Am I Getting Enough Magnesium?

Magnesium is a vital mineral. Over 300 body reactions involve it. These include:

Energy Production: Magnesium helps convert food into energy.

Protein Synthesis: It assists in creating new proteins from amino acids.

Gene Maintenance: Cells require magnesium to synthesize and repair DNA and RNA.

Muscle Movements: It is crucial for muscle contraction and relaxation.

Nervous System Regulation: Magnesium plays a role in neurotransmitter release and nerve function.

These processes can be harmed if there is not enough magnesium. This can lead to various health issues.

Magnesium deficiency can manifest in various ways. Here are some common signs to look out for:

If you have any of these symptoms, consider if you get enough magnesium.

Physicians often treat conditions like insomnia, ADHD, migraines, anxiety, and depression with drugs. They do this without dealing with possible root causes, like magnesium deficiency. For instance, insomnia is often managed with prescription sleep aids or sedatives. They help induce sleep temporarily but do not tackle underlying nutrient problems.

Similarly, ADHD is usually treated with stimulant drugs. They focus on managing symptoms. They do not study metabolic imbalances. They also do not study nutritional shortfalls. These issues might contribute to the disorder.

Doctors commonly treat migraines with many medications. These include pain relievers and preventives. But, these approaches often do not consider whether a lack of magnesium might be a cause.

Doctors often treat anxiety and depression with antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs. These drugs change brain chemistry. But, they do not fix the nutrient imbalances that may cause these conditions. Dr. Carolyn Dean, MD, ND, Author of The Magnesium Miracle, says, "Anxiety and depression are often diseases from not having enough nutrients and being sensitive to chemicals. They are not diseases from not having enough drugs," she says. She says, "Serotonin, the 'feel-good' brain chemical that is boosted by Prozac, depends on magnesium for its production and function."

They focus on managing symptoms, not exploring nutritional deficiencies like low magnesium. However, by doing this, physicians may miss a simple way to ease these conditions. Adding magnesium supplements could lead to more sustained and holistic health improvements, but only after confirming a deficiency through proper testing.

A study published in the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences in December of 2012 was titled "The effect of magnesium supplementation on primary insomnia in the elderly: A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial." It highlighted the potential of magnesium as a therapy for sleep problems. This is especially true for older adults.

The study reveals something. It's that magnesium supplements can significantly improve both the felt and measured aspects of insomnia in older adults. Subjective improvements include better ISI scores. Sleep efficiency has increased. Sleep duration is more prolonged. Sleep onset latency has shortened. There are fewer early morning awakenings. The study showed that magnesium supplements raise renin, melatonin, and cortisol levels in the blood. These chemicals regulate sleep.

Dr. Michael Breus is a Clinical Psychologist and Sleep Medicine Expert. He says, "The body does not make magnesium. So, you must find ways to add it to your diet." Supplementation can help. But it's also essential to eat magnesium-rich foods.

Here are some excellent sources of magnesium:

You can refer to the National Institutes of Health and Mayo Clinic for more details.

Magnesium is a vital mineral that supports numerous bodily functions. Magnesium supplementation could offer significant benefits if you're experiencing symptoms of deficiency. However, always consult a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement regimen.

Eat magnesium-rich foods and consider supplements. This will help you be proactive about your health and well-being. For wellness-seeking adults and health enthusiasts, magnesium may be the missing piece to their health puzzle.