March 1, 2010

How Magnesium Contributes to Great Health

It is well known that minerals are vital to maintaining good health. Most people make sure to get enough calcium and iron. There are other less well-known minerals that have a tremendous impact on well-being. Magnesium is one such mineral. Sadly, 61% of adults do not meet the US RDA for magnesium. Receiving the health benefits of magnesium can be as simple as taking a magnesium supplement.

When it comes to treating and preventing osteoporosis, magnesium excels. In osteoporosis, the bones lose a lot of their calcium making them weak and prone to breakage. Magnesium works to increase the absorption of calcium. Magnesium also helps to balance the various chemicals that the body uses to influence the bone density and how much calcium the bones use. It increases the density of the bones by making the calcium more readily available for use. This is important because unused calcium can settle out in the kidneys to form painful stones. It can also cause muscle cramps and pains. By balancing calcium intake with magnesium, the calcium is used more efficiently and problems like muscle cramps and kidney stones can be avoided.

Magnesium also plays a role in the regulation of blood pressure and may help prevent hypertension. Doctors believe this is because magnesium relaxes the smooth muscle tissue responsible for dilating the arteries. By relaxing this muscle, magnesium may help prevent high blood pressure. It also seems to work alongside potassium in regulating the blood pressure.

Adult-onset or type 2 diabetes also seem to be be affected by magnesium deficiency. The break down of carbohydrates in the body requires magnesium. If there is a lack of magnesium, insulin resistance can result. This is a state in which the enzyme used by the body to balance our blood sugar does not work properly. More insulin becomes necessary to change the level of blood sugar. This often is a precursor condition to full type 2 diabetes. Getting sufficient magnesium increases the efficiency of carbohydrate metabolism and prevents the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

Blood pressure and blood sugar both affect cardiovascular health. It seems to reason then that magnesium would help ensure good cardiovascular health. Irregular heart rhythm can be caused by a lack of sufficient magnesium. Magnesium also stops abnormal blood clots from forming in the heart. Research has shown that patients recovering from strokes or heart attacks can be helped by using magnesium supplements. Magnesium may also prevent stroke and heart attacks in the first place.

Many of us do not get adequate amounts of magnesium in our diet. Magnesium is a crucial mineral that affects a number of important functions. A magnesium supplement is a great way to ensure that you get enough magnesium to maintain optimum health. It is generally recommended to take twice as much magnesium as calcium. A liquid supplement will also be beneficial because liquid minerals are more readily absorbed from the digestive tract. This makes more the magnesium available to the body. Don’t be part of the 61% who are deficient in magnesium. Use a magnesium supplement to protect your precious health.

To learn more about the power of magnesium supplementsas well as other important mineral supplements, visit us online and download your FREE audio Minerals: What your body needs and why. Neil Butterfield is the owner of Mineralife and is also their mineral supplement expert, Mineralife is known nationwide for its excellence mineral supplements.

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