Magnesium is a critical mineral that your body uses for hundreds of enzymatic reactions daily. Along with calcium, you need magnesium for the correct function of muscles and nerves. Adequate levels of magnesium are necessary for a healthy heart, bones, and to regulate blood sugar and blood pressure. Your body uses magnesium to generate energy. Magnesium is found in small amounts in a variety of foods, but many people aren’t getting enough

Magnesium deficiency

Approximately half of those living in the U.S. do not get enough magnesium in their daily diets. Chronic insufficient intake increases the risk of a number of health problems including migraines, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. People with the following health problems usually have a higher requirement for magnesium: Crohn's disease, celiac disease, alcoholism, and type 2 diabetes. Older people are more likely to suffer from low magnesium levels because magnesium absorption decreases with age. Your kidneys excrete more minerals as you get older, hence deficiency of all minerals is more likely to happen.

Magnesium strengthens bones

Magnesium is involved in bone formation. It guards against bone loss, bone breakages, and osteoporosis. Magnesium affects levels of parathyroid hormone and vitamin D, both necessary for maintaining bone health. Adequate magnesium intake is associated with higher bone density in men and women. Women who have osteoporosis usually have lower levels of magnesium than those who don’t have the condition.

Magnesium reduces inflammation

Inflammation is a normal response in the body that facilitates healing, but it can be harmful when it occurs in excess or for too long. Chronic inflammation has been linked to conditions like arthritis, heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes. People with high levels of C-reactive protein in their bloodstream have too much inflammation. Increasing magnesium intake can help to lower this.

Magnesium may protect your heart

Magnesium is necessary for the proper function of the heart. Optimal magnesium levels reduce the risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia). Research has shown that people who have the highest blood levels of magnesium are less likely to suffer from sudden cardiac death than those who have the lowest blood  levels. Magnesium benefits blood vessel walls by relaxing them, which then leads to lower blood pressure.

Magnesium reduces headaches

Deficient levels of magnesium are linked to the release of brain neurotransmitters and constriction of blood vessels in the brain that can trigger migraines in genetically susceptible individuals. Obtaining adequate magnesium may help reduce the frequency of migraines and other types of headaches by more than 40 percent.

Magnesium improves blood sugar control

Magnesium plays an important role in processing energy in your body. People who have low levels of magnesium are more likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. People who have these conditions also lose more magnesium in their urine, leading to further potential problems with blood sugar control. Magnesium assists the function of insulin, helping to make it more efficient at regulating blood sugar.

Many factors increase magnesium loss from your body

When you are stressed, the hormone cortisol increases the amount of magnesium you lose in your urine. Being magnesium deficient reduces stress coping abilities, thus you can feel more stressed and lose even more magnesium. Alcohol also increases urinary magnesium loss. Many commonly used medications can also deplete the body of magnesium.

Dark leafy green vegetables such as spinach, kale, and collard greens are rich in magnesium as well as calcium, potassium, carotenoids and vitamin K1. For people with a magnesium deficiency it is usually not possible to overcome the deficiency through diet alone. A magnesium supplement is usually required.

Magnesium UltraPotent powder and Magnesium Complete tablets contain well absorbed forms of magnesium that help to bring blood levels of this critical mineral up to optimum.

For more information see the book Magnesium The Miracle Mineral.

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.