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The marvelous magnesium
Magnesium is a vital mineral essential to good health. Although it has been known for many years to help night time leg cramps, but very few people are aware of the different marvelous role that magnesium plays in our body.
Now-a-days, doctors consider magnesium as the most important element needed by our body after oxygen, water and basic food. Some researchers believe that this is more important than calcium, potassium or sodium and regulates all three of them.
When someone is having any problem related to too low oxygen or water, we realise the consequences are serious. But lot of us does not realise the cost of magnesium deficiency. They suffer daily without knowing about the symptoms of magnesium deficiency.
More than three hundred different biochemical body processes use this mineral to fulfill their job. These functions include digestion, creation of new cells, activation of B vitamins etc. In fine, magnesium helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps heart rhythm steady, supports a healthy immune system and keeps bones strong. It also helps regulate blood sugar levels, promotes normal blood pressure and is known to be involved in energy metabolism and protein synthesis. Magnesium deficiency, to any extent, will interfere with any of these factors. That means from sleep disorders to heart disorders, headaches to backaches, anxiety to body tension — what not?
Today, there is an increased interest in the role of magnesium in preventing and managing cardiovascular diseases. Scientists have revealed that the trace element magnesium has a significant function to play in saving lives of coronary artery bypass surgery patients and dietary magnesium is associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease.
According to a research, patients with good magnesium levels, who have undergone surgery to replace damaged sections of their coronary arteries, are less likely to die, or have a heart attack in the following year than those with poor magnesium levels.
North American researchers, in a large (30 years) project, have also shown that intake of magnesium in the diet appears to cut the risk of coronary heart disease. Their findings, which indicate a strong link between good magnesium status and low levels of coronary heart disease, are reported in the American Journal of Cardiology.
The health status of the digestive system and the kidneys significantly influence magnesium status. Gastrointestinal disorders that impair absorption can limit the body's ability to absorb magnesium. Although normal kidneys are able to limit urinary excretion of magnesium to compensate for low dietary intake; but too much loss of magnesium in urine can be a side effect of some medications and can also occur in cases of uncontrolled diabetes.
There is an interesting relationship between calcium and magnesium. Both are extremely important minerals that are often out of balance in persons with thyroid disease. Imbalances of these minerals can result in irregular heart rate. Thyroid function itself is most likely controlled by the ratio of these minerals. But supplementing them in the wrong ratio can make symptoms worse.
Getting your calcium /magnesium balance corrected is essential for normalising heart rate, preventing dental decay and osteoporosis, and preventing muscle cramps.
Eating a wide variety of legumes, nuts, whole grains, and vegetables will help you meet your daily dietary need for magnesium. Generally, the daily required minimum level of this mineral can be achieved with a diet based in a variety of foods, including spinach, soybeans, unrefined bran, wheat, oatmeal, nuts, brown rice, black-eyed peas and yogurt. Lower food sources of magnesium include kidney beans, lentils, avocado, bananas, raisins, and chocolate milk. Additionally, hard water, water that is rich in minerals, may provide a minimal amount of magnesium.
Early signs of magnesium deficiency are loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue and weakness. Eventually it includes muscle cramps, personality changes, abnormal heart rhythms and coronary spasms. Severe magnesium deficiency can result in low levels of calcium in the blood. This deficiency is also related with low levels of potassium in the blood. Many of these symptoms are general and can result from other different medical conditions.
It is important to have a qualified doctor to evaluate problems so that appropriate care can be given.
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