Benefits of Magnesium

One point to consider is that these are signs our body may be lacking one of our most essential minerals... magnesium. This mega mineral is responsible for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body so it’s no wonder we need it. Unfortunately it’s also one of the greatest deficiencies found in the modern day lifestyle.

Magnesium is a mineral that supports your health and well-being in numerous ways. 

Below are some reasons why magnesium may be of some benefit to you:

• Waking up in the middle of the night with cramps is a common occurrence for many. The tightening of the muscle fibres may be due to the fact that the muscles need magnesium in order to relax. In contrast we also require calcium for the natural contraction of our muscles so keeping these two minerals in balance is very important.
• Disrupted sleep is often because we are stressed, tense and not able to unwind after a busy day. By raising magnesium levels the muscles may be able to relax and subsequently the body falls better into sleep.
• Low energy levels could be due to the fact that your cells do not have enough magnesium to create energy.
• Do you often crave chocolate? Perhaps your body is really shouting out for the magnesium found in cocoa! A higher dietary magnesium intake has been associated with a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes in adults and children*.
• Taking magnesium orally can support healthy bowel movements as it has a laxative effect. Magnesium naturally draws water into the gut. This can help trigger peristalsis (the wave-like motion that helps move matter through your intestines) and soften the stool. When extra fibre and water in your diet are not helping your bowel movements, then perhaps a supplement of magnesium before you go to bed might be the answer you were looking for.
• Over half of our magnesium is stored in our bones and it works together with calcium and vitamin D to keep our bone structure solid. Getting enough magnesium in our diet reduces the chances of the body taking it from our bone stores keeping our bones healthy.

The Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) of elemental magnesium for men is 420mg and 320mg for women but sometimes this is not enough. 

So how can you raise your magnesium levels? 

You can start by increasing your intake of high-fibre foods such as legumes, whole grains, vegetables (especially green leafy veggies), seeds and nuts as they are generally highest in magnesium. 

Because it’s hard to raise magnesium levels in our bodies by diet alone, due to poor nutrient levels in our soils, it’s a good idea to be mindful of how magnesium can become depleted in the body and keep those to a minimum. These include bad dietary habits, too much alcohol and caffeine. Pharmaceutical medications, gastrointestinal upsets, chronic stress, excessive sweating and the natural aging process can also deplete magnesium.

Taking a one-a-day supplement of the Healtheries Magnesium 400mg can be an easy and effective way to boost your magnesium levels. Try it and see how it makes you feel.

*Meyer KA, Kushi LH, Jacobs DR, et al. Carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and incident type 2 diabetes in older women. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;71:921-30.