Fwd: Magnesium Deficienct Waters

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Sat, 11 Jan 2003 11:59:46 -0800 (PST)

 

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Water: tap, filtered or bottled? A new bottled mineral water may save your life

As bottlers of drinking water conduct price wars, or introduce faddish brands

with added ginseng or other herbs and vitamins which soon will disappear and be

remembered as only a passing fad, a new class of bottled water is emerging that

could save thousands of lives, quell chronic migraine headaches, relieve bouts

of anxiety, relax tense muscles, lower cholesterol, dissolve kidney stones,

prevent calcified heart valves, and even take care of a stubborn case of

constipation. Aware that 8 in 10 Americans are deficient in a common mineral,

American water bottlers are beginning to respond with new brands of mineral-rich

bottled water.

Deep breathing provides more oxygen without the cost of oxygenated water

Forget about those ads for oxygenated water, touted as vitamin O, which you see

from time to time. Deep breathing will get you all the extra oxygen you

need.Forget about those bottled waters which claim they hydrate the body better

by altering H2O molecules. Dismiss those claims that bottled water is just

high-priced tap water. Chlorinated tap water is a carcinogen, linked to 20,000

new cases of bladder, rectal and kidney cancer annually. Even filtered tap

water, chlorine removed, won't make up for a mineral shortage that is suddenly

killing Americans before paramedics even have a chance to place their

defibrillator paddles on your chest.

 

To make matters worse, tap water is softened with sodium before it enters the

piping system in most American homes, increasing the risk for high blood

pressure and softening of bones. The most advanced water filter won't alter the

mineral content of your drinking water. Tap water is softened so your washing

machine and dishwasher will make suds, it is not designed for human health. More

troublesome is the fact that mineral-free distilled water will only worsen the

major mineral deficiency that leads to sudden cardiac failure.

 

The link between sudden cardiac death and mineral-depleted drinking water

Progressive decline of dietary magnesium consumptionYears Magnesium intake

per day1900-1908475-500 mg1909-1913 415-435 mg1925-1929 385-398 mg1935-1939

360-375 mg1947-1949 358-370 mg1957-1959 340-360 mg1965-1976300-340 mg1978-1985

225-318 mg1990 175-225 mg2002231-376 mg

Magnesium Trace Elements 10: 182-92, 1991; Vital & Health Statistics, No. 245,

2002

 

Sudden-death heart attack is common. Out of the 750,000 heart attacks that occur

annually in the USA, about 340,000 are of the sudden-death type. While there are

other reasons for sudden heart stoppage, it is estimated that 200,000 of these

sudden-death heart attacks emanate from a spasm of the heart muscle and have

nothing to do with cholesterol or blood clots.

 

The first sign of heart muscle irritability is usually atrial fibrillation, the

top chambers of the heart flutter. Many Americans are treated for atrial

fibrillation with blood thinners. Due to the stimulating effects of caffeine,

people who drink too much coffee may experience heart flutters from time to

time. The same is true for folks who are fanatic about losing weight, take too

much of the stimulant herb ephedra and suffer a sudden heart attack. But the

chief cause of sudden cardiac death is a lack of magnesium.

 

The big event is when the lower ventricles begin to quiver, ventrilcular fib is

what the paramedics call it when they have their electrodes hooked up to your

chest and can visualize your heart rhythm on a monitor. This means the heart has

to be immediately shocked back into normal rhythm. Sadly, most of the time the

paramedics are too late. Defibrillation, the application of an electrical

impulse to shock the heart back into a regular rhythm, is successful only about

5% of the time. [American Red Cross]

A 1991 study conducted with rats found the following:Magnesium deficient rats4

of 11 had sudden death heart attackMagnesium adequate rats

0 of 8 had a heart attack[J Am College Cardiology 27: 1771-76, 1996]

In the archives at the National Library of Medicine the most often cited

relationship in regards to sudden cardiac death is a shortage of magnesium, in

particular the lack of magnesium in drinking water apart from magnesium in foods

or supplements.

