Magnesium for Great Health

Almost every chemical reaction that takes place in the body is dependent on a biochemical reaction. There are three typical components to an enzyme system. The three components are a protein molecule, a smaller organic compound which is normally a vitamin such as vitamin B6 or pyridoxine and then lastly a mineral such as zinc, magnesium, manganese or copper.

More than three hundred enzyme reactions need magnesium in order for them to take place. As minerals are dissolved in fluids there is an electrical charge that takes place. This process is referred to as valance. Given this information, it is easy to understand why people who suffer from Magnesium deficiency may not be able to function as well as others who are not magnesium deficient.

In America and most of the world, caregivers are not using magnesium enough to help patients achieve optimum health. This is in spite of all the research and published studies that have been done on magnesium. The College of Cardiology has reported that magnesium is one of the most sought after items in this field of medicine.

In the past it was only gynecologists who would use magnesium to treat high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia. This was obviously because many pregnant women were suffering from magnesium deficiency. Today, caregivers are realizing that this mineral is beneficial in managing a range of illnesses. Some of these are chronic fatigue syndrome, asthma, diabetes, heart arrhythmias, acute myocardial infarction and other chronic types of heart disease.

People are able to know if they are displaying signs of magnesium deficiency as this condition can cause havoc with virtually every organ in the body. It can present itself in the musculo-skeletal system by way of muscle soreness, neck pain, backache and headaches. Struggling to breath deeply and chest tightness are two other signs that magnesium deficiency can be present.

People who have suffered from restlessness, hyperactivity, panic attacks, anxiety and agoraphobia have been found to be suffering from magnesium deficiency. Even the cardiovascular system suffers when there is not enough of this mineral in the body. Some people will develop a craving for carbohydrates or chocolate.

It is not easy to diagnose magnesium deficiency because this mineral is found primarily in the cells. The magnesium content in the blood may read as normal even though there is a shortage of the mineral in the body.

While not altogether conclusive the best way to test this is using a magnesium-loading test. This is a process where urine is collected over a twenty-four hour period and the total amount of the mineral is measured. After this the patient is given a certain amount of magnesium via injection and after this the level of magnesium is measured again. If the results reveal that the body has held onto the mineral then it is deemed that the body is magnesium deficient.

Many caregivers feel that the best way to diagnose the problem is a combination of testing and evaluating symptoms. Once this has been established, caregivers will watch if symptoms subside after magnesium has been consumed orally or via injection.

People need to be consuming magnesium in the following dosages age fourteen to eighteen is four hundred and ten milligrams. Age nineteen to thirty will require four hundred milligrams. Ages above this are four hundred and twenty milligrams.

The dosages for women are about twenty percent less for all the corresponding age groups. People should keep in mind that while many foods are reported to give magnesium, most of these foods are robbed of this mineral as the soil has been robbed of the mineral. People should therefore take some supplementation to ensure that they do not end up with a magnesium deficiency.