A PRIMER ON MAGNESIUM, AN ESSENTIAL MINERAL

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A PRIMER ON MAGNESIUM, AN ESSENTIAL MINERAL

_http://www.ourhealthcoop.com/newsletter/news_holidaykits_magnesium.htm#A_PR

IMER_ON_MAGNESIUM_

(http://www.ourhealthcoop.com/newsletter/news_holidaykits_magnesium.htm#A_PRIMER\

_ON_MAGNESIUM)

 

 

Magnesium is an essential element for normal body function. There are over

300 different enzymatic reactions that involve magnesium. This mineral is

necessary for every step of a cell’s energy creating process, nerve

activities, vascular function and bone formation (to name a few).

 

 

Being that this mineral is so essential, we are currently investigating a

new magnesium product for our members in 2005.

 

 

One handy little reference book is The Magnesium Solution for High Blood

Pressure by Dr. Jay S. Cohen. Dr. Cohen, who also wrote The Magnesium

Solution for Migraine Headaches and is an expert on medications and side

effects.

 

 

According to Dr. Cohen, 55% of magnesium is found in your bones, 26% in

muscles, 18% in tissues and a very small 1% in your blood.

 

 

Today medical facilities commonly use magnesium for cardiac care units and

to treat eclampsia (hypertensive disorder during pregnancy).

 

 

However, Dr. Cohen points out, when it comes to other diseases or high

risk situations, most doctors will prescribe drugs instead of trying magnesium

first.

 

 

There are decades of scientific information that proves that magnesium is

safe and can prevent and treat many ailments including:

 

-- Vascular diseases

-- Hypertension

-- Heart diseases

-- Migraine headaches

-- Diabetes (particularly type 2)

-- Osteoporosis

-- Fibromyalgia

 

 

Now, let’s dive into how magnesium works.

 

 

MAGNESIUM’S HEALTHY ROLE IN YOUR BLOOD VESSELS

 

One primary enzymatic activity of magnesium is its influence on the

vascular system.

 

 

Your vascular system consists of copious amounts of blood vessels

(arteries and veins), which are continually pushing blood through your body.

Each

time your heart beats, it forces much of the blood into the arteries, but

from there, arteries and veins are on their own. They are lined with smooth

muscle. This muscle contracts and expands pushing blood through the vessels.

 

 

There are many factors that influence this smooth muscle’s activity, but

at the forefront, there is magnesium. Magnesium is key in expanding the

muscles, opening up the blood vessels. Conversely, another important mineral,

calcium, constricts the blood vessel and therefore increases blood pressure.

 

 

A BALANCING ACT: MAGNESIUM AND CALCIUM

 

With two important minerals at odds with each other when in comes to blood

vessels contraction and expansion, it is ever so important to keep

magnesium and calcium in balance. What happens when they are not in balance?

 

 

Hypertension. If the concentration of magnesium decreases while calcium

increases, the vessel contracts longer and your blood pressure goes up. Dr.

Cohen goes on further pointing out that other common disorders can occur

when these minerals are out of balance – such as migraine headaches.

 

 

Migraines occur when the blood vessels of the brain act erratically. The

large brain blood vessels are dilated and the small vessels are constricted.

Research has found that patients with migraines have low magnesium levels

in the brain blood vessels.

 

 

OTHER IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS OF MAGNESIUM

 

This really could be a long list, but I will highlight some of the most

significant functions of magnesium:

 

-- Keeps heart beat regular: Magnesium maintains the heart muscle as well

as the nerves that initiate the heart beat.

 

-- Increases bone density: Since 55% of magnesium is found in bone (and

teeth of course!) then it obviously important in the formation and maintenance

of bone. Magnesium is involved in calcium transport by converting vitamin

D into a form that increases calcium absorption.

 

-- Helps carbohydrate metabolism: Magnesium has shown to influence the

release of insulin and therefore can control blood glucose levels.

 

-- Relaxes all types of muscles: As mentioned above, magnesium allows the

muscles to expand, allowing for muscle relaxation. Just think: if you are

asthmatic, your lung muscles are tight. Magnesium can encourage the lung

muscles to expand, allowing you to breathe more freely. Pesky muscle spasms can

be the result of magnesium deficiencies too.

 

 

ARE YOU DEFICIENT IN MAGNESIUM?

 

According to Dr. Cohen, 80 percent of the American population is deficient!

The main reason is, of course, diet.

 

 

Americans eat less magnesium-rich foods, which include green leafy

veggies, beans, nuts and soybeans.

 

 

Dr. Cohen notes some other reasons for magnesium deficiency:

 

-- Accelerated growth of veggies and legumes does not allow enough time

for magnesium to fixate in plants

 

-- Boiling veggies causes loss of magnesium

 

-- High fat diets, salt, coffee, soft drinks (with large amounts of

phosphate), and alcohol all reduce magnesium absorption

 

-- Processed water, including your municipal and bottled water, has very

low amounts of magnesium

 

 

TESTING YOUR MAGNESIUM LEVEL

 

Unfortunately, a simple blood test is not the best way to test for

magnesium. Remember, only 1% of this mineral is actually circulating in your

blood.

 

Dr. Cohen explains there are other tests that are not “wildly popular

among patients†nor are completely accurate. He suggests talking to a

knowledgeable health practitioner to determine magnesium levels in your system.

 

 

ADDING MAGNESIUM TO YOUR DIET

 

How much? When? Take with what?

 

 

The RDA for magnesium in adult men is 420mg and 320mg in women. Now going

back to calcium - the RDA for calcium is 1000mg to 1200mg, depending on

your age.

 

 

Dr. Cohen recommends closer to 500mg of magnesium per day, but suggests

working up to that amount slowly. For specific medical conditions, increased

magnesium should be done with medical supervision.

 

 

As it turns out, Dr. Rodier (see our interview with him) suggested between

500mg to 1000mg per day, which many are not getting in their diet and

supplement regimen combined.

 

 

For best absorption, take magnesium with a meal and add vitamin B6 and

vitamin D to your daily dietary supplement.

 

 

As I mentioned earlier, we are looking into a separate magnesium

supplement.

 

 

For more information on magnesium and Dr. Cohen:

 

 

Dr. Cohen’s link: _http://www.medicationsense.com/index.html_

(http://www.medicationsense.com/index.html)

 

 

Magnesium on WholeHealthMD:

_http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/substances_view/1,1525,890,00.html_

(http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/substances_view/1,1525,890,00.html)

 

 

The Magnesium Online Library _http://www.mgwater.com/index.shtml_

(http://www.mgwater.com/index.shtml)

 

 

Magnesium supplementation in type 2 diabetes:

_http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=pubmed & dopt=Abstr\

act & list_uids=15466952_

(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=pubmed & dopt=Ab

stract & list_uids=15466952)

 

 

Magnesium in cardiovascular diseases and other disorders:

_http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=pubmed & dopt=Abstr\

act & list_uids

=15372830_

(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=pubmed & dopt=Abstr\

act & list_uids=15372830)

 

Significance of magnesium in congestive heart failure:

_http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=pubmed & dopt=Abstr\

act & list_uids=88

00040_

(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=pubmed & dopt=Abstr\

act & list_uids=8800040)

(http://www.ourhealthcoop.com/newsletter/news_holidaykits_magnesium.htm#A_PRIMER\

_ON_MAGNESIUM)