Mineral Facts About Magnesium

by admin on June 24, 2011

Have you ever examined a multivitamin label and wondered what magnesium does for the body? For people who do not know a lot about the effects of vitamins and minerals on the body, magnesium tends to be an nutrient that confuses them. However, magnesium is a very important mineral for the body and should be included in every multivitamin and maybe even supplemented.

Functions

Magnesium is an essential mineral for the human body and has many uses. Virtually every cell in our bodies requires and uses magnesium for efficient functioning! It is needed for healthy bones, to form proteins and fatty acids. Magnesium is necessary for new cell formation, as well as activating the B vitamins in the body. The body uses magnesium for relaxing muscles and clotting blood, and it also aids in insulin production as well.

Because magnesium acts in a way that is similar to calcium channel blocker drugs, it has been used successfully in improving vision for glaucoma patients. Magnesium deficiencies have been linked to hyperactivity disorder in children as well as attention deficit disorder. Children who suffer from these attention disorders may benefit from an increase in magnesium.

Deficiencies

Deficiencies in this mineral have also been linked to patients who have chronic fatigue syndrome. Injections of magnesium have been shown to improve this condition. Because magnesium is necessary for insulin production, diabetics may have low magnesium levels and treatment with magnesium may help create some improvement in glucose tolerance. Magnesium may also help women who experience bladder problems or feelings of urgency with the bladder.

Source of Magnesium & Recommended Intake

The best source of magnesium can be found naturally in nuts and grains, however it can also be found in beans, dark green leafy vegetables, fish and meat. Most people do not consume enough magnesium in their daily diets so it is recommended to supplement with 250 to 350 mcg per day. You should be able to find a multivitamin that contains the recommended amount of magnesium.

It is also advised to take a vitamin B6 supplement with magnesium in order to help with the absorption of the mineral. If you decide to take magnesium supplements it is important to not take too much, as high doses of magnesium may lead to stomach upset and diarrhea.

In conclusion, magnesium is an essential mineral to the body and it is very important that you have the recommended amounts of it included in your diet, or in a supplement form in order to keep all the cells in your body functioning optimally.