 

Studies conducted around the world confirm where magnesium levels are relatively

high in drinking water the rate of sudden death heart attack is low. The 25 US

cities with the lowest death rates from coronary artery disease have richer

sources of magnesium in their drinking water. [J Am Med Assn. 195: 81-125, 1966]

 

Furthermore, the morning hours are when magnesium levels are 50-70 percent lower

and correspond to the hours when most heart attacks occur. [Magnesium and Public

Health: the impact of drinking water, Dept. of Animal Physiology and Nutrition

Agricultural University, The Netherlands; Am Heart Journal 140: 438-42, 2000]

 

Just recently researchers slowly withdrew magnesium from the diets of women and

observed the onset of abnormal heart rhythms. Researchers at the US Department

of Agriculture in Grand Forks, North Dakota, have advised that people who live

in soft water areas, or where the municipal water is softened at home or by

water suppliers, or people who take diuretic drugs that promote the loss of

water from the body, are predisposed to magnesium loss. [Am J Clinical Nutrition

75: 550-54, 2002]

BRANDMagnesium

CalciumSodiumPotassiummilligrams per

literAquafina22.035.011.04.0Arrowhead3.520.512.01.4Calcium

Spgs35.1135.025.21.9Crystal

Geyser6.027.413.00Evian24.078.05.01.0Fiji13.017.018.04.0Gerolsteiner

108.0347.0119.011.0*Noah's110.03.86.40Perrier3.7152.09.60.6*Palomar Mt

(per 700 milliliter)58.024.016.00Sparkletts003.80San

Pellegrino58.0207.045.00*Only bottled waters with positive magnesium over

calcium ratio

Of the minerals removed during water softening, magnesium is the only mineral

found to be deficient in the heart muscle of sudden-death heart attack victims.

[science 208: 198-200, 1980]

 

Bottled water produced in the USA is essentially soft (low mineral) water, the

exact type of water health authorities at the US Department of Agriculture link

with the development of magnesium shortages that can induce an abnormal heart

rhythm!

 

Calcium/magnesium ratio

 

Americans hear a lot about the health benefits of calcium and little about

magnesium. While calcium is the primary mineral in bones, it is also a muscle

constrictor. Magnesium is its counterpart and serves as a muscle relaxant. A

balance between calcium and magnesium helps to maintain muscle tone. Excessive

calcium may produce symptoms of muscle spasm such as recurrent migraines,

chronic eyelid twitch, heart flutters, back aches, leg cramps, constipation, and

monthly cramping in females. The body is just too tense when calcium is

dominant.

 

In Scandinavian countries where the ratio of calcium over magnesium in the diet

ranges from 4-to-1 to 7-to1, mortality rates are the highest in the world.

Americans consume about 600-1200 milligrams of calcium from dietary sources but

only 200-275 milligrams of magnesium, a ratio of about 3-to1.

 

The antidote is magnesium, a natural calcium blocker and muscle relaxant.

Billions of dollars of calcium-blocking drugs are sold annually in the USA.

About 8 in 10 Americans don't consume enough magnesium, a mineral found in small

amounts in green leafy vegetables, nuts and other foods. A survey conducted a

few years back by the Gallup Organization found that 72% of Americans were

deficient in magnesium. It is unlikely that food alone can make up for shortages

of magnesium in the American diet. The dietary shortage of magnesium in the

daily American diet is in the range of 100-200 milligrams per day.

The link between water hardness (more minerals) and the reduced incidence of

fatalities from heart disease was first reported in 1957 and has since been

reported in many regions of the world. [Canadian Review Biology 37: 115-25,

1978]USAThe 25 US cities with the lowest death rates from coronary artery

disease have richer sources of magnesium in their drinking water. [J Am Med

Assn. 195: 81-125, 1966]CanadaCanadian researchers identified magnesium as the

most likely mineral in drinking water involved in the reduced risk of heart

attack. [Lancet 1: 121-22, 1976]South AfricaDistricts in South Africa with high

magnesium levels in drinking water have lower death rates from heart disease.

