I've had an exhausting week not just from working every single day
for almost 2 weeks, but last Friday I tweaked my back :( An old and
familiar injury but twice as fun this time being 29 weeks pregnant.
Between my wonderful chiropractor and being extra careful and mainly
just dealing with the pain as my muscles healed from being in spasm, I
am on the mend. I'd also like to thank my sister-in-law Beth for
bringing magnesium supplements to my attention and will promote these
for
everyone now!
How does it work?
Magnesium is required for the proper growth
and maintenance of bones. Magnesium is also required for the proper
function of nerves, muscles, and many other parts of the body. In the
stomach, magnesium helps neutralize stomach acid and moves stools
through the intestine.
An interesting blog from a mom of 3 regarding morning sickness and effects of a few changes, one being adding magnesium:
Wellness Mama Blog.
Also other big diet factors like bone broth, cod-liver oil, protein, eggs, coconut oil
(all of these I had read about as well and increased while trying to
get pregnant and always wondered if this helped or I was just lucky in
my lack of morning sickness.) TMI for some, but most pregnant women experience issues with constipation due to slower digestion (so the body can pull more nutrients out for the baby). I've monitored my fiber intake to try and keep any major issues at bay, but am happy to report magnesium helps even more so I highly recommend. Here is more info:
magnesium in your pregnancy. Also known to help with headaches, back aches (as I mentioned) and restless leg syndrome. As it's frustrating to have to avoid over the counter pain meds, this is a great option!
Where Has All The Magnesium Gone?
Unfortunately, most modern farming processes tax the soil, depleting
it of its natural magnesium. On top of that, many hybrids are
selectively bred to survive low levels of magnesium and most
conventional fertilizers use nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, and do
nothing to replenish magnesium levels.
These additional dietary factors can also deplete magnesium:
- Consumption of caffeine
- Consumption of sugar (It takes 287 molecules of magnesium to metabolize a single glucose molecule!)
- Consumption of processed food
- Consumption of alcohol
- Consumption of produce from depleted soil
- Consumption of foods high in phytic acid
What Does Magnesium DO?
Magnesium is necessary for hundreds of functions within the body, but is especially important for:
- Gives rigidity AND flexibility to your bones (more important than Calcium in many cases)
- Increases bio-availability of calcium
- Regulates and normalizes blood pressure
- Prevents and reverses kidney stone formation
- Promotes restful sleep
- Helps prevent congestive heart failure
- Eases muscle cramps and spasms
- Lowers serum cholesterol levels and triglycerides
- Decreases insulin resistance
- Can prevent artherosclerosis and stroke
- End cluster and migraine headaches
- Enhances circulation
- Relieves fibromyalgia and chronic pain
- Treats asthma and emphysema
- Helps make proteins
- Encourages proper elimination
- Prevents osteoporosis
- Proper Vitamin D absorption
- protection from radiation
- To aid weight loss
- Lessen or remove ADD or ADHD in children
- in proper carbohydrate digestion
- emerging evidence is showing a preventative role in many cancers
Are You Deficient?
As I said above, the answer is likely ‘yes’ in today’s world, as over
80% of tested adults are. Unfortunately, blood tests are relatively
ineffective in gauging magnesium levels as less than 1% of magnesium is
in the blood.
Low
magnesium levels are often diagnosed by symptoms alone, and the following symptoms can point to low magnesium levels:
- Inability to sleep or insomnia
- Irritability
- Sensitivity to noise
- Mental disturbances
- Anxiety, depression or restlessness
- Muscle soreness or spasms
- Infertility or PMS
- High levels of stress
- Headaches
- Heart “flutters” or palpitations
- Fatigue or unusual tiredness
- Coldness in extremities
- Fuzzy brain or difficulty concentrating
- Allergies and sensitivities
- Lack of appetite
- Back pain
- Body odor
- Bad short term memory
- Poor coordination
- Insulin resistance
- Carbohydrate cravings
- Constipation
- Frequent cavities or poor dental health
- Gut disorders
- Kidney stones
- Thyroid problems
If you have more than one of the above symptoms and especially if you
have more than five, it is highly likely that you could benefit from
magnesium supplementation.
