Are you getting enough magnesium in your diet?
The importance of healthy eating and exercise has by now been properly drilled into us. You know to watch your sugar and salt intake as well as concentrate on eating fresh whole foods as opposed to those that have been processed, but did you know that the levels of magnesium in your body also affect your health, especially the heart?
The importance of healthy eating and exercise has by now been properly drilled into us. You know to watch your sugar and salt intake as well as concentrate on eating fresh whole foods as opposed to those that have been processed, but did you know that the levels of magnesium in your body also affect your health, especially the heart?
According to an article in Newsmax, a large number of people do not meet the recommended daily amount of magnesium. Because of modern farming practices, the land our food grows on has been depleted of magnesium and other minerals so many health professionals are now recommending magnesium supplements to offset the deficit in our food.
Why is magnesium so important?
This hardworking mineral does a lot for us. According to the Weston A. Price Foundation, "strong bones and teeth, balanced hormones, a healthy nervous and cardiovascular system, well-functioning detoxification pathways and much more depend upon cellular magnesium sufficiency."
Studies have shown that low levels of magnesium have been linked to cardiovascular disease and its high risk factors like high blood pressure and cholesterol. Dr. Stephen Sinatra, an integrative medicine cardiologist told Newsmax that low levels of magnesium in your body "can cause or worsen congestive heart failure, atherosclerosis, chest pain (coronary vasospasm), high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias, heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy), heart attack, and even sudden cardiac death (SCD)."
A study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition also confirmed the link between magnesium and sudden cardiac death. Their results showed that higher amounts of magnesium in the body reduce the risk of SCD.
A report in Today's Geriatric Medicine claims after a 10 year study on cardiovascular disease that low magnesium levels are an even bigger risk factor than cholesterol. According to Dr. Andrea Rosanoff of the Center for Magnesium Education and Research LLC, "common risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, and metabolic syndrome are all associated with low nutritional magnesium status or low magnesium dietary intakes."
All this research seems to suggest that adding a magnesium supplement to your diet will promote heart health and prevent heart attacks. Talk to your doctor about whether this type of supplement is right for you. Some can act like a laxative so make sure you are aware of any side effects. Magnesium supplements come in liquid, topical or oral tablets.