[south African Medical Journal 64: 775-76, 1983]SpainIn Spain, water hardness

was measured and areas with the lowest magnesium concentration had a 360%

increased risk for high blood pressure. [Review Scandinavian Public Hygiene 64:

377-85, 1990]SwedenSwedish health authorities report magnesium in drinking water

reduces rates of heart disease, particularly among men. [scandinavian Journal

Work Environmental Health 17: 91-94, 1991]ItalyArea around Tuscany, Italy found

to have twice the incidence of sudden death as the European average. The area

has drinking water that is low in magnesium. [Angiology 46: 145-49,

1995]SwedenIn Sweden, men aged 50-69 years who consumed the greatest amount of

magnesium from drinking water had a 35% less risk for a heart attack. Calcium

did not reduce the risk. [American Journal Epidemiology 143: 456-62,

1996]FranceFrench recommend adding magnesium to drinking water after link is

established between low magnesium levels and sudden-death. [Annals Medicine

Interne 148: 440-44, 1992]TaiwanTaiwanese health officials confirm lower risk of

heart disease among adults who consume drinking water with higher levels of

magnesium. [J Toxicology Environmental Health 60: 231-41, 2000]USA

 

 

California health officials indicate thousands of lives could be saved with the

provision of magnesium in drinking water. [Epidemiological Reviews 19: 258-72,

1997]

 

 

 

 

Magnesium: diet, supplements or drinking water?

 

But why magnesium in drinking water rather than foods, and why won't a magnesium

tablet make up for shortages of this mineral? This is explained by the rapidity

of magnesium losses, how magnesium is absorbed in drinking water as well as the

timing of its delivery into the blood circulation.

 

First, while the normal size adult human body contains about 25,000 milligrams

of magnesium, most of it stored in tissues, organs and bones, and only about 1%

of magnesium is found in the blood circulation. The blood circulation is what

bathes the heart in electrolyte minerals (sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium)

which are required for the heart's electrical pacing activity. [Magnesium

Information Center, New York] So a significant drop in magnesium levels may

occur much more rapidly due to sweating, dehydration, dilution or urinary

elimination from the blood circulation than from organs, bone and tissues.

 

Second, magnesium in drinking water is about 30 percent more bioavailable than

magnesium in pills. [Acta Pharmcology Toxicology 41: 154, 1977] Magnesium in

bottled water can't approach the milligram dosage provided by mineral

supplements, but minerals in drinking water are more rapidly absorbed and make

an immediate contribution to the critical electrolyte balance required for

proper heart rhythm.

 

Third, just a small amount of magnesium in drinking water appears to have an

almost magical effect in reducing the risk of sudden death. [Epidemiological

Reviews 19: 258-72, 1997] While magnesium in drinking water is calculated to

contribute only 10% of the daily intake of magnesium, this small amount may have

a significant impact upon public health. A 10% increase in magnesium consumption

from drinking water (about 30-40 milligrams) could bring about a 30% reduction

in the risk of death from heart disease. [American Journal Epidemiology 143:

456-62, 1996; Epidemiology 10: Editorials, Jan. 1999]

Factors that increase the need for magnesium:Physical or emotional

stressAlcoholBirth control pillsEstrogen replacementSoft waterSaturated

fatCalciumVitamin DSugarDrugs: Digitalis (Digoxin), steroids, water pills

(diuretics)

Monthly hormonal peak in females

 

Municipal water suppliers aren't able to fortify drinking water with magnesium

because it would erode piping systems. [Magnesium 4: 5-15, 1985] Sufficient

amounts of magnesium can't be added to foods as magnesium is very bulky and

would alter taste if it were fortified in foods. [Magnesium Research 2: 195-203,

1989] Magnesium pills are helpful but don't deliver magnesium when it's

critically needed, when the body is being rehydrated after sweating.

 

While some brands of bottled water provide a significant amount of magnesium

(Calcium Springs 138 mg, Gerolsteiner 108 mg, Colfax 91 mg; Evian 23 mg; Crystal

Geyser 27.4; Saratoga 28 mg; Fiji 13 mg), in all these brands calcium exceeds

the amount of magnesium and negates much of the muscle relaxing effect.

