subject: Magnesium - the Unsung Hero [print this page] Magnesium - the Unsung Hero Magnesium - the Unsung Hero
1. First, the mineral maintains normal muscle and nerve functions. Moreover, it regulates the rhythm of the heart, supports the bones, and helps to keep the blood sugar under control.
2. The 4th most abundant mineral in the human body is Magnesium, with 50% in the skeletal structure and the rest in flesh and tissues. Magnesium is a player with many hats, and primarily it provides continuing maintenance to nerves and muscles, and acts as the metronome for the beat of your heart. And as far as diet smart goes, it helps to control blood sugar and blood pressure.
3. If that wasn't enough, Magnesium plays a bit part in the operation of the immune system, and its presence is needed by 300 biochemical functions in the body including energy metabolism and protein amalgamation.
4. Mostly ingested through the stomach and excreted in urine, Magnesium build up can be hazardous when excretion is impaired through kidney damage and the sufferer will experience the pain of toxicity.
Sources of magnesium
5. Magnesium is usually found in Spinach or any green-leaf vegetables it is present in the plant chlorophyll, which is rich in magnesium. Also beans, seeds, nuts, brown rice and whole grain products, coffee, tea, cocoa, soy flour, soy milk, and tofu curd. It seems that the intake of Magnesium in the Western world has diminished over the years perhaps due to the introduction of modern fertilizers which contain no magnesium.
6. Health conscious individuals tend to take Magnesium Oxide as a supplement, usually as a part of a vitamin regime, and it is generally difficult to overdose owing to its easy expulsion through the kidneys. However, anyone with kidney problems may experience an overdose on the supplement, while alcoholics can benefit from supplementation as their habit can leave them to a severe deficiency.
Low levels of Magnesium have been held responsible for diabetes, asthma and osteoporosis, proving the value of its presence in our bodies; that 24 grams that supply all those 300 functions.
Helps us to absorb Calcium
Helps guard against immune deficiency
Basic to the life chemicals
7. The water in your tap is likely to contain Magnesium and the harder the water the more you will find per liter. The daily requirement recommended by the expert's increases with a person's age, and higher doses for moms-to-be.
Although Magnesium deficiency is not a well discussed subject in the Western world, it is likely that many elderly citizens are consuming less than is adequate for their good health, and this probably applies worldwide.
The elderly do not absorb magnesium as efficiently as the younger generation and their urine excretion is much higher leading to a lack of the mineral. So make sure all elderly persons in your family are aware of the importance of Magnesium.
