Why is magnesium vital and indispensable?

Posted: September 09, 2024
Dr. med. Wolfgang  Bachmann
Dr. med. Wolfgang Bachmann

General practitioner

According to a study in the Journal of Intensive Care Medicine, a magnesium deficiency doubles the risk of death. The study looks at a long list of diseases and their symptoms, all of which can be alleviated or even cured with the help of magnesium as an essential nutrient.

In fact, magnesium is one of the secret weapons against disease. Yet many people are deficient in this nutrient and don't even know it. Yet magnesium is an effective antidote to stress and the most powerful relaxation mineral there is and also improves natural sleep patterns. 

However, most doctors are not familiar with the benefits of magnesium. However, magnesium is often used in some areas: In the ambulance for life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, magnesium is administered intravenously. Magnesium citrate is used to empty the digestive tract in cases of constipation or in preparation for a colonoscopy. For pregnant women with premature labor, pregnancy-related high blood pressure or cramps, high doses of magnesium are continuously administered intravenously. 

Even as a dietary supplement, taken regularly, it quickly brings positive results in the area of relaxation.

Contents

Magnesium for relaxation

Magnesium is THE relaxation mineral. Anything that is tense, irritable, cramped or stiff - whether a body part or even a mood - is a sign of magnesium deficiency. This is because this important trace element is responsible for no less than 300 enzyme reactions and can be found everywhere in tissue, but mainly in muscles, bones and the brain. Body cells need it to generate energy, keep the chemical "pumps" running, stabilize the cell membranes and help the muscles to relax.

This is why the list of medical conditions associated with magnesium deficiency is so long: in fact, there are over 3,500 medical indications associated with magnesium deficiency. Nevertheless, this mineral is often ignored in medical applications because it is not a drug. Yet in many cases it is much more effective than medication, which is why it is used in hospitals in life-threatening situations and emergencies such as convulsions or heart failure.

➤Order Magnesium Complex now!

Symptoms of magnesium deficiency

A magnesium deficiency is manifested by one or more of the following symptoms:

  • Muscle cramps or twitching
  • Insomnia
  • Irritability
  • Noise sensitivity
  • States of anxiety
  • Autism
  • Attention deficit disorder (ADD)
  • Palpitations
  • Angina
  • Constipation
  • Spasms in the anal area
  • Headache
  • Migraine
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Asthma
  • Kidney stones
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Osteoporosis
  • High blood pressure
  • Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
  • Menstrual cramps
  • Bladder irritability
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Reflux
  • Difficulty swallowing 

Magnesium deficiency has also been linked to inflammation in the body and high levels of c-reactive protein.

The problem with a magnesium deficiency

No accurate test option

Magnesium deficiency is a huge problem in our society. Even under conservative measurement conditions (magnesium levels in blood or serum), 65 percent of people admitted to the intensive care unit - and around 15 percent of the general population - have a magnesium deficiency.

But these figures do not really represent the problem, because the magnesium serum level is the least sensitive measurement method for detecting even a single drop of magnesium in the entire body. This means that the figures for magnesium deficiency could be much higher. 

The analysis of magnesium in the blood can only reveal a drastic magnesium deficiency. This means that it is only when the magnesium stores in the bones are largely depleted that this becomes noticeable in the blood values. Magnesium deficiency symptoms can appear much earlier. If you pay attention to the right signs, you can take targeted and timely countermeasures and treat a magnesium deficiency quickly.

Magnesium influences many different bodily functions.

A second reason why a magnesium deficiency often goes unnoticed for a long time is that magnesium is involved in a variety of different bodily functions. The mineral influences the cardiovascular system, the nervous and muscular system and the immune system.

And this is precisely why the symptoms of a deficiency overlap with the symptoms of other complaints, so that a deficiency cannot be easily recognized. In addition, the symptoms of a magnesium deficiency are very similar to those of other complaints, which doesn't help much either.

One of the main reasons why a magnesium deficiency is often not recognized is simply because it is not clearly distinguishable from other complaints. This is precisely why many experts recommend taking magnesium supplements as the only real option. They are of the opinion that taking appropriate supplements should be the first priority.