 

There is an effort to place cardiac defibrillators throughout the USA in order

to reduce response time when sudden heart spasm occurs. It would be much more

practical to provide magnesium-rich drinking water. Health authorities should

mandate fortification of bottled water with magnesium as they do fortification

of flour with other essential vitamins and minerals. But there is no demand to

do so.

 

Does magnesium in drinking water partly explain worldwide differences in heart

disease?

 

The rate of heart disease in Europe is much lower than in the USA. At a mildly

elevated systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg, 1 out of every 7 men from northern

Europe and the United States die from CHD, while in Mediterranean southern

Europe only 1 out of every 28 men die from this disease. [New England Journal

Medicine, Jan. 6, 2000] This difference is attributed to the Mediterranean diet

of fish, flavonoid antioxidants from wine and other dietary factors. Yet nothing

is said of the fact that Europeans almost exclusively drink bottled water and it

is far richer in magnesium than American bottled waters.

Average amt. magnesium per liter US Bottled waters European bottled waters2.7 mg

20.0 mg

For comparison---

Tobacco-related deaths per year USA 50,000 estimated

Magnesium-shortage related deaths per year USA More than 200,000 estimated

 

Magnesium blood tests inaccurate

 

Unfortunately, magnesium deficiency often goes undetected even by blood test.

The most widely used test, serum magnesium, only measures 0.3% of the magnesium

in the body. [The Magnesium Information Center, New York] Most physicians are

unaware of this and utilize a test that is unlikely to reveal a magnesium

deficiency with reliability. Even with repeated blood testing, magnesium levels

may drop rapidly with losses from sweat or use of diuretics in between blood

testing.

Some cities in the USA with the highest calcium to magnesium ratio in drinking

water which are considered to have the highest risk for sudden cardiac

death:City, StateCalciumMagnesiumClovis, California3230 mg 21 mg Lansing,

Michigan193 mg58 mgSanta Barbara, California77-144 mg23-62 mgCarlsbad, New

Mexico88 mg17 mgLos Angeles, California56-72 mg22-26 mg

To learn more about health and drinking water, obtain a copy of the book: In

Search Of The World's Best Water, by Bill Sardi, www.hereandnowbooks.com.

 

All right reserved. Please do not copy or use for commercial purposes. Copyright

Bill Sardi, Knowledge of Health, Inc., 2003.

Table of Food Sources of MagnesiumFood Milligrams100 percent Bran, 2 Tbs44Kiwi

fruit, raw, 1 med23Wheat germ, toasted, 1 oz90Almonds, dry roasted, 1

oz86Cereal, shredded wheat, 2 rectangular biscuits80Seeds, pumpkin, 1/2

oz75Cashews, dry roasted, 1 oz73Nuts, mixed, dry roasted, 1 oz66Spinach, cooked,

1/2 c65Bran flakes, 1/2 c60Cereal, oats, instant/fortified, cooked w/ water, 1

c56Potato, baked w/ skin, 1 med55Spinach, raw, 1 c24Peanuts, dry roasted, 1

oz50Peanut butter, 2 Tbs.50Chocolate bar, 1.45 oz45Vegetarian baked beans, 1/2

c40Potato, baked w/out skin, 1 med40Avocado, California, 1/2 med35Lentils,

cooked, 1/2 c35Banana, raw, 1 medium34Shrimp, mixed species, raw, 3 oz (12

large)29Bread, whole wheat, 1 slice24Raisins, golden seedless, 1/2 c

packed28Cocoa powder, unsweetened, 1 Tbs27

 

 

*DV = Daily Value. DVs are reference numbers based on the Recommended Dietary

Allowance (RDA). They were developed to help consumers determine if a food

contains very much of a specific nutrient. The DV for magnesium is 400

milligrams (mg). The percent DV (%DV) listed on the nutrition facts panel of

food labels tells adults what percentage of the DV is provided by one serving.

Even foods that provide lower percentages of the DV will contribute to a

healthful diet.

Source: Clinical Nutrition Service, Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center,

National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, in conjunction with the

Office of Dietary Supplements in the Office of the Director of NIH.

 

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