|
Magnesium
is a mineral that serves many vital purposes in the body.
There are more than 300 biochemical
processes in the human body that require magnesium. From
the heart to the bones, some of the body’s most fundamental
systems and structures depend on this important mineral.
Both day-to-day
and long-term health and well being require sufficient intake
of magnesium.
Magnesium is important to bone health and structure. Indeed, fully
half of the magnesium in the body is found in the bones. One important
contribution magnesium makes to the bones is to assist in the production
of the hormone calcitonin, which increases the level of calcium
in the bones. Magnesium also controls the acidity of the blood,
which is beneficial to bones, as high acid levels can weaken bone
structure.
Magnesium plays a role in controlling the neuromuscular activities
of the heart and helps to keep the heartbeat regular. It also helps
to keep blood pressure levels within the normal range. For these
reasons, researchers have been investigating the ways that magnesium
could affect heart disease treatment and prevention.
There is also interest in magnesium in relation to diabetes. That
is because magnesium is necessary for insulin secretion and function,
and plays a role in controlling blood sugar. It serves to assist
in turning blood sugar into energy, as well.
Working in partnership with
a variety of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, magnesium
serves
a wide range of purposes. It
is essential to the health and functioning of the body’s
neurological system and muscular system, serving – among
other purposes – to enable the contraction of muscles and
nerves.
It is important to maintain adequate levels of magnesium in the
body, as serious help problems can result from deficiencies of
this essential mineral. Adult males need about 350mg of magnesium
per day, with adult women requiring 280mg daily, with an increase
of up to 420mg per day while pregnant or breastfeeding. Children,
depending on size and weight, need between 130mg to 240mg per day.
Deficiency in magnesium can cause a variety of symptoms of varying
severity. These include significant calcium loss, heart spasms,
irregular heartbeat, nervousness, confusion, loss of appetite,
nausea, vomiting, muscle contractions and spasms, fatigue, and
feelings of weakness, both in general and in the muscles.
Consuming the standard recommended
daily intake levels of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients
is essential to good health and the
proper functioning of the body and its many systems. Unfortunately,
most people do not achieve this through diet alone. Using
nutritional supplements to make up the difference between
what you should eat
and what you really do eat is an effective and safe option,
provided that you do so with the understanding that the
standard recommended
dosage should be used, unless advised otherwise by your personal
health care provider. The body’s systems are based upon a
delicate balance of chemicals, and too much can often be
as harmful as too little. A licensed nutritionist can help
you to make a supplement
plan best suited to your individual dietary needs and health
goals.
Health
Tips - Health
and Diet Food Directory - Recipes - Newsletter - Forum | 
