John Myers
Magnesium, the fourth most abundant mineral in the body, plays an important role in activating more than 300 chemical reactions. Magnesium is responsible for healthy bone growth, maintaining muscle function, regulating body temperature, and absorbing calcium. Scientists also suspect that magnesium could prevent ADHD, bipolar disorders, Alzheimer’s, and mental decline.
Diseases caused by a lack of magnesium
Unfortunately, there is a severe lack of magnesium and other minerals in the foods of today’s diet, which is why a magnesium deficiency is now very common. A lack of magnesium affects almost every part of the body and can manifest itself in headaches, back pain, muscle spasms, cardiac arrhythmia, high blood pressure, PMS, osteoporosis, kidney stones, insomnia, anxiety, depression, itching and numbness in the extremities and constipation.
Magnesium is also a very effective immune modulator – magnesium activates our immune system. Magnesium deficiency is therefore also associated with malfunctions in the immune system, so that, for example, the symptoms of various diseases such as hyperthyroidism, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, or Raynaud’s syndrome can be triggered or even worsened.
In addition, a magnesium deficiency is also associated with premature aging, because magnesium increases the defense against free radicals, which cause our cells to age.
Magnesium, ADHD, and Alzheimer’s
Magnesium plays an important role in many cognitive functions in our body. Therefore, a magnesium deficiency is also associated with cognitive disorders such as ADHD, Alzheimer’s, or Parkinson’s.
In scientific studies with children suffering from ADHD, significant improvements in symptoms were achieved with magnesium. In other scientific studies, scientists have found a connection between calcium, magnesium, and Alzheimer’s, which suggests that a balanced ratio of these minerals is of enormous importance for brain function.
Magnesium and calcium
Like all minerals and trace elements, magnesium also has a kind of opponent or partner – calcium. Magnesium is essential for adequate calcium utilization. Although we are constantly reminded how important it is to consume calcium, it is unfortunately rarely if ever mentioned in this context that the body must also be supplied with sufficient amounts of magnesium (since this mineral is necessary for the absorption of calcium is absolutely necessary).
Too much calcium can even have negative effects on your health. Dairy products, for example, which is rich in calcium, can be responsible for overconsumption of calcium – if the consumer does not also consume sufficient magnesium at the same time. The assumption that bone loss is due to a calcium deficiency has now been proven wrong. On the contrary, too much calcium in the body is responsible for an increased risk of osteoporosis, kidney stones, heart attacks, and arteriosclerosis. To ensure optimal absorption of the mineral, calcium, and magnesium should always be taken in a ratio of 2 to 1 (through food or supplements).
Magnesium deficiency due to too much calcium
Since magnesium is needed to absorb calcium, in many cases a magnesium deficiency can also be traced back to excessive calcium intake. If there is a lot of calcium, a lot of magnesium is also used for calcium absorption. But this magnesium is then missing again in other places in the body, which is why a magnesium deficiency can quickly develop.
Prevent magnesium deficiency
The modern diet usually lacks sufficient amounts of nutrients and minerals such as magnesium. Poisons and additives in our food also prevent the organism from absorbing the already small amounts of magnesium and other nutrients and minerals. Alcohol, caffeine, and cigarettes also play a negative role.
In order to ensure that the body is supplied with sufficient magnesium, one should above all consume a lot of high-quality and natural fruit and vegetables. Foods with high magnesium content are, for example, spinach, avocados, bananas, almonds, cashews, peanuts, raisins, beans, baked potatoes (with their skins), brown rice, or lentils.
Since nutrients have been withdrawn from our agricultural soils on a large scale over the past hundred years, it is now very difficult to get enough magnesium and other minerals, and trace elements through the diet. Anyone who suffers from deficiency symptoms despite a healthy diet can supply the body with the additionally required amounts of the mineral through high-quality and natural food supplements.