➤Buy magnesium citrate now!

It is not possible to apply for a patent on magnesium.

Many doctors strictly follow conventional medicine and are more adept at prescribing medication. This neglects alternatives that tackle the origin of the symptoms.

These three reasons just mentioned are the main reasons why magnesium deficiency occurs so frequently and yet is not treated. But one thing is certain: many health experts recommend and rely on the proactive intake of magnesium supplements. 

The origin of a magnesium deficiency

The reason for this extreme deficiency lies quite simply in our diet: many of us eat things that contain virtually no magnesium - industrially processed, refined foods whose main ingredients are white flour, meat and dairy products (all of which contain no magnesium). Magnesium-rich nuts, leafy vegetables or beans are very rarely on the menu.

Many modern habits together contribute to the loss of the little magnesium that we consume with our food.

Magnesium decreases sharply with excessive use of:

  • Alcohol
  • Salt
  • Coffee
  • Phosphoric acid (as contained in cola, for example)
  • excessive sweating
  • prolonged or intense stress
  • Chronic diarrhea
  • heavy menstrual bleeding
  • Diuretics
  • Antibiotics
  • and other medications, as well as with the infestation of some parasites that settle in the intestines

For example, a study in Kosovo found that people under chronic stress from the war had excreted large amounts of magnesium and thus lost it. 

The risk of a deficiency is all the greater as magnesium is often poorly absorbed by the body and is quickly lost. In order to be able to absorb magnesium well, we need a lot of it as well as sufficient vitamin B6, vitamin D and selenium for absorption to work.

A new scientific study of magnesium came to the following conclusion: "It is extremely regrettable that the lack of such a cheap, easily available and non-toxic nutrient is causing illnesses all over the world, leading to incalculable suffering and equally incalculable expenditure." I couldn't have put it better myself.

Although it's hard to measure and difficult to study, magnesium deficiency is responsible for a lot of hidden suffering - and that would be easy to correct. So if you suffer from any of the symptoms I've mentioned or any of the diseases I've listed, don't worry - it's easy to fix! 

Like this: 

  • Limit your consumption of coffee, cola, salt, sugar and alcohol.
  • Learn how to actively relax.
  • Ask your doctor whether the medication you are taking can cause magnesium loss (this applies, for example, to medication for high blood pressure or diuretics).

Of course, you should also eat foods that contain a lot of magnesium as often as you can.

Magnesium-rich foods 

There are some foods that naturally contain a lot of magnesium:

Seaweed, wheat bran, wheat germ, almonds, cashew nuts, buckwheat, Brazil nuts, red algae, hazelnuts, millet, pecans, walnuts, rye, tofu, soybeans, brown rice, figs, dates, collard greens, shrimps, avocados, parsley, beans, barley, dandelion leaves and garlic. 

Food supplements rich in magnesium also help: 

  • The minimum daily intake (RDA) for magnesium is around 300 mg. Many people consume less than 200 mg.
  • Some people may need much more than this, depending on their health conditions.
  • For many, the best dose is between 400 and 1,000 mg per day.
  • Magnesium citrate, magnesium glycinate or taurate or aspartate are the most easily absorbed, although Krebs cycle chelates (malate, succinate, fumarate) are also relatively efficient.
  • One of the side effects of too much magnesium is diarrhea; this can be avoided by switching to magnesium glycinate.
  • Most minerals are best taken together with other minerals as part of multi-mineral formulas.
  • A hot bath with Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) is a good way to absorb much-needed magnesium.

People with kidney disease or severe heart disease should only take magnesium under medical supervision. 

You will see: Even if you suffer from one of the symptoms described, you can relax.

Because magnesium is a mineral that works wonders. And that is why it is essential for lifelong, radiant health.

 

Sources (in English): 

Tong, G. M. & Rude, R. K. (2005). Magnesium deficiency in critical illness. Journal of Intensive Care Medicine, 20(1):3-17, doi: 10.1177/0885066604271539

Johnson, S. (2001, February). The multifaceted and widespread pathology of magnesium deficiency. Medical Hypotheses, 56(2):163-70, doi: 10.1054/mehy.2000.1133