Using the Mineral Magnesium

Magnesium is a sort of "wonder drug", playing an important role in the health or cardiac, and nervous symptoms, muscles and bones, nerves, muscles and bones health. It contributes to longer life expectancy by limiting the effects of free radical damage. Magnesium has been used as a treatment for conditions including Raynaud’s disease, skeletal muscle spasm, gangrene, epilepsy, spastic colon, dry skin, nervous irritability, and lead toxicity. With all of its benefits, magnesium is a key component of any health regimen.

Magnesium and Your Body

Found naturally in nuts, whole grain foods, dry beans, peas, dark green vegetables and soy products, it is more readily absorbed by the body when taken with foods or supplements that contain vitamins B-6,, A, C, and D, calcium, and phosphorus. Foods and environmental factors impact the level of magnesium from your body. To insure that you get and maintain adequate amounts of magnesium, try these steps:

• Stop drinking soft drinks. The high level of phosphates contained in soft drinks depletes magnesium Bathe in magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts). The mineral can be absorbed through your skin.
• Eat a low fat diet. Fat can also deplete magnesium from your body.
• Decrease alcohol intake.
• Prescription drugs, including diuretics, digitalis, tetracycline and corticosteroids can lead to magnesium loss. You may need to supplement your magnesium intake while taking the drugs.
• Watch your intake of high in oxalic acid, which can reduce magnesium absorption. These include animal proteins, almonds, chard, cocoa, rhubarb and spinach.

photo by Paul Bodea