Re: Constipation/Magnesium

[Guest guest]

> Message: 7

> Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 10:15:51 -0800 (PST)

> From: shefy gupta <shefy7@...>

> Subject: Re: Re: Constipation/Magnesium/Osteoporosis

>

> OK, got it. But how much magnesium is needed daily?

>

> I'm female, 21, 150 lbs, 5ft 7in. I exercise daily; cardio,

> weights, yoga...

>

> The centrum I just got has 100mg of magnesium....I know I get

> enough calcium as I drink lots of milk stuff thoughout the day,

> both cow and goat.

>

> Thanks!

>

> shefy

>

> FRANK CUNS-RIAL <fcunsrial@...> wrote: Hi list,

> Constipation is a sign that something is wrong.

> Magnesium deficiency is pervasive but NOT necesserily the cause

> for constipation.

> By just assuming a lack of magnesium one may be obscuring the true

> cause.

> In terms of the frequency of causes for constipation, a poor diet

> comes first. One needs a diet loaded with 40-60 g. of fiber (both

> soluble and insoluble)

> and lots of water and exercise.

> Secondly, one needs to look at the liver and gallbladder function.

> Thirdly stress and fourthly intestinal and colonic function. Only

> after checking these functions one should resort to remedies such

> as magnesium.

> Thx

>

>

Hi Shefy,

The book Nutrition Almanac says to take 400 - 800 mg. per day for

constipation; it helps with muscle contraction,

the book says. Other recommendations for nutrients:

Vit C -- 1 gram, or 1,000 mg.per day -- encourages regular

bowel movements.

Folic acid -- take at least 400 mcg. per day (my input, not from book)

Pectin -- 500 mg. source of fibre,

Other things for fiber the book suggests:

Apples, peaches, pears, and berries -- high in pectin

Ground flaxseeds, 1 - 3 Tbsp. daily with lots of water.

Psyllium, flaxseed, fenugreek -- high fiber and mucilage content;

mild, best for long-term use.

I would recommend, based on my own experience, that you consume some

whole grains (not in the form of bread or flour products) everyday,

as in

brown rice, barley, millet, oat groats, etc. These whole grains

provide

bulk so that there is enough fullness for the peristalsis, a slow

wavelike

motion occurring along the entire digestive tract, to happen as it

should.

Please do try taking, as a minimum, the magnesium and Vit C. Take

one 400 mg. capsule of mag. and one 500 mg. tablet of Vit. C at bedtime.

If you don't have a good movement the next day, increase the amount,

taking two mag. capsules, and two Vit. C. Continue increasing the

amount, each night, by one of each, until you are having

1-3 BMs a day. If you determine you need 2 or more of each, I would

suggest splitting up and taking half of total mid day, and the other

half at bedtime.

Good luck -- give it a try, and report back to us on your results.

Bob

[Guest guest]

> Message: 2

> Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 08:32:58 -0600

> From: " FRANK CUNS-RIAL " <fcunsrial@...>

> Subject: Re: Re: Constipation/Magnesium/Osteoporosis

>

> Hi list,

> Constipation is a sign that something is wrong.

Indeed. One should take this problem very seriously, and so

whatever

you need to do to keep the bowels moving.

>

> Magnesium deficiency is pervasive but NOT necesserily the cause for

> constipation.

On the other hand, insufficient magnesium may indeed be the

primary cause !!!

>

> By just assuming a lack of magnesium one may be obscuring the true

> cause.

Perhaps. But most people have low levels of magnesium in their

blood. One

could also focus on everything but magnesium - fiber, water,

exercise, whatever -

and never find a solution to this problem, assuming that the

primary cause was

a deficiency of magnesium, or an imbalance between calcium and

magnesium, or

between magnesium and other minerals.

> In terms of the frequency of causes for constipation, a poor diet

> comes first. One

> needs a diet loaded with 40-60 g. of fiber (both soluble and

> insoluble) and lots

> of water and exercise.

You say " a poor diet comes first " . Let me then ask you - what

are the consequences of a poor diet ?

I will answer the question, and state that one consequence is

NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES.

Perhaps one of these deficiencies is MAGNESIUM.

I would conclude then, that if diet comes first, that high on

the priority list of what to consider as a leading

cause/causes would be any nutritional deficiencies that are

likely to occur when one has a poor diet.

>

> Secondly, one needs to look at the liver and gallbladder function.

> Thirdly stress and fourthly intestinal and colonic function.

> Only after checking these functions one should resort to remedies

> such as magnesium.

I can not agree with your logic -- see above. Taking

magnesium is not like taking

senna, or cascara segrada, or anything that stimulates the bowels

in an unnatural way to make them expel their contents. Taking

magnesium is

a matter of addressing a situation where there is not enough of

a critical nutrient

in one's body. Of course, not every one is deficient in

magnesium, but empirical data on

blood levels of magnesium shows us that most people, approx.

80-85 %, have insufficient

levels of magnesium in their blood.

For years I did what you advise folks to do in the statement

above - everything but

taking an adequate amount magnesium in supplement form. I

tried many different things,

and none of them really was sufficient for me. My body

apparently needed higher amounts of magnesium, and when I

finally supplied

an adequate level for me, constipation stopped !!!! -- I'm now

a happy camper !!!

I would suggest the following, to replace your last statement

above:

Only after addressing possible nutritional deficiencies through

improved diet and/or

nutritional supplements, should one concentrate

or focus on other solutions to improving bowel function, such as

optimum levels of fiber,

water, exercise, movement, emotional/mental health, etc, etc. .

Note: I consider adequate levels of friendly bacteria (pre/pro

biotics) under the

umbrella of nutritional deficiencies.

> Thx

>

>