Magnesium overlooked mineral
Magnesium is a crucially important mineral for optimal health, performing a wide array of biological functions, as below:
- Activating muscles and nerves
- Creating energy in body by activating (ATP)
- Helping digest proteins, carbohydrates, and fats
- Serving as a building block for RNA and DNA synthesis
- It’s also a precursor for neurotransmitters like serotonin
Most people do not get enough magnesium in their diet in today’s time. Meanwhile, calcium tends to be over-utilized and taken in high quantities. This can cause more harm than good, as it’s very important to have a balance between these two minerals.
If we have too much calcium and not enough magnesium, muscles will tend to go into spasm, and this has consequences to heart in particular.
Magnesium is critical for heart health, as excessive amounts of calcium without the counterbalance of magnesium can lead to a heart attack and sudden death.
calcium and magnesium also needs to be balanced with vitamin D and K2
Signs of Magnesium Deficiency
Unfortunately, there’s no easily available commercial lab test which gives a truly accurate reading of the magnesium status in tissues. Only one percent of magnesium in the body is distributed in the blood, which makes a simple sample of magnesium from a serum magnesium blood test highly inaccurate. Some specialty labs do provide an RBC magnesium test which is accurate. Early signs of magnesium deficiency include loss of appetite, headache, nausea, fatigue, and weakness. An ongoing magnesium deficiency can lead to more serious symptoms, including:
- Numbness and tingling
- Muscle contractions and cramps
- Seizures
- Personality changes
- Abnormal heart rhythms
- Coronary spasms