Magnesium – why is so important?

Magnesium, its role in our body and its importance

Magnesium is a component of bones, it works in the nerve impulse transmission, protein synthesis and enzyme activation. It is a major part of the cycle that makes energy for the body to function. It is also an essential component for the formation of DNA and RNA transcription or writing of the genetic component and protein formation. It is essential component for muscle relaxation and one of our biggest’ muscle is our heart, therefore very important for our heart. It is also essential for some of the hormones formation as well.How you can see magnesium has an amazing role in our body and some of them are quite essential, as well as having a calming effect on our body and mind which helps with reducing stress or how we cope with everyday stress in our lives. It is suggested to take calcium and magnesium separately as they do compete for some of the transportation system and as quite often is the case calcium is usually the highest one in our body, magnesium can take a tall on some of its function. Magnesium has many roles in our body and some are not quite understood yet. The suggestion of eat your greens from our grandparents it is not only for the goodness of our intestinal tract but for the increase of magnesium in our diet. For the once that do not like greens or any of the foods that magnesium is found in, it is worth to buy a supplement for extra magnesium. Buxton water has got a good combination of magnesium and calcium content, however it is not enough for the amount of magnesium that we need. Magnesium works very closely with many of the other minerals and some of them are calcium and phosphorus. About 60% of magnesium is found in bones, 26% in muscles, maintaining the electrical charge of muscles and nerve cells and the rest is in soft tissue and body fluids. In elderly or ill patients low magnesium has been associated with low potassium and low calcium levels. Sources of magnesium include: mineral water, kelp, wheat bran, brewer’s yeast, nuts, legumes, cereals grains, green leafy vegetables, chocolate, molasses, corn, peas, carrots, seafood, brown rice and tofu. Some of the deficiency symptoms are depression, mental confusion, heart disturbances, muscle weakness, tetany, abnormal behaviour, convulsions and growth failure, headaches, loss of appetite, insomnia and predisposition to stress. Magnesium deficiency can be caused by high calcium intake, excess alcohol intake, kidney disease, use of oral contraceptive and diuretics, as well as not eating any green leafy vegetables or any of the healthy food that magnesium is found in. Green leafy vegetable also contain chlorophyll which is an anti-oxidant so do eat your greens!

Groff J. L., Gropper S. S. (2000). Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism. 3^rd ed. London, Thomson Learning.