why Are We Deficient?

Magnesium has been consistently depleted in our soils. It has been further depleted in plants by the use of potassium and phosphorus laden fertilizers which alter the plant's ability to uptake magnesium. Water from deep wells supplies additional magnesium not found in food, but surface water, our common source of supply, lacks magnesium. Food processing removes magnesium. Broiling, steaming and boiling remove magnesium into the water or drippings. High carbohydrate and high fat diets increase the need for magnesium as does physical and mental stress. Diuretic medications and insulin further deplete total body magnesium. As we age magnesium uptake may be impaired. Dieting reduces intake of already low levels of magnesium intake.

Magnesium depletion can be caused by such things as stress, caffeine, sugar, alcohol, tobacco, drugs of all types, high perspiration, low thyroid function, diabetes, chronic pain, diuretics, and a high carbohydrate, high-sodium or high-calcium diet.

Magnesium is vital to the body and a deficiency can mean a whole host of problems. In fact, children with autism may have lower levels of magnesium as when they are given supplements, their social abilities improve. Women who have gone through menopause also show promising signs of improved bone density when placed on magnesium supplementation. Magnesium even affects the heart, as health supplements have been shown to reduce chest pain and other side effects associated with exercise in patients with heart disease. Finally, magnesium has also been linked to carbohydrate metabolism and the body’s release of insulin, hence the low levels found in those with Type II diabetes.