In this article, we will answer the question: why our body needs Magnesium, what happens when our body doesn’t get enough Magnesium, and what are the signs of Magnesium deficiency.
Magnesium is one of the essential minerals that your body uses to produce consumable energy, improve muscle function, nerve function, structuring teeth and bone, DNA replication, protein synthesis, and RNA. So what is the best form of Magnesium to take?
To stay fit and healthy, your body needs enough Magnesium to process and regenerate your body muscles. However, people don’t think that adding Magnesium in their daily diet is important. This may be because it is not much-publicized like Vitamin C, D, or Calcium.
Here’s why you should add Magnesium in your diet.
Why it is important to add Magnesium to your diet?
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), Magnesium takes part in 300 natural body functions in our body. A nutritionist, Monica Auslander Moreno claims that Magnesium is a multitasker. We take it daily in small amounts, and it makes a big impact on our body. It controls blood glucose level, bowel motility, and produces energy.
Another report published in March 2018 by the International Journal of Endocrinology states that enough quantity of Magnesium in your body helps in maintaining diabetes, migraine, and osteoporosis.
People suffering from arthritis are suggested to add Magnesium to their diet. The foods – you should include in your daily diet – if you are suffering from Magnesium deficiency are listed below.
List of foods that are high in Magnesium
It is recommended that you should take 400 mg of Magnesium per day. The following food items are considered rich in Magnesium:
- Avocado
- Dark chocolate
- Legumes
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Tofu
- Whole grain
- Bananas
- Fish
- Leafy greens
Magnesium is effective for
Indigestion: Consuming Magnesium orally can help in preventing heartburn. For instance, Magnesium Hydroxide is used to provide relief from heartburns.
High blood pressure (during pregnancy): Magnesium can be considered as the treatment of choice for lowering blood pressure in pregnant women. Researchers suggest that taking Magnesium minimizes the risk of seizures caused due to high blood pressure.
Constipation: Magnesium: If taken orally, helps as a purgative medication for constipation. It also helps in producing bowel in the medical settings.
Magnesium Deficiency: Magnesium deficiency occurs when people continuously suffer from vomiting, diarrhea, kidney dysfunction, heart failure, or liver-related disorders. To address the deficiency, add Magnesium-rich foods and Magnesium supplements in your diet.
Warning signs of Magnesium deficiency
Magnesium deficiency is commonly called hypomagnesemia. It is recommended to stick to the normal daily limit of Magnesium because too much Magnesium can also affect your body.
- Your muscle starts cramping and twitching
Scientists believe that when you experience continuous cramps, then it may indicate Magnesium deficiency. They also believe that these twitching and cramping symptoms may also arise due to the abundance of Calcium flow through nerve cells which triggers cramps in the nerve cells.
- You’re experiencing osteoporosis:
Osteoporosis occurs when your bones become weak and you are at high risk of receiving bone fractures. If you are an older person, your bone mass may get affected due to poor Magnesium intake, lack of exercise.
- Mental disorders
Magnesium deficiency may also trigger mental disorders. It includes emotional numbness, anxiety, and involves a high risk of depression. High deficiency of Magnesium in some cases, may lead to experiencing coma and delirium.
- Asthma
People who suffer from asthma are often diagnosed with Magnesium deficiency. Additional intake of Magnesium can lower the risk of asthma attacks in individuals.
On the other hand, the deficiency of Magnesium can elevate the risk of blocked airways and breathing difficulty. That is why people with asthma are given Magnesium inhalers making it easier for them to breathe.
The bottom line
Studies reflect that 75% of individuals in the United States do not consume Magnesium in their daily diet. Regardless of whatever you take to maintain a healthy diet, ensure to have regular Magnesium intake to avoid other diseases and deficiencies.