Why You Should Start Taking Magnesium Today!

Are you sick and tired of feeling sick and tired? Have you been to several doctors, but they never seem to find what the problem is? Are you tired of being told that “it’s all in your head”, or being offered anti-depressants?

By some estimates, up to 75 percent of the population are not getting enough magnesium and may be deficient.

The truth might be that you are simply deficient in one vital mineral. In fact, estimates are that at least 75 percent of the population is deficient in this area. Most doctors overlook this one simple thing, but the list of problems a deficiency in this mineral causes is very, very long.

What mineral are we talking about? Magnesium.

Symptoms of a Magnesium Deficiency

Let's take a look at the most common symptoms a lack of magnesium can cause:

• Brain fog or memory problems
• Constipation
• Aggression
• Sugar cravings
• Migraines
• Restless Leg Syndrome
• Frequent headaches
• Hypertension
• Chronic back pain
• Anxiety
• Pain
• Depression
• Sleep problems
• Behavioral problems
• Fatigue
• Lethargy
• Insomnia
• Cramps
• Cluster headaches
• Tinnitus
• Confusion
• Circulatory problems

This list is not all inclusive, but these are the most common complaints.

It is true that magnesium is vital to our muscles. Without magnesium to send the signal that you want to move your leg, you couldn't do it. When we are low on magnesium, it is not uncommon for people to complain about leg twitching, muscle cramps, even those annoying little twitches of the eyelid, are all signs that the body is probably low on magnesium. It is magnesium, which allows muscles to relax.

Let's never forget that our heart is also a muscle. When the body is low on magnesium, you can experience heart palpitations, rapid heartbeat, or an irregular heartbeat. While a cramp in your foot is annoying, you can dismiss it within a few minutes. If your heart "cramps", well, that is certainly something you cannot dismiss!

Why is This Mineral so Important?

Although most people only think of magnesium as being important for muscles, too many people forget that our hearts are pure muscle!

The truth about magnesium, however, is that it plays a role in at least 300 functions in the body, and some say it can play a part in as many as 700 functions!

We won't list all of the known 300 functions, but let’s take a quick look at the areas that magnesium is important to:

1. Energy production
2. DNA synthesis
3. Protein formation
4. Temperature regulation of the body
5. Blood sugar control
6. Bone and teeth formation
7. Blood pressure regulation
8. Detoxification of the body
9. Protection from environmental toxins

Why are We Suddenly so Magnesium Deficient?

There are several reasons behind the reason why, including:

• Low Levels in Soil - Our modern farming techniques have depleted the stores of magnesium in farming soil. Compared to the 1940's, our vegetables have 24 percent less magnesium and our fruits have 16 percent less magnesium.
• Stress and Sleep Deprivation - Modern societies expect us to be available and "on the go" 24/7. Most of us are stressed out and sleep deprived, which causes the overproduction of stress hormones, which deplete our body's reserves of magnesium. Chronic Stress is perhaps one of the major reasons our bodies are low in this important mineral.
• Processed Foods and Junk Foods - Caffeinated drinks leave our bodies dehydrated. Magnesium can be easily removed via urine. It's been said that for every gram of sugar we consume, it takes many more grams of magnesium to process it. Most processed foods, and all junk foods, contain little, if any magnesium.
• Pharmaceutical Drugs - Oral contraceptives and other estrogen based compounds, as well as blood pressure medications, cortisone, prednisone, and antibiotics all deplete the body of magnesium.

Why You Should Start Taking Magnesium Right Now!

Perhaps one of the best reasons to ensure that you are getting enough of this important mineral is your heart. Almost all heart attacks, heart disease, and other heart problems are caused by a chronic magnesium deficiency.

Other problems have been linked to low magnesium levels, including chronic anxiety, recurring bouts of depression, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, panic attacks, osteoporosis, and poor circulation.

Too Much Calcium Is Part of the Problem

Chances are that you have heard that calcium is important, especially for women, in order to have strong bones and teeth. Almost everything we buy in stores, from orange juice to cereal, has been “fortified” with added calcium.

We get far too much calcium and not nearly enough magnesium to offset it. Every cell in the body has little motor, if you will, made up of sodium and potassium. This little motor regulates the balance of minerals both inside and outside of each cell. The sodium/potassium motor needs magnesium to work properly. If the body is low on magnesium, the motor allows too much calcium to enter the cells.

While we have been taught that calcium is a good thing, (and it is, don’t get us wrong), like everything in the body, there needs to be a perfect balance of things to work at their best.

