Magnesium: The multi-tasking mineral for maintaining everyday health
While a magnesium deficiency may not be on your radar, embracing magnesium for everyday health can be a game-changer. From sustaining energy levels to supporting stress management and promoting muscular harmony, magnesium is a versatile ally that supports over 800 biochemical reactions in the body.
What is magnesium?
Magnesium is a naturally occurring macro mineral, meaning higher amounts are needed compared to trace minerals, such as zinc or iron. It is found in high concentrations in our bones, our hearts, our muscles and throughout our network of nerves, but you can also find it working away inside every cell of our bodies.
Did you know that your entire body needs magnesium to survive?
It’s suspected that over 43% of Canadians don’t get the dietary magnesium they need to stay healthy. That’s not good because it’s also supposed to be the fourth most abundant mineral in our bodies, with 65% of magnesium found in our bones, 30-40% in soft tissues, and 1% in our blood.
Magnesium keeps our heart rhythm steady, maintains muscle function, metabolizes glucose, ensures nerves fire properly, creates cellular energy, and helps to synthesize the basic building blocks of life–DNA, RNA and proteins. Over 800 different, essential biochemical roles that magnesium plays have been identified. With new research and understanding, that number is expected to rise.
How can magnesium help give your body what it needs?
From protein synthesis to cellular metabolism, every cell in your body uses magnesium. Here a some of the key roles magnesium plays in supporting our body’s overall health:
- Regulates heart rhythm and helps maintain healthy blood sugar and blood pressure levels
- Plays a key role in building strong bones and teeth, aiding in calcium absorption
- Alleviates fatigue by metabolizing glucose into available energy
- Supports lung function by increasing airflow to the lungs
- Promotes healthy muscle function
- Relaxes muscles and nerves
- Calms the mind
- Supports sleep regulation
- Improves insulin sensitivity
How can magnesium be both energizing and relaxing?
You might be scratching your head at the idea of magnesium being both a relaxant and an energizer, but it’s all in the balance it brings to your body. Magnesium plays a dual role, revving up energy pathways while simultaneously relieving muscle tension, dialing down stress responses, and boosting sleep quality.
Let’s break it down further: magnesium fuels our energy by supporting ATP (adenosine triphosphate) production, the primary energy currency of cells. This translates to enhanced vitality, endurance, and overall zest for life. At the same time, magnesium’s calming effect arises from its role in regulating stress hormones like cortisol. By soothing the nervous system, magnesium promotes restful sleep, reduces anxiety, and helps muscles relax by expelling excess calcium from our cells.
Why is it so tough to get enough magnesium?
Even traditionally magnesium-rich foods like leafy green vegetables and whole grains may not be good sources of magnesium. Why? They are grown in nutrient-depleted soil, thanks to modern agricultural practices.
And processed foods have even less. For example, further refining can remove up to 97% of magnesium from foods like breads and pasta. And your water supply? Municipal water treatment usually removes much of the mineral content.
Whether it’s phosphates in soda or gastrointestinal conditions like IBS, many facets of our lives can impair the absorption of the magnesium we do get. Drug-induced nutrient depletion is also widespread. Some prescription medications and mineral-binding antibiotics can block magnesium before your gut even has a chance to absorb it.
And then there’s the modern day stressors of everyday life which cause our bodies to expend and excrete more magnesium. For instance, when we’re stressed, magnesium is expended to produce cortisol. Alcohol consumption and blood sugar sensitivity may also cause our kidneys to eliminate more magnesium.
Can I have too much magnesium?
The body is highly competent at regulating magnesium levels. If too much dietary magnesium is consumed, it can flush the excess through the digestive tract as diarrhea. Too much magnesium in the bloodstream is flushed out through the kidneys in urine. As long as these safety mechanisms are functioning, it is very difficult to take too much magnesium. The worst you may experience is loose stools.
If these safety mechanisms are not functioning, then you should consult your healthcare practitioner prior to oral magnesium supplementation. In particular, if you suffer from kidney failure or bowel obstructions, you may not be able to clear magnesium from the body.
You should also consult a healthcare practitioner if you have any conditions that involve too much muscle relaxation such as very low blood pressure or irregular heartbeat.
The right form for the best results
Not all magnesium supplements are created equal. Some forms of magnesium are poorly absorbed, which can lead to stomach upset and diarrhea.
Magnesium bis-glycinate is magnesium paired with glycine, an amino acid beneficial for your body. It is considered to be a superior form that is easily absorbable and easier on your stomach – meaning you can get the most out of your magnesium supplement, without any grief for your bowels.
Magnesium Bis-Glycinate 200 Gentle is a unique magnesium-glycine complex that provides a therapeutic 200mg of pure, elemental magnesium with every vegetable capsule. It works to restore magnesium to optimum levels and help fuel all the important functions it’s called on to perform. A fair balance of potency, gentleness and absorption, this formula is great for most lifestyles.
This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
