When the benefits of minerals to our health are being discussed most of the emphasis seems to be on bulk minerals like calcium and iron. This is unfortunate because our good health truly depends on getting plenty of a wide array of minerals. Magnesium is a mineral that does not receive enough attention. Based on the US RDA, 61% of adults lack sufficient magnesium to stay healthy. This means that most people today could be benefited by a supplementing their diet with magnesium.
When it comes to treating and preventing osteoporosis, magnesium excels. In osteoporosis, the bones lose a lot of their calcium making them weak and prone to breakage. Magnesium works to increase the absorption of calcium. Magnesium also helps to balance the various chemicals that the body uses to influence the bone density and how much calcium the bones use. It increases the density of the bones by making the calcium more readily available for use. This is important because unused calcium can settle out in the kidneys to form painful stones. It can also cause muscle cramps and pains. By balancing calcium intake with magnesium, the calcium is used more efficiently and problems like muscle cramps and kidney stones can be avoided.
Hypertension may also be prevented by magnesium. It seems the the smooth muscles that dilate the arteries are relaxed by magnesium. Doctors believe that this relaxation of these smooth muscle tissues reduces blood pressure. Potassium and magnesium also work together to control blood pressure. Through these functions, magnesium may help control hypertension.
Magnesium is also active in the balancing our blood sugar. It is needed to metabolize carbohydrates. Too little magnesium can cause insulin, the enzyme that control the levels of blood sugar, to stop working. Insulin resistance is the term that describes this condition. Insulin resistance is usually a first step towards the development of type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is another name for adult-onset diabetes. As insulin becomes less effective, it takes more and more of it to create the same drop in blood sugar. Eventually full-blown diabetes develops. Getting the recommended amount of magnesium will improve the ability of the body to control blood sugar and hopefully prevent diabetes from developing in later life.
Magnesium is also important to cardiovascular health. This only seems natural since magnesium is involved in the prevention of diabetes and hypertension, two conditions that can lead to poor cardiovascular health. Magnesium helps regulate the heart’s rhythm. Too little magnesium can also lead to abnormal blood clotting in the heart, a dangerous condition that can lead to heart attack. Doctors have also found that magnesium can greatly speed recovery from strokes. It’s also quite likely that magnesium can prevent heart disease and stroke.
Many of us do not get adequate amounts of magnesium in our diet. Magnesium is a crucial mineral that affects a number of important functions. A magnesium supplement is a great way to ensure that you get enough magnesium to maintain optimum health. It is generally recommended to take twice as much magnesium as calcium. A liquid supplement will also be beneficial because liquid minerals are more readily absorbed from the digestive tract. This makes more the magnesium available to the body. Don’t be part of the 61% who are deficient in magnesium. Use a magnesium supplement to protect your precious health.
