Considering how vital magnesium is to the overall function and well-being of our bodies, you may be surprised to learn that most of us are deficient in it. From food grown in nutrient-depleted soil to malabsorption of nutrients from sluggish digestive health, magnesium deficiency has become common. Incorporating magnesium into your diet has many health benefits. There are various types of foods you can incorporate into your diet to increase your magnesium intake. You can also take a magnesium drink supplement which will contribute to healthy digestion, and provide natural relaxation, stress-relief, and sleep support as well.
Why is Magnesium Important for Health?
Magnesium protects heart health, nerve function, and enzyme activity; produces and maintains energy, sustains the integrity of blood vessels, helps regulate blood sugar, produces new proteins and cells, and contributes to over 300 chemical reactions in the body. Not surprisingly, deficiency then creates a diverse array of health problems, such as:
- Insomnia and difficulty sleeping
- Cardiovascular disease and hypertension
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Constipation and digestive problems
- Chronic fatigue
- Calcium deficiency
- Muscle cramping and spasms
- Panic attacks and anxiety
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Cognitive problems: difficulty concentrating and memory loss
- Irritability
- Loss of appetite
- Osteoporosis
- PMS
As it is so crucial to good health, it makes sense to supplement, and eat a diet high in magnesium-rich foods, such as quinoa, avocados, brown rice, pumpkin seeds, and spinach.
Salmon, kidney beans, and chard (leafy greens) are also great for dietary supplementation. Eating these foods and using supplements can go a long way in helping to improve and maintain the health of our bodies. Supplementing with a range of 100 to 350 mg a day, in addition to regularly eating magnesium-rich foods, should have you covered.
Common Health Benefits of MagnesiumThere are myriad benefits to fixing a deficiency, and it’s good to know how a magnesium-rich nutritional plan will improve your health. Here are the top 10 benefits of getting an adequate amount of magnesium in our diets.
1. Reduce your risk of diabetes
It plays a key role in glucose and carbohydrate metabolism. It also helps keep blood sugar levels stable and reduces insulin resistance.
2. Protect your bones
It is important for the assimilation of calcium into bone formation and protecting bone health, and plays a role in activating vitamin D in the kidneys.
3. Alleviate symptoms of premenstrual syndrome
Studies show that magnesium helps relieve the symptoms of PMS, such as breast tenderness, bloating, weight gain, and insomnia. Magnesium combined with vitamin B6 is even more powerful in relieving PMS.
4. Improve and maintain heart health
It is crucial to maintaining healthy muscle, and this includes the heart. Adequate magnesium is also associated with a reduced risk of hypertension (high blood pressure), and a reduced risk of atherosclerosis, which is a fatty build-up on the walls of arteries.
5. Relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety
Low levels of magnesium contribute to depression, and eating a proper diet and supplementing as needed is a powerful way to regulate your mood.
6. Calm inflammation
A deficiency contributes to chronic inflammation in the body. Inflammation is a precursor to premature aging, chronic illnesses, and obesity. Magnesium supplements have been shown to reduce the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP); in the same way that magnesium-rich foods are also anti-inflammatory.
7. Regulate the nervous system
Magnesium helps regulate neurotransmitters, which facilitate communication between the brain and nervous system, promoting a greater sense of calm and promoting relaxation This is also why it helps support sleep quality, particularly if taken before bed time.
8. Promote healthy digestion
Magnesium helps relax the muscle walls of the digestive tract and activates enzymes which help your body digest and utilize fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. In addition, by relaxing the nervous system, magnesium plays a key role in relieving constipation and promoting regularity.
9. Heal back pain and muscle cramps
Magnesium helps heal and relax tight and spasming muscles. Leg cramps are a classic sign of deficiency, so adequate intake will help relieve these as well.
10. Essential for a healthy pregnancy
Adequate magnesium is important during pregnancy, creating strong teeth and bones for your baby. Supplementing can also help with pain tolerance to contribute to an easier delivery.
Integrating Magnesium into Your Daily Routine
In sum, there are so many ways that it helps build and maintain your health. From promoting healthy digestive function to anxiety relief, it is powerful support during your 21-Day Cleanse and beyond. Our Clean-developed magnesium berry-flavored powder supplement, Total Magnesium, will also assist you during your cleanse and as needed thereafter; it contributes to healthy digestion (a key component to a successful detox), and provides natural stress and sleep support as well.
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