(NaturalNews) Magnesium is present in all cells of the body and is involved in over 300 enzymatic processes, including energy production. Magnesium is essential for maintaining normal bone density, normal cardiac rhythmicity, normal pulmonary function, and normal blood glucose regulation. Magnesium is one of the most common world-wide deficiencies and it plays a role in most of the common health struggles people face every day.
Most doctors are not trained to detect magnesium deficiencies. Magnesium deficiency is often misdiagnosed because it does not show up in blood tests as only 1% of the body's magnesium is stored in the blood (1).
Dr. Norman Shealy's, M.D., Ph.D. is an American neurosurgeon and a pioneer in pain medicine says, "Every known illness is associated with a magnesium deficiency," and that, "magnesium is the most critical mineral required for electrical stability of every cell in the body. A magnesium deficiency may be responsible for more diseases than any other nutrient. (2)"
Magnesium deficiency rates:
Research has shown that 68% of individuals in the US do not consume the daily recommended amount of dietary magnesium and 19% do not even consume half of the RDA levels which are 310-420mg daily (3). Most researchers believe this RDA level is far too low and if it was raised to where it should be we would see that roughly 80% of Americans are consuming insufficient quantities (4).
Magnesium is a basic element of life much like water and air. We need a lot of magnesium, roughly 1000 mgs/day for a healthy active individual to keep up with the demands of the body. Magnesium is to the body like oil is to a car's engine and if we are deficient problems will arise.
Calcium: magnesium ratios:
Our current diet is rich in calcium but insufficient in magnesium. Our ancient ancestors had a a diet that was close to 1:1 whereas our present-day diets are more like 5:1 and up to 15:1. Having roughly ten times more calcium than magnesium is a serious problem (5).
This elevated calcium to magnesium ratio is a major player in conditions such as mitral valve prolapse, migraines, attention deficit disorder, autism, fibromyalgia, anxiety, asthma and allergies. Wherever there is elevated calcium and insufficient magnesium inside of cells the effects are muscle contractions, spasms, twitches and even convulsions (6).
Magnesium and detoxification:
Without sufficient magnesium the body struggles to make and utilize protein and enzymes. It is also unable to properly methylate and detoxify and/or process and utilize anti-oxidants like vitamin C and E.
Magnesium is extremely critical for proper detoxification processes. As our world has gotten increasingly more toxic, our need for magnesium has increased. Meanwhile, the nutrition of our modern food has increasingly been diminished. This is due to overcropping, poor composting and pesticides/herbicide chemical residue which reduces nutritional quality of the soil and produce.
Major symptoms associated with magnesium deficiencies:
Research has shown links between magnesium deficiency and the following health conditions (7)
Mitral valve prolapse
Cardiac arrythmias
Migraines
ADHD
Autism
Anxiety
Asthma
Allergies
Chronic Pain
Fibromyalgia
Chronic Fatigue
Muscle Spasms
Insomnia
Twitching & tremors
Swelling/edema
Weak pulse
Brain fog/confusion
Osteoporosis
Best food sources of magnesium:
The densest sources of bioavailable magnesium are in the following foods
About the author: Dr David Jockers is a Maximized Living doctor and owns and operates Exodus Health Center in Kennesaw, Georgia where he specializes in functional nutrition, functional medicine and corrective chiropractic care to get to the underlying cause of major health problems.
His website features great articles on natural health and incredible recipes. He is the author of the best-selling book SuperCharge Your Brain - the complete guide to radically improve your mood, memory and mindset. He has over 50,000 active followers on his social media and email newsletter and is a big influencer in the Primal Health movement.
Dr. Jockers is also available for long distance consultations and health coaching to help you beat disease and reach your health goals. For more information got to www.drjockers.com
