Magnesium, the forgotten mineral

Every body cell and every organ needs magnesium. Magnesium is an indispensable nutrient in our diet and regulates normal functioning. Magnesium plays a vital role in more than 300 chemical processes in the human body. Scientists suspect that many diseases are related to a magnesium deficiency and calcium excess. NB! This article is written from the personal view of the author and may contain information that is not scientifically substantiated and/or in line with the general view.

Contents:

  • Magnesium and bone building
  • Diseases caused by magnesium deficiency
  • Magnesium and the heart
  • What does magnesium contain?
  • Even more magnesium-containing food

 

Magnesium and bone building

Magnesium regulates the levels of potassium, calcium and sodium in the body. Magnesium is very important in bone building in the body, actually even more important than the highly overestimated calcium. When too much calcium is taken without the correct proportions of magnesium, the body signals a calcium surplus, which initiates a process that removes calcium from the bones, causing people to have weaker bones.

Diseases caused by magnesium deficiency

Magnesium calms the muscles. People with muscle twitching, for example in the eyelid, may have this due to a magnesium deficiency. A magnesium deficiency is not only responsible for eyelid contractions and brittle bones, but for many serious and less serious diseases. For example, a magnesium deficiency triggers asthma, diabetes, strokes, heart problems, migraines, back pain, leg cramps and constipation. These diseases are more likely to occur in countries where a lot of dairy products and therefore a lot of calcium are consumed in combination with a low magnesium intake.

Magnesium and the heart

The mineral magnesium also regulates a regular heartbeat. A magnesium deficiency increases the risk of irregular heartbeat. Scientists estimate that 300,000 heart attacks occur each year in the US due to a magnesium deficiency. In addition, a study of 70,000 people working in healthcare shows that those who follow a magnesium-rich diet suffer less from high blood pressure. Many people do not know that magnesium plays a crucial role in health. Magnesium is therefore called the forgotten mineral.

What does magnesium contain?

Magnesium is mainly found in green leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds. A handful of mixed nuts per day is very good for getting enough magnesium. It is also important to eat a lot of vegetables. If you think you have a magnesium deficiency, it is advisable to supplement this deficiency by focusing on the following nutrition:

  1. pumpkin seeds,
  2. Spinach,
  3. Chard,
  4. Soybeans,
  5. Sesame seed,
  6. Black beans,
  7. sunflower seeds,
  8. Cashew nuts,
  9. Almonds,
  10. green beans,
  11. Seaweed and
  12. Marrow cabbage.

 

Even more magnesium-containing food

There are other foods that contain a lot of magnesium but fall outside the top 12 mentioned above. The vegetables category includes: leek, peas, Brussels sprouts, fennel, buckwheat, eggplant, mushrooms, cauliflower, tomatoes, broccoli, kale and celery. There are also some herbs that contain a lot of magnesium. Mainly cloves, basil, cumin and dill. Nuts and seeds that contain a lot of magnesium are: Brazil nuts, pine nuts, pistachios, peanuts and hazelnuts.

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