BENEFITS of MAGNESIUM
Mg is involved in hundreds of reactions in the body, such as
• Energy Creation to convert food into energy.
• Coronary and Heart Function and Regulation to help balance blood pressure.
• Gene Maintenance to help create and repair DNA and RNA.
• Muscle Movements, aiding in muscle contraction and relaxation.
• Nervous System Regulation of neurotransmitters to send messages throughout your brain and nervous system.
• Protein Formation to create new proteins from amino acids.
Magnesium:
• Alleviates morning sickness in pregnancy (Pregnancy hormones inhibit the body’s ability to absorb magnesium, which causes a vicious cycle. A Mg deficiency produces excess cortisol, which causes nausea that leads to more stress, requiring a higher amount of Mg);
• Alleviates pain and is anti-inflammatory;
• Assists in bone formation and joint and skeletal health;
• Assists in the absorption of vitamin D, calcium, and vitamin K2;
• Assists in the vitamin D pathways (Vitamin D deficiency is present in immune dysfunction and many diseases, including various cancers, arthritis, osteoporosis, and mental illness);
• Assists in the production of GABA, which controls the production of hormones like serotonin that produce calmness and well-being;
• Assists the mitochondria in ATP (adenosine triphosphate) production for energy;
• Assists with heart rhythm and calcium to normalize blood pressure;
• Dilates the blood vessels to allow blood flow to the extremities, benefiting people with Raynaud’s syndrome;
• Enhances sports performance;
• Enhances the effectiveness of nutrition, medical treatments, surgery, acupuncture, and chiropractic care;
• Helps to overcome insomnia and asthma;
•Helps to overcome constipation and headaches;
•Helps to overcome depression, defensiveness, and aggressive behavior;
• Helps to overcome muscle spasms, aches, and pains;
• Helps to protect the body against environmental stresses, especially in children and the elderly;
• Participates as a co-factor for many other nutrients and hundreds of enzyme activities;
• Participates as a natural and effective muscle relaxant, anti-inflammatory, and calcium-channel blocker;
• Promotes coronary and heart health;
• Reduces the harmful effects of stress and ADHD in children;
• Supports healthy blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity;
• Works to prevent heart palpitations and heart attacks/cardiac arrests. (The highest amounts of magnesium are in the heart, specifically within the heart’s left ventricle);
• Works with potassium to prevent painful leg or foot muscle cramps.
MAGNESIUM IN NUTRITION & DIET
Foods containing Mg are only Mg-rich if they are organically grown by a farmer that uses nutrient-rich fertilizer containing magnesium.
Organic spices, nuts, cereals, and cocoa are good sources of magnesium. This is why women often crave dark chocolate before their period when their body’s level of Mg drops. Unfortunately, most chocolate contains sugar that depletes Mg. Green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, and chard, are rich in magnesium.