How Magnesium Contributes to Great Health

It is well known that minerals are vital to maintaining good health.  Most people make sure to get enough calcium and iron.  There are other less well-known minerals that have a tremendous impact on well-being.  Magnesium is one such mineral.  Sadly, 61% of adults do not meet the US RDA for magnesium.  Receiving the health benefits of magnesium can be as simple as taking a magnesium supplement.

Magnesium is best known for its role in preventing and reversing osteoporosis.  Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones become weak and brittle.  Magnesium assists the body absorb and use calcium.  It also affects the various hormones in the body that influence bone density and calcium absorption.   Getting plenty of magnesium helps increase bone density but helping the body utilize calcium more efficiently.  Excess calcium can migrate into the muscles, leading to cramps and pain.  It can also move into the kidneys where it solidifies forming kidney stones.  Getting adequate magnesium makes sure that more of this calcium is used and may help prevent kidney stones.

Magnesium also plays a role in the regulation of blood pressure and may help prevent hypertension.  Doctors believe this is because magnesium relaxes the smooth muscle tissue responsible for dilating the arteries.  By relaxing this muscle, magnesium may help prevent high blood pressure.  It also seems to work alongside potassium in regulating the blood pressure.

Magnesium deficiency may also be a contributing factor in type 2 or adult-onset diabetes.  Magnesium is an important element in the metabolism of carbohydrates.  A deficiency of magnesium can lead to a condition called insulin resistance.  Insulin resistance is when the enzyme responsible for regulating blood sugar no longer works as efficiently.  It takes the much more insulin to lower the blood sugar in this case.  Insulin resistance eventually can lead to type 2 diabetes.  By getting plenty of magnesium, the body's ability to break down and utilize carbohydrates will be improved and this may help prevent diabetes later on.

Since magnesium has such an effect on diabetes and hypertension, it only seems natural that it would be a factor in cardiovascular health as well.  Indeed, it is.  Low magnesium is often associated with irregular heart rhythms. Sufficient levels of magnesium also help prevent abnormal clotting of the blood in the heart.  Several studies have suggested that magnesium supplements can help lower the risk of stroke and heart disease and may help patients recover from strokes and heart attacks. 

Much of the population does not get enough magnesium.  This mineral influences a number of vital processes and in the body.  This makes it one of the more important minerals of which to get an adequate amount.  Supplementation is an excellent way to receive the many health benefits magnesium provides.  A recommended supplemental amount of magnesium is twice the amount as any calcium supplements.  Another recommendation is to use liquid mineral supplements.  Liquid minerals are much more readily absorbed by the body and make a far greater amount of the magnesium available for use by the body's cells.  Don't you owe it to yourself to make sure you benefit from the correct level of magnesium?