Magnesium - Did you know?

Y'all! This is my first blog post, and I am so excited to share all the information I have recently learned about this VITAL MINERAL. I know it isn't about skincare, BUT I feel like this is one of the most important things to know about magnesium deficiency and heart disease. It is because I just adore all of my clients so much, and I hope that this information helps you or somebody you love.

PS I am not a doctor, this is not medical advice, and if you need help understanding magnesium and your body, please as your doctor.

I literally read a whole book about this and if you want to read it too, I highly recommend you read "Magnificent Magnesium" by Dennis Goodman. I basically want to share some key points that I learned, and I hope you decide to make it a part of your daily supplement routine.

Magnesium the the fourth most abundant mineral in the human body. (The most abundant are calcium, iron, and potassium.) Half of our bodies magnesium is in our bones, and a little less than half is inside our soft tissues like organs, muscles, and endocrine glands, and about one percent is in traveling freely throughout our blood stream. Without magnesium, life would basically not exist.

Did you know that over 80% of all Americans (unknowingly) suffer from chronic magnesium deficiency?!? (Like that is insane, yo). Magnesium orchestrates the proper functioning of approximately 80 percent of our bodies metabolic processes. Magnesium is what brings ATP (adenosine triphosphate) to life. ATP is essential for life, as it plays a vital role in energy metabolism. Without magnesium present to activate ATP, our body cannot meet all of its energy needs.

One might think, that just by eating more magnesium rich foods to our diet will ensure we get all the magnesium we need, but unfortunately that is just not the case. Our food sources are depleted of vital minerals and nutrients because of issues with modern day farming methods. That is a story for another day...

Common warning signs of magnesium deficiency:

• Back and/or neck pain

• Impaired coordination

• Involuntary eye movements

• Muscle Cramps

• Muscles Spasms

• Muscle tension or weakness

• Muscle Tremors

• Palpitations

• Vertigo

• Fatigue or low energy

• Migraine, cluster, and tension headaches

• Insomnia or difficulty staying asleep

• PMS and menstrual cramps

• Anxiety or irritability

• Impaired cognitive function or memory problems

• High blood pressure or other signs of heart conditions

This is your sign to have your doctor check your magnesium levels at your next check up.

Okay y'all, here are the things that literally BLEW MY MIND. Just make it all the way through, I promise you don't want to skip this.

Okay, so when our body is deprived of magnesium, our heart cannot produce enough energy, and without energy our heart, arteries, and veins quickly begin to deteriorate, leading to heart cell death. Heart cell death leads to calcification, and calcification leads to inflammation. Research has shown that magnesium deficiency independently plays a role in many critical heart conditions, and is at the very core of heart disease.

Did you know that stress is a primary source of magnesium deficiency? No matter what the source of the stress is, our bodies release stress hormones, and the longer the stress, the more stress hormones our body produces. The more stress hormones our body produces the more magnesium our body uses up. Magnesium regulates and controls hormone production. Without magnesium, our stress hormone levels will remain elevated for an extended period of time. The result of that is... chronic stress...and therefore.... chronic magnesium deficiency.

BASICALLY, this is a quick reference of how it all works. (just read the book if you really want to go super in depth!)

Okay now here is a bullet point format of other conditions and their relation to magnesium:

• Obesity - Studies have consistently shown that magnesium levels are lower in people who are overweight or obese. Obesity has been linked to chronic stress, insulin resistance, and inflammation. Which all are heavily associated with magnesium deficiency. By increasing your magnesium intake, you can buffer the effects of cortisol.

  
  

• Type 2 Diabetes - Research has shown that at least 90 percent of diabetes patients are classified as magnesium deficient. A study conducted by American Diabetes Association supported the use of magnesium supplements to improve symptoms of type 2 diabetes.

  
  

• Depression - Magnesium is known as the original "chill pill" because of it's mental health benefits. (There is so much info about how this works, but you get the jist.)

  
  

• Asthma - Asthma is triggered when levels of histamines and stress hormones become elevated. Magnesium helps control the release of those, and keeps our muscles relaxed.

  
  

• Chronic Fatigue - Remember, magnesium is vital to the role of ATP. Without ATP, that means no energy. It's that simple.

• Chronic Pain - Magnesium is the most important substance for our muscles. Without magnesium we wouldn't be able to move.

• Fibromyalgia - Scientist believe it is caused by oxidative stress, and it is now believed magnesium deficiency can contribute to oxidative stress.

  
  

• Headaches and Migraines - Magnesium relaxes blood vessels and allows them to dilate, reducing spasms and constrictions that can cause headaches and migraines.

  
  

• Gastrointestinal Problems - One of the most common GI disorders associated with lack of magnesium is constipation, or difficult or infrequent bowel movements. It also plays an important role in preventing leaky gut syndrome. Leaky gut and GI tract inflammation can lead to a range of other GI conditions. (IBS, Crohn's and colitis) Research has shown that magnesium supplementation can help reverse these conditions and improve their symptoms.

• Kidney Stones - Magnesium regulates calcium, and magnesium has shown to be powerful in preventing kidney stones.

  
  

• PMS - Studies show that women who suffer from PMS typically have low levels of magnesium in their red blood cells. Magnesium works as a muscle relaxant, reducing cramping and PMS related headaches.

  
  

• Sleep Disorders - Stress can disrupt melatonin. There are 4 different steps your body takes to produce melatonin and all 4 steps require the presence of magnesium. Under prolonged stress, you become magnesium deficient, and then cannot make melatonin you need at night.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST WHAT TYPE OF MAGNESIUM SUPPLEMENTS ARE THERE!? Any magnesium supplement can provide benefits, but certain forms can have special benefits for specific health conditions.

• General use - Magnesium Chloride (applied to the skin), magnesium glycinate, magnesium malate.

• Brain Health - Nearly all forms, but magnesium orotate and magnesium l-threonate are especially useful.

• GI Health - Magnesium Citrate and magnesium lactate.

• Heart Health - Magnesium malate, manesium taurate.

• Joint and Muscle Health - Most all forms, but topical magnesium and epsom salt baths are excellent.

I would like to re-itterate, I am not a doctor, I am literally an esthetician who is obsessed with learning about random things like magnesium, check with your doctor before supplementing to make sure of any contraindications of your health and medications. I just wanted to share all this information because I think it might be just the thing somebody needs to help with their current conditions or to help prevent health conditions in the future.

If you found this helpful and would like to support me, please shop for your supplements through my FullScript Account instead. A portion of your purchase supports me and my small business. (you can even get magnesium lotion, yay!)