A Silent Public Health Crisis

Dr Carolyn Dean has called magnesium deficiency the ‘silent public health crisis.’

Magnesium a vital nutrient, is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and is used in over 300 biochemical reactions. It is necessary for healthy bones, regulating blood pressure, restful sleep, muscle strength and vitamin D assimilation.

Common signs of magnesium deficiency include –

• Muscle cramp or spasms
• Dizziness
• Poor memory
• No energy
• Low mood
• Depression
• Muscles weakness
• Heart issues
• Anxiety
• Weakness
• Confusion
• Insomnia
• Calcium deficiency
• Potassium deficiency
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Type II diabetes

Magnesium burn

Daily stress, exercise, alcohol and certain drugs deplete you of this most valuable mineral. Magnesium is just what you need when you lead a busy and demanding life but it is used up very quickly resulting in ‘magnesium burn rate’, the price you pay for stress!

Modern farming methods have also depleted the soil of its natural magnesium, leading to depleted nutritional status of vegetables.

Stores of magnesium need replenishing for protection, support, healing and recovery.

It is one of the most common mineral deficiencies and research is showing how this can lead to poor health and disease.

Magnesium to the rescue

Magnesium is still used in hospitals in A&E in the treatment of heart conditions, eclampsia and asthma but should not just be used for acute care alone. Chronic conditions can also be successfully treated with magnesium.

• Magnesium calms the nervous system and regulates cortisol. That feeling of being heart-racey, nervous, wired-but-tired is a common complaint but can be alleviated quite quickly.
• Magnesium helps sleep. I find in practice a dose split between morning and evening is the best. If you have a stress-less day you are much more likely to sleep at night. If you understand that during the day magnesium can be used up due to stressors, arming yourself with a morning dose and replenishing in the evening makes sense.
• Magnesium deficiency  reduces vitamin D effectiveness. Magnesium helps you activate Vitamin D into a form your body can utilise.
• The thyroid cannot function without magnesium. Alongside iodine magnesium is related to goitre or an enlarged thyroid gland. Magnesium is responsible for converting the inactive T4 thyroid hormone into the active form of T3. This is extremely important because the metabolism of your body cells are enhanced by T3, not inactive T4.
• Oral magnesium improves insulin sensitivity. Healthy insulin sensitivity is important for weight loss, PCOS and can prevent osteoporosis.
• Magnesium can reduce hot flushes by 50%, reducing inflammation and raised cortisol.
• Magnesium fuels cellular energy. Due to its high metabolic rate hormonal tissue requires more magnesium and is an ideal support for women suffering from PMS.
• Magnesium is an ideal muscle relaxant and can be really useful in sufferers of muscle tension, migraines and tension headaches.
• Magnesium can help an ailing heart. The heart has the highest requirement for magnesium of any organ, and with insufficient amounts the heart cannot function properly. High blood pressure, palpitations and atrial fibrillation may benefit from magnesium supplementation.

One of the richest sources of magnesium is good quality dark chocolate, providing 176mg per 3.5oz bar. Other high magnesium foods include spinach, dark greens, broccoli, almonds, lentils, spirulina, chlorella and avocado.

For therapeutic doses of magnesium ReMag liquid magnesium offers superior absorption. The recommended minimum RDA of magnesium per day is between 300mg and 400mg for adults. Half a teaspoon twice daily of ReMag provides the minimum RDA of magnesium.

I love magnesium as it can make people feel better very quickly! It is one of my core staple supplements – half a teaspoon of ReMag twice daily in a little fresh orange juice. Calmness prevails:-)

Antibiotics, diuretics and taking proton pump inhibitors for acid reflux can all interfere with magnesium absorption. Consider your intake of magnesium if you are taking any of these drugs.