What You Need To Know About The Benefits Of Magnesium

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What You Need To Know About The Benefits Of Magnesium

_http://thyroid.about.com/b/2005/05/26/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-benef

its-of-magnesium.htm_

(http://thyroid.about.com/b/2005/05/26/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-benefits-\

of-magnesium.htm)

By Shomon, About.com Guide

Eating on the run? Trying out a new fad diet? Forgetting to eat your

veggies? If you've answered yes to any of these questions, you aren't alone.

Busy schedules, fad diets and bad eating habits get in the way of proper

nutrition. The good news is that nearly 80 percent of Americans are taking

mineral supplements and multi-vitamins to help replace much-needed nutrients

including calcium, potassium and magnesium. Some people, including those with

diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as chronic hypothyroidism, are

at even greater risk of a nutrient deficiency because of the nature of

these conditions. In fact, up to 90 percent of Americans don't get the

recommended daily allowance (RDA) of magnesium from their diet alone. This might

account for the fact that the amount of magnesium people are getting has

plummeted over 50 percent over the last century! If you aren't getting enough

magnesium, you might be experiencing symptoms of magnesium deficiency.

Symptoms can include leg cramps, migraines, fatigue, loss of appetite,

depression, nausea and vomiting or high blood pressure.

Magnesium is an important mineral that is often overlooked. In fact, up to

90 percent of Americans don't get the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of

magnesium from their diet alone. This might account for the fact that the

amount of magnesium people are getting has plummeted over 50 percent over

the last century! If you aren't getting enough magnesium, you might be

experiencing symptoms of magnesium deficiency. Symptoms can include leg cramps,

migraines, fatigue, loss of appetite, depression, nausea and vomiting or

high blood pressure.

The RDA of magnesium is 320 mg/day for women and 420 mg/day for men. In

order to get the recommended amount, you'd have to eat large quantities of

foods high in magnesium. To make up for not getting the right amount through

their diet alone, many people take magnesium supplements. Renal failure

patients should not take a magnesium supplement. As with any supplement, you

should consult your physician.

**Not getting the right amount of magnesium is a growing concern for

everyone-it's vital to overall health, especially for those people with certain

medical conditions,** says noff, co-author of a consumer

education book titled **The Magnesium Factor.** **Eating foods like leafy

greens,

mixed nuts and whole grain foods that contain a lot of magnesium is a good

start, but it's also important to take a magnesium supplement, to make

sure you are getting the right amount.**

So why is magnesium so important? It plays a big part in keeping the heart

healthy, making sure bones are strong and helping the body absorb other

important minerals such as calcium and potassium. Magnesium supplementation

also helps people with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease maintain

adequate magnesium levels which is especially important for these patients.

Magnesium is also important to women who are pregnant, experience menopause

or are at risk for osteoporosis. Getting the right amount of magnesium

daily can help prevent leg cramps, migraines and fatigue.

It is estimated that up to 80 percent of those with type 2 diabetes have a

magnesium deficiency. This happens when high glucose levels make the body

flush magnesium from its system. In a recent study, people with diabetes

who took magnesium supplements had improved insulin and glucose levels.

Magnesium is also good for the heart. People with heart conditions,

including heart attacks, high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms and

coronary

artery disease, are more likely to be magnesium deficient. In fact,

studies show that people with low amounts of magnesium in the body are twice as

likely to develop coronary heart disease, and that magnesium supplementation

can lower cholesterol by as much as 20 percent. Magnesium supplementation

can increase individuals' magnesium levels and minimize the risks

associated with heart disease.

Women of all ages can benefit from magnesium-it's been shown to help build

and maintain strong bones, relieve symptoms of menopause and premenstrual

syndrome (PMS), and minimize the risk of premature labor. A recent study

showed that pregnant women with pre-eclampsia (a condition marked by water

retention, high blood pressure, and protein in the urine) taking magnesium

supplements had a 58 percent lower incidence of eclampsia, which are seizures

associated with pre-eclampsia.

Magnesium is an essential mineral to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It's

important for people with certain medical conditions, as well as anyone

who may have a magnesium deficiency with symptoms including leg cramps,

migraines and fatigue, to take a magnesium supplement.

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_Reasons for Taking Magnesium Supplements_

(http://healing.about.com/od/dietandfitness/a/magnesiumfacts_2.htm)

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..

Comments

43 year old guy(

I’ve been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and was experiencing heart palps.

My natural-path put me on a crazy vitamin and supplement regiment and

magnesium is the most important of them all. When I get heart palps, I just

take extra magnesium 250 mg and in 20 minutes it all goes away.

I have been through the gamut with cranial nerve palsy – reason unknown –

I take magnesium for the tinnitus (constant noise in the ears) – and it

really helps. I’m not sure how it works – but I read on a message board

that

it may be helpful – so I gave it a shot.