Over calcification of the cells leads to:

• Muscle spasms and/or muscle cramps
• Calcification of the arteries in the body
• High blood pressure
• Hormone problems
• Pregnancy problems (such as severe morning sickness)
• Sleep issues
• Fatigue or low energy levels
• Poor bone health

How to get Enough Magnesium

Doctors and nutritionists say that the average adult needs 1,000 mgs of magnesium each day and children under 12 need about 400 mgs.

One of the problems with magnesium is that it can be difficult for the body to absorb via supplements. Most over the counter supplements tend to cause digestive problems, stomach pain, and add stress on the kidneys.

Experts have estimated that, depending on the source, our bodies only absorb between 20 and 55 percent of the magnesium consumed via supplements. We simply pee out the rest!

There is one dramatic benefit that appears to come from consuming a type of magnesium supplement called L-Threonate (Life Extension). This type of magnesium appears to affect the brain in a positive manner rather quickly. If you are having cognitive or memory issues, this might be the supplement for you!

There are plenty of other ways you can take magnesium, however. One of the best ways is to apply it topically.

We can absorb magnesium easily through the skin!

When it comes to applying magnesium onto your skin, you will most likely find two different types; magnesium chloride and magnesium sulphate. You know magnesium sulphate by its more common name, Epsom salts (Epsoak Epsom Salt). Although people have been soaking in this type of magnesium for almost 100 years, the truth is that, when compared to magnesium chloride, Epsom salts leave something to be desired.

Although your body will absorb Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) through the skin, your kidneys also remove it fairly quickly. Magnesium chloride, however, is not only easy to absorb through the skin, but the body metabolizes it quite well. This means that you will get far better, far quicker results if you use a magnesium chloride based oil for your magnesium needs.

Magnesium oil (Ancient Minerals Magnesium Oil Spray), which is made with a 20-30 percent magnesium chloride flakes (Ancient Minerals Magnesium Bath Flakes) and water solution, sprayed on the skin, is an easy way to get your magnesium each day.

You can also add a cup of Magnesium Chloride flakes to your bath and soak for 30 minutes at a time, three to four days a week. Now this has got to be one of the nicest ways to get your magnesium on!

How Long Will it Take for Magnesium to Work?

There is no "miracle" pill with magnesium. How long it will take in order for you to see a reduction or improvement in your symptoms will depend on how deficient you are and how much your body is able to absorb.

Think of it like a bank account. How long will it take your savings to reach the million dollar mark? It all depends on how much money you have in there to start with and how much you put in the bank every week.

Everyone is different, so response times are also different. You might start seeing/feeling improvements in as little as 7 days. However, for those of us who are having symptoms, then it's likely that you are already VERY deficient and it may take months of taking magnesium at high doses in order to replenish your magnesium levels.

So, in short, the best ways to get your magnesium levels replenished are:

1. Magnesium oil (Ancient Minerals) on the skin every day for two or three months to replenish levels in the body, then three times a week afterwards.
2. Put a cup of Magneisum flakes (Ancient Minerals) in your bath and soak for 30 minutes. Do this three or four times each week for two or three months, then once or twice a week thereafter.
3. Take L-Threonate (Life Extension) or ReMag supplements as directed

The Top 10 Magnesium Rich Foods

The best sources of natural magnesium are green leafy vegetables

Of course, one of the best ways to get your magnesium is from food. Consuming organic food will ensure that you are getting the most magnesium for your money. Remember that the average adult needs about 1,000 mgs each day.

Be sure that your diet includes plenty of:

1. Bananas: 1 medium = 32 mgs
2. Spinach: 1 cup = 157 mgs
3. Dark Chocolate: 1 ounce = 95 mgs
4. Chard: 1 Cup = 154 mgs
5. Figs: ½ Cup = 50 mgs
6. Pumpkin seeds: ¼ Cup = 185 mgs
7. Kefir or yogurt: 1 Cup = 50 mgs
8. Avocados: 1 medium = 58 mgs
9. Almonds: 1 ounce = 80 mgs
10. Black beans: ½ cup = 60 mgs

Keep in mind that the best sources of natural magnesium are green leafy vegetables. This is because they contain chlorophyll. The one major difference between chlorophyll, the life blood of plants, and human blood is that human blood cells have iron at their center and chlorophyll has magnesium in the center.

Add plenty of fresh vegetables and the foods listed above to get a jump on the magnesium train!