Magnesium Deficiency
Magnesium is a mineral that is found in the earth’s crust as well as your body. It’s needed for healthy bones, heart, muscles, nerves, and to support a healthy immune system. Magnesium helps your body control energy, blood sugar and blood pressure.
You get magnesium naturally in many foods. Some of these foods are peanut butter, nuts, spinach, beans, whole grains, bananas, milk, and salmon. Sometimes magnesium is added to some breakfast cereals and bottled water. Magnesium is absorbed through the bowel, then stored mainly in bone and soft tissues. It is used by almost every cell in the body.
What Is Magnesium Deficiency?
Magnesium deficiency is an electrolyte disturbance in which there is a low level of magnesium in the body. Magnesium is essential to promote overall health in our bodies. Over time, low magnesium can weaken your bones, give you bad headaches, make you feel nervous, and even damage your heart. It can also lead to low levels of other essential minerals like calcium and potassium. A blood test is the most common way to find out your magnesium level, but magnesium deficiency symptoms should also be assessed.
What Causes Magnesium Deficiency?
Some people don’t get enough magnesium; this could be due to various reasons; including:
- Lacking absorption of magnesium in the gut or increased excretion of magnesium in the urine
- Health conditions such as type 2 diabetes or digestive problems
- Not consuming enough foods with magnesium
- A poor diet
- Medicines, for example, fluid tablets and medication for ulcers or reflux, can cause low magnesium levels if taken for long periods
- Alcoholism
How To Tell If Your Body Is Lacking Magnesium
Early signs of magnesium deficiency may include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Weakness
As the deficiency progresses, people may experience:
- Hypocalcemia – low calcium in the blood
- Hypokalemia – low potassium levels in the blood
- Numbness and tingling
- Cramps and muscle contractions
- Seizures
- Personality changes, such as mood swings and short temper
Prolonged magnesium deficiency can harm a person’s long-term health and increase the risk of:
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Type 2 diabetes
- Osteoporosis
How To Prevent Magnesium Deficiency
People wanting to increase their magnesium levels could try:
- Consuming foods that contain magnesium
- Reducing or avoiding calcium-rich foods two hours before or after eating magnesium-rich foods
- Avoid high-dose zinc supplements
- Treat vitamin D deficiency
- Eat raw vegetables instead of cooking them
- Quit smoking
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine
- Magnesium supplements
Types Of Foods That Contain Magnesium
Magnesium is found naturally in many different foods; you can easily meet your daily needs by eating foods high in magnesium. Some foods high in magnesium include:
- Nuts, especially almonds, cashews, peanuts
- Dark leafy greens such as spinach, collard greens and kale
- Black beans
- Peanut butter
- Whole wheat bread
- Avocados
- Potatoes
- Rice
- Yogurt
- Fish, such as salmon and halibut
- Milk
How We Can Help!
As mentioned above, signs and symptoms of magnesium deficiency can include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fatigue and weakness. As you can see, magnesium deficiency affects many areas of the human body, so it’s essential to avoid getting to these types of conditions.
We stock high-quality magnesium supplements that help restore magnesium levels most efficiently. In addition to this, Acupuncture treatments can ease all the symptoms associated with magnesium deficiency, as well as increase your body’s ability to absorb minerals from your food.
