By David Blyweiss, M.D., Advanced Natural Wellness

November 13, 2019

Have you ever had an eye twitch that just wouldn’t go away? Some of my patients have this symptom all the time and never think to question why.

It could be a sign you are low on a very important nutrient. One so important — in fact — it helps maintain your steady heartbeat day after day.

It’s involved in all the electrical activity in your body — everything from heart contractions to muscle function to nerve impulses and brain activity. And without it, activating ATP for energy production doesn’t happen.

Yet upwards of three out of four people are not getting enough!

So the name of this important nutrient? Magnesium.

In an over-fed nation like ours, it’s hard to accept the idea you might be undernourished. Yet, something as simple as a nutritional deficiency could be at the heart of many of your health problems.

And one of the most overlooked deficiencies today is magnesium. Unfortunately, this mineral doesn’t get near enough attention.

But when you consider how magnesium is responsible for over 300 biochemical reactions in your body, this is a big mistake.

I bet you won’t ignore that eye twitch anymore!

When you are low on magnesium, everything in your body goes haywire. Your heart’s steadfast beat loses rhythm. Muscles start cramping or spasming. Your brain can’t function properly. Nerves start misfiring and your body stops producing the energy it needs.

In other words, when you don’t get enough magnesium, essential body systems begin to fail. This makes it incredibly important to learn everything you can about this forgotten mineral.

Forgotten Mineral Keeps Your Heart Beating Strong

Magnesium deficiency isn’t something you want to ignore. It’s absolutely necessary for your entire circulatory system.

When levels are low, you’re more likely to experience heart arrhythmias, high blood pressure and accelerated plaque build-up. This means you’re more prone to all forms of heart disease. A magnesium deficiency could even increase your risk of sudden cardiac death by more than 50%.

Plus, don’t forget your cardiovascular system plays a role in strokes and diminished brain function. So it’s no surprise low magnesium levels are common among people who suffer ischemic strokes or end up with dementia.

Magnesium also plays a role in a number of other chronic health issues. Shortages of this mineral contribute to migraine headaches, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, kidney stones, constipation and depression.

On the flip side, when you get enough magnesium, it can…

• Curb abnormal heart rhythms
• Lower blood pressure
• Improve insulin sensitivity and glucose control
• Block migraine headaches
• Cut your risk of heart disease and stroke
• Put an end to muscle cramp and spasms
• Ward off kidney stones
• Help build strong bone mass
• Keep your bowels regular

In other words, this is one nutrient you don’t want to neglect.

It’s Time to Get Serious about Boosting Your Magnesium Levels

So why are so many people low on magnesium? As with many problems, it all comes down to your diet.

Magnesium is found most easily in green plants. But people aren’t eating near the level of dark green leafy vegetables we were two or three generations ago.

Unless you enjoy eating a lot of nuts, seeds, beans and green veggies, your magnesium levels are probably low.

Plus, even if you’re eating these foods, the levels of nutrients in today’s food supply aren’t anywhere near where they used to be. Modern agricultural practices have leached the soil of much-needed nutrients from our natural food supply.

It’s nearly impossible to get enough magnesium from diet alone. And this is a big problem if you want to live a long, healthy, disease-free life.

Still, you should still try your best to eat more magnesium-rich foods.

The best way you can do this is by eating organic produce. These more natural alternatives are much higher in all nutrients than commercially grown produce.

But it’s also a good idea to go the extra step and start taking a magnesium supplement. Or, if nothing else, make sure your multi-vitamin includes magnesium.

In generally I recommend 5 mg of magnesium per pound of body weight. Take it in divided doses throughout the day.

I like the magnesiums that end in “ate”… glycinate, threonate, malate, citrate and so forth.

• Glycinate shows great absorption and cellular bioavailability.
• Citrate is great for enhancing bowel movements if constipation is an issue.
• Threonate is best for getting into the brain.
• Malate may best for people with fibromyalgic muscle stiffness.

If you find loose bowels to be a problem, start with a low dose – say 150-200 mg daily – and build up to 400 mg once or twice daily.

Also, if you enjoy baths, try adding about two cups of Epsom Salt to your bathwater. The magnesium sulfate contained in the salt will be absorbed into your body through your skin. Last thought; magnesium is also known as the relaxation mineral; and in our high stress world it can be an integral part of making every day a little better.

SOURCES:

Rosanoff A, et al. Suboptimal magnesium status in the United States: are the health consequences underestimated? Nutr Rev 2012;70(3):153-64.

Kieboom BCT, et al. Serum Magnesium and the Risk of Death From Coronary Heart Disease and Sudden Cardiac Death. J Am Heart Assoc. 2016 Jan; 5(1): e002707.

Volpe SL. Magnesium in disease prevention and overall health. Adv Nutr. 2013 May 1;4(3):378S-83S.