How Can I Know if I’m Magnesium Deficient?
Sometimes the most common things are overlooked. Magnesium is abundant in the universe and earth’s crust, but we seem to have a hard time getting enough. It’s suspected that nearly half of Canadians don’t get the dietary magnesium they need to stay healthy.
Magnesium has over 800 different roles in the body. Without enough, the body experiences huge disruptions, such as low energy, difficulty synthesizing proteins, and interrupted metabolic reactions.
Symptoms of magnesium deficiency
Magnesium is a powerhouse mineral that our body uses like fuel or building blocks in the same way our body needs sugars, proteins, and fats. Vital organs like the heart and brain simply cannot function without it.
Because magnesium plays a fundamental role in all aspects of health, we often do not recognize a deficiency until we start experiencing symptoms. Some symptoms of magnesium deficiency include restless legs, muscle cramps, migraines, fatigue, anxiety, and insomnia.
What conditions does magnesium help with?
Some common conditions that a magnesium deficiency is linked to include acid reflux and heartburn, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, Alzheimers and dementia, stress, anxiety, blood clotting, inflammation, blood sugar sensitivity, bone and teeth building, constipation, depression… the list goes on!
However, unlike an antacid you might take to reduce heartburn or an antibiotic to fight infection, taking magnesium when you are deficient doesn’t have just one effect.
What does magnesium do?
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 inside every cell of our bodies. Magnesium keeps heart rhythms steady, maintains muscle functions, metabolizes glucose, ensures nerves fire properly, creates cellular energy and helps to synthesize the basic building blocks of life – DNA, RNA and proteins.
Why take magnesium?
Magnesium deficiency is common because of depleted soil quality, gastrointestinal disorders, chronic stress, and medications.
Our diets are providing less magnesium than they used to. Modern farming practices have caused fruits and vegetables to have lost large amounts of minerals and nutrients in the past 50 years. Furthermore, food processing and refining removes large amounts of magnesium. Whole grains can lose over 80% of their magnesium content simply through milling. Even cooking vegetables can leach magnesium. The typical Canadian diet is laced with refined grains, oils and sugars, providing large amounts of calories with little to no magnesium.
Magnesium is also harder to absorb for many individuals with low stomach acid or chronic stress. Chronic gastrointestinal disorders such as Crohn’s or colitis also impede the absorption of key nutrients like magnesium.
Magnesium is depleted with many common prescription medications as a side effect, including antacids, acid blockers, and antibiotics. Medications that deplete nutrients like magnesium alter the way this mineral is absorbed, converted, stored or excreted.
As a general recommendation, we suggest consulting your healthcare practitioner or visit your local natural health food store to learn more before starting a new supplement.