Jon

I am a healthy 26 year old male and for the past several years I have been

experiencing sweaty, cold hands, anxiety, sleep problems, and general

trouble concentrating. Despite my regular jogging of 4-6km 3-4x a week and

weight training routine 3-4x a week, if I were to stop exercising for a week I

would feel extremely weak and out of shape. Almost as of all the benefits

of my cardio disappeared.

Now i only began taking magnesium because someone recommended it to me for

a pulled muscle that didn’t seem to go away. So being cautious, I started

with 100mg the first two days, then 200mg the next two and I’m still at

200mg/day a week and a half later. not only has my muscle gotten better, I no

longer have sweaty, cold hands and I feel healthier in general! I’ve taken

a break from my jogging during the past week and my heart seems to be

stronger than it usually gets when i stop jogging for a week.

Not only that, but I’m also noticing an improvement in my stamina and

concentration for weight training! Sleeping is marginally better and so is my

concentration.

I wonder why my GP never recommended this to me. I’ll talk to him about it

during my next physical.

D

I was diagnosed with high blood pressure so I started taking CALM..an all

natural powered magnesium that I drink like a tea before bed! wow that with

Dandelion root tea three times a day has my blood pressure totally under

control AND the magnesium helps me sleep like a baby! Your article is good

news for us all..thanks

Skull

I’ve had shoulder pain for years, including tingling feeling down to my

hands. I saw somewhere on the internet that someone with similar symptoms

tried magnesium for it. So I gave it a try, and sure enough my shoulder pains

went away after about a week and haven’t returned since I’ve been taking

magnesium. And of all the vitamins I take, this is the first one that I

actually notice a real result.

Anne Masi

After suffering with undiagnosed hypothyroidism for 2 years and struggling

with the proper treatment for the last year, I finally went to my “brother

recommended†Chiropractor today. Wow….what an amazingly knowledgeable

man. He started me on magnesium today along with a high protein diet. I’m a

carbaholic so this should be interesting but I’m soooo thankful to have a doc

that may be able to help.

J. Lea

I have had SEVERE leg/foot/toe cramps since my Lumbar Laminectomy 3 yrs

ago. All my blood tests are good. (no deficiencies) I get them whether I am

walking, sitting, standing, or sleeping. Sometimes they have lasted as long

as 2 hrs, with NO relief, no matter what I do. (massage, heat, walk,

stretch) To say they have taken over my life would not be an overstatement. My

PCP physician has offered NO suggestions. But my Orthopedist suggested and

PROMISED that magnesium would help. I will try it and get back to let you

know is this is true. Although I told him I am NOT deficient in ANY of my

vitamins.

Dee

For you that suffer (fibromyalgia) like I do. I was told it was present in

my body. After doctors, & Doctors trying different Meds. In my research I

saw an ad. on magnesium spray for pain I thought I don’t have the spray but,

I have the vitamins, so I took the vitamins lord behold I felt better in a

hour or so I noticed the pain was lessening more and more. Now I take it on

a daily basis. Not only did it help the pain I feel calmer, brain fog is

gone, a lot more energy, body aches lessened, in essense I feel like a human

being again.

I am a 54 year old male and started taking Magnesium at the recommendation

of a message therapist. After 2 weeks I have been cured from insomnia and

the chronic pain in my neck and mid back are nearly gone. Better yet, I

have have worn contacts for many years and my eyes have been getting worse

each year and I have needed stronger contacts each year. This morning I went

to my annual eye exam and my doctor said my eyes have improved to 20/20

which is unheard of! Magnesium is the only new mineral I have taken the past

year and it is the only answer. I owe so much to that message therapist!

Delighted!c

I read elsewhere and heard on one of Dr. Oz’s shows that 500 – 1000 mg

daily of madnesium–along with other commonly recommended approaches (ample

water, fiber, proper diet, etc.) does wonders for regularity. I am in my 70s

and have NEVER had anything work; doctors’ recommendation in year past were

useless. I take 800 mg daily and it is like a miracle!! In fact, I now go

after every meal. It is definitely a miracle supplement. WHAT A BLESSING!!!

(I get the Nature Made high potency in gel capsules from COSTCO)

azenath

really like all the feedback on magnesium. was put onto it by a pharmacist

friend while travelling due to worsening aching & restless legs (cramped

plane rides aggravated it & the sciatica in my back resulting in taking

morphine type meds & anti-inflammatories for the pain). friend recommended it

saying it was beneficial for heavy consumers of caffeine ( & alcohol, which i

stay away from). felt the difference in 2 days & got off the pain killers.

5 months on i am able to get back to regular exercising without always

taking weeks off to recover due to painful leg cramps, back strain &

developing hip pain which i was continuously vulnerable to. like others all

blood

work in past did not indicate any deficiency. also assisted in pms systoms

too, so great stuff & highly recommend it!!