Magnesium is an essential nutrient your body needs to stay healthy. It plays a role in more than 300 enzyme reactions in the body, including blood glucose control, protein synthesis, blood pressure regulation, and muscle and nerve function.
Despite its function in the body system, not many people get enough of this mineral from their meals. Magnesium deficiency is typically due to a low intake of magnesium in the gut or even a continued outflow of magnesium from the body through urine.
Low magnesium is linked to a wide range of health risks including waking up with cramps, tightening of the muscle fibers, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, hereditary heart disease, diabetes, and many others.
Let’s take a look at the health benefits of magnesium.
Health Benefits of Magnesium: How It Keeps You Healthy
Magnesium is a buzzword that we often throw around but often ignore its importance in our lives. As a do-it-all most valuable player when it comes to the essential minerals, here are ways magnesium keeps us healthy.
Improves cardiovascular health
While calcium is given mostly the credit in maintaining the muscles, the role of magnesium in cardiovascular health cannot be ignored. It takes care of the muscles, especially the heart. A magnesium deficiency can lead to the risk of cardiovascular problems.
Studies show that people suffering from congestive heart failure have low magnesium content. Magnesium reduces the risk of abnormal heart rhythm or arrhythmia and congestive heart failure (CHF).
Fights depression
A low level of magnesium is linked to depression because of the critical role in improving our moods and brain functions. Studies show that adults under age 65 suffer more bouts of depression because of low intake of magnesium.
Magnesium is vital for the neurotransmitters that improve our moods and control inflammation. Some of the everyday foods we consume have low magnesium content, which may cause mental illness.
Addresses sleep disorders
Have you woken up in the night with muscle twitching? This muscle disorder can affect our sleep patterns. What many people do not know is that this happens because of magnesium deficiency.
Cramping or twitching can be treated with magnesium. Age affects our sleep pattern, and magnesium creates a relaxed disposition and calms the nervous system as a sleep aid.
Alleviates pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS)
Some women of reproductive age tend to suffer from bloating, mood swings, stress, and cyclical anxiety. The strains of these changes have a significant effect on their lifestyles. Symptoms of PMS include abdominal cramps, water retention, migraines, tiredness, and irritability.
Magnesium and vitamin B6 can help these women relieve fast from these health symptoms. Women can improve the quality of their lives when they have an adequate level of magnesium in their bodies.
Improves bone and muscle strength
Calcium and magnesium are vital minerals that support and take care of skeletal health. Magnesium stimulates calcitonin, a hormone that regulates the amount of calcium required for bone building. Magnesium improves workout recovery and performance. People who work out lose fluids like magnesium and other vital electrolytes. When the body experiences a low magnesium level, it negatively affects the performance of the person. This increases the risk of injury and slows recovery time.
Combats asthma
Asthma is commonly associated with wheezing or coughing, trouble sleeping, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Life-threatening asthma is often managed with magnesium. When doctors give asthmatic patients magnesium, it helps the bronchial muscle from spasms and relieves the tightness of the chest. People who consume foods high in flavonoids, beta-carotene, selenium, vitamins C and E, and magnesium tend to have low risks of asthma.
Squash migraines
One of the easiest ways of stopping migraines is taking magnesium. Magnesium releases neurotransmitters that constrict the brain’s blood vessels, which causes migraines. You can ask your doctor the appropriate dosage of magnesium to use. Excess intake of the mineral can cause other health-related conditions.
Protects against Diabetes
For people on edge, scared of what to take to avoid type 2 diabetes, magnesium can be a solution. A natural route to protecting yourself against diabetes is by consuming magnesium, which is the solution to insulin sensitivity.
People suffering from metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes have low magnesium levels. Studies show that low magnesium levels can trigger “acute phase response.” This response can cause type 2 diabetes.
These are a few of the health benefits of magnesium. It’s an essential mineral that can help you maintain good health. Eat foods high in magnesium, or you can get it from multivitamins and supplements. However, if you want to take magnesium supplements, especially if you have an undying health condition, you should consult a doctor first.
Hey Joyfreshers, do you eat foods high in magnesium? Tell us some of your favorites in the comment below!
