By: Liz Kelchak M.S.O.M, L.Ac
Magnesium activates over 350 different bodily processes including digestion, energy production, muscle function, bone formation, creation of new cells, activation of B vitamins, relaxation of the muscles, as well as assisting in the functions of the heart, kidneys, adrenals, brain, and nervous system. If you are not getting enough magnesium any one of these systems or more can be affected. Magnesium deficiencies can be caused by many things: mental stress, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, sugar, medications, low thyroid, diabetes, pain, diuretics, and overall diet (low volume in our soils or food)
Most of the population is deficient in magnesium. The following is a list of symptoms that could arise from improper amounts of magnesium:
- Stress
- Fatigue & Low Energy
- Inability to Sleep
- Muscle Tension, Spasms & Cramps
- Anxiousness and Nervousness
- Irritability
- Headaches
- Weakness
- PMS and Hormonal Imbalances
- Weakening Bones
- Abnormal Heart Rhythm
- Calcification of Organs
Many of us relate calcium to magnesium, that’s because calcium needs magnesium in order to work in the body. If we consume too much calcium it will actually pull magnesium out of the body and deplete it of magnesium. So, what we need is a balance of both.
According to naturalvitality.com: When we are under stress, our cells—which in the resting state contain magnesium—go through a change. Calcium, normally outside the cells, enters the cells and the calcium level becomes high. This is the action state in which a muscle cell, for example, will contract and tense the muscle. The magnesium then pushes the calcium out of the cell and the cell is again in its resting, relaxed state. Think of it as an on-off switch. The “off” is magnesium and the “on” is calcium. But what happens to a cell that is not in balance—where the magnesium level in the body is deficient?
In simple terms, the “off” switch doesn’t fully turn off. That means calcium can continuously leak into the cells and stimulate cell activity (the “on” switch). The result is stress accompanied by one or more of the magnesium deficiency symptoms which we discussed above.
If you are experiencing one or many of the above symptoms, I encourage you to talk to your natural health care provider on what type of magnesium supplement is best for you.
For more information on magnesium and to view the magnesium product we highly recommend visit: http://naturalvitality.com/natural-calm.