Magnesium

Introduction

Magnesium is the second most important mineral in any living thing. We cannot survive without it. Magnesium is the second most common mineral (cation) in our cells.

Magnesium is deficient in our food content due to its depletion in soil. We definitely need a daily supplement.

Basic knowledge

Magnesium is an alkaline earth metal element with atomic number 12. It was recognized as an element by Joseph Black in 1755 and first isolated in 1808 by the British Chemist, Sir. Humphrey Davy. It is found only in nature in combination with other elements. The most common form found in nature is Magnesium Chloride. To learn more use the following link: Webelements.

The history and medical background of MAGNESIUM

According to the Paleolithic nutrition researchers Loren Ordain and Boyd Eaton, our ancestors had a magnesium intake of about 800 to 1500 magnesium per day compared to the present day diet of about 200 to 300 magnesium per day. 70 percent of Americans fail to get an adequate daily intake of magnesium. Note- consuming too much calcium can cause a magnesium deficiency.

MAGNESIUM metabolism

Magnesium is absorbed passively (simple diffusion) throughout the small bowel without control of any hormone. About 20 to 30 % of ingested magnesium is absorbed. Magnesium is excreted and reabsorbed by the kidneys of unknown mechanism. The human body contains 21-28 gm. of MAGNESIUM. About 60 percent is in the bone.20 percent in skeletal muscle 19 percent in other cells and only 1 percent in the extracellular space. Use the following link to learn more Magnesium Supplements

Medical conditions related to magnesium:
1. Magnesium Depletion: very common due to low magnesium in food content.
2. Magnesium deficiency mainly from diuretics.
3. Hypermagnesemia: mainly due to kidney failure.

The role of magnesium in life: magnesium involves over 300 biochemical reactions in our body.

Here are the 10 most common functions of magnesium:
1. Development of bones (about 70 % of body magnesium is in the bones)
2. Crucial part of many enzymes involved in energy production and respiration. by stabilize ATP dependent enzyme reaction as well as a cofactor more than 300 enzymes for food metabolism.
3. Transmission of nerve impulses
4. Muscle relaxation
5. pH balance
6. Release of nerve tension.
7. Absorption and utilization of calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, vitamins- C, E, & D.
8. Work as calcium channel blocker (block calcium to enter the cell excessively.

Medical conditions related to Magnesium Deficiency and Magnesium Depletion

1. Heart disease: cardiac arrhythmia, sudden death, premature atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and coronary vasospasm.
2. Hypertension (high blood pressure)
3. Diabetes
4. Metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance syndrome or syndrome X
5. Asthma
6. Chronic bronchitis
7. Chronic fatigue syndrome
8. Migraine headaches
9. Muscle cramps
10. premenstrual syndrome
11. Depression and other psychiatric disorders
12. Susceptibility to the brain damaging effects of food additives such as aspartame and monosodium glutamate (MSG)
13. Susceptibility to toxic shock syndrome
14. Seizures
15. Apathy
16. Tremor
17. Delirium
18. Hypocalcaemia
19. Hypokalemia
20. Hyponatremia
21. Hypophosphatemia

Medical usages of magnesium

1. Antacid (Magnesium Hydroxide)
2. Laxative (Magnesium Sulfate)
3. Epson salt
4. Magnesium Sulphate - for intravenous use in the hospital for magnesium. replacement and treatment for hypertensive crisis in intensive care units as well as for hypertensive crisis in pregnancy.
5. Magnesium Chloride - the best oral form of magnesium.

MAGNESIUM supplements:
The optimal dose is 300 to 600 mg of magnesium in the evening (in the chelated form of the mineral such as Magnesium Malate, Magnesium Citrate or Magnesium Aspartate)

The best form of supplemental magnesium comes from food and mineral water.

The top 10 of foods that are high in magnesium
1. Tofu, ½ cup contend 118 mg
2.Chili with Beans 1 cup 115 mg
3. Cashews, roasted ¼ cup 89 mg
4.Halibut,Bakeed 3 oz. 78 mg
5.Peanuts,roasted 1/3 cup 67 mg
6.Baked potato with skin (1) 55 mg

The three best commercial mineral bottled waters which are high in magnesium are: Mendocine with 130 mg per liter, Rosbacher with 128 mg per liter, and St. Gero with 121 mg per liter.

To learn more about magnesium use the following links:
Magnesiumwater.com
Picosearch.com