Magnesium is a mineral that is present in a wide variety of foods and is crucial for the synthesis and repair of human DNA as well as the maintenance of strong bones, muscles, and nerves. Despite being easily accessible, the majority of Americans do not get enough magnesium in their diet.
Teenage girls and men over 70 are the most likely to have a magnesium deficit, according to the National Institutes of Health. If you have any of the following 12 symptoms, you should still think about having your magnesium level evaluated.
1. Low vitality
According to functional medicine dietitian Alison Boden, “at least 300 different chemical reactions in our body involve magnesium, and many of them have to do with energy production,” she told Reader’s Digest. “Low energy can be an indication of low magnesium.” If your lack of energy is making you feel down, try these ten simple strategies to increase it.
2. Cramping or twitching
A lack of magnesium might cause unintentional muscular activity because it is essential for muscle relaxation. According to Ancient Minerals, “our muscles would be in a constant state of contraction without magnesium.”
3. Frequently occurring headaches
A magnesium deficit alters neurotransmitter function, blood vessel constricting, and serotonin levels, all of which are linked to headaches, particularly migraines. According to MigraineAgain, a magnesium deficit affects 50% of migraineurs.
4. Sleeplessness
Low magnesium levels may be the cause of your difficulty getting or staying asleep, especially if you are under a lot of stress. According to Dr. Ronald Hoffman, stress hormones raise heart rate and blood pressure, in part by depleting magnesium in the body. Sleeping becomes problematic if the body cannot renew itself with enough magnesium.
5. An irregular pulse
The heart may struggle to maintain its normal rhythm if magnesium levels are low. When a patient complains of an irregular heartbeat, doctors frequently recommend magnesium supplements.
6. Enhanced noise sensitivity
According to Hoffman, magnesium’s ability to stabilize the nervous system is diminished when levels are low. Hyperflexia, or an increased startle reaction, is frequently the outcome of this.
7. Convulsions
When magnesium deficiency seriously impairs the neurological system, seizures may ensue, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
8. Insufficient bone mass
The majority of the magnesium in the body is stored in the bones, and it is essential for the creation of bones. According to the NIH, “those who consume more magnesium have higher bone mineral density.”
9. Constipation
When the body does not have enough magnesium, bowel movements frequently slow down. The primary component of many over-the-counter laxatives is magnesium.
10. Elevated blood pressure
Maintaining a healthy blood pressure level requires magnesium; a lack can undoubtedly result in too high blood pressure. “People with prehypertension can avoid high blood pressure by eating foods high in magnesium and other minerals,” according to WebMD.
11. Diabetes type 2
Another function of magnesium in the human body is the breakdown of blood glucose. According to the NIH, “people who consume more magnesium in their diets typically have a lower risk of developing diabetes.” The potential application of magnesium therapy in the treatment of diabetes is still being investigated.
12. Personality changes, bewilderment, anxiety, or depression
Neurological functioning can be affected by low magnesium levels in the brain, leading to a variety of issues. Low magnesium levels have been linked to the development of some phobias, including agoraphobia, according to studies, Dr. Hoffman explains. According to an article in Psychology Today titled “Magnesium and the Brain: The Original Chill Pill,” magnesium has long been used as a successful home treatment for similar symptoms.
Eating meals high in magnesium is the healthiest approach to increase your intake of this mineral. In the uncommon occasion that too much magnesium is consumed by food, it is safely removed by healthy kidneys. This method is insufficient to get rid of excess magnesium from supplements, which can be toxic enough to induce cardiac arrest.
