Too little magnesium in your diet could have drastic effects on your body: Here are the warning signs
Sarah Landers
According to Ancient Minerals, magnesium is vital; without it we would not produce energy, our muscles would be in a permanent state of contraction, and we could not adjust the levels of cholesterol produced and released into the blood. Magnesium is also needed, along with silica and Vitamins D and K, to promote bone health.
According to Life Extension, a shocking 68 percent of Americans do not consume the recommended minimum daily requirement of magnesium. And a staggering 19 percent do not even consume half of the government's recommended daily intake.
[Note from Adams: I just completed ICP-MS testing of the nutritive minerals for 15 of the top-selling protein powders and superfood supplements. I found that Living Fuel Ultimate Super Berry and Super Greens products contained 400% higher magnesium than the average of all the other brands. I'll be publishing these results in a future science journal issue, but for now, Living Fuel superfoods are laboratory proven to be a very high source of magnesium, zinc and other nutritive minerals.]
The warning signs that you aren't getting enough
Ringing in your ears or hearing loss
Otherwise known as tinnitus, a constant, high-pitched ringing in your ears is a common symptom of magnesium deficiency, as reported by Natural News. According to various studies that examined the relationship between ear health and sufficient magnesium levels, it has been found that sufficient quantities of magnesium will actually prevent the formation of free radicals that can lead to hearing loss.
Muscle cramps or tremors
Your muscles function because of magnesium; without it, your body would be in a state of convulsion and your muscles would be unable to relax. Lack of sufficient magnesium can cause facial tics, muscle cramping and twitching of the feet while trying to sleep.
Depression
There is a long established link between low levels of magnesium and depression, and for over a century, doctors have used it to treat mental health disorders. A recent study in a psychiatric hospital in Croatia found that many attempted suicide patients had severely low levels of this crucial mineral. Of course, the benefit of treating depression with magnesium is that it doesn't have the side effects associated with chemical medications.
Abnormal heart function
Because of magnesium's effect on muscles, low levels of this mineral can affect your heart and induce a condition known as cardiac arrhythmia. This is when your heart does not beat regularly, and the condition can cause other complications, such as heart attack and stroke.
Kidney stones
While some scientists say that kidney stones are the result of too much calcium, others believe that it is a lack of magnesium that is the main culprit. Magnesium prevents the formation of kidney stones by preventing calcium from binding with oxalate.
Foods that are high in magnesium
By incorporating the following foods into your diet, you can help to make sure that you do not become deficient in this vital mineral:
Fruit and vegetables
According to News Max, fruits such as bananas, oranges, cherries, pineapples and avocados are rich sources of magnesium and have many other health benefits.
Fish
Mackerel and shrimp are particularly high in magnesium; 100g of mackerel provides approximately 95 milligrams of magnesium.
Dairy
Milk, butter, cheese and yogurt are rich sources of magnesium, with 100g of yogurt providing 20 milligrams of magnesium.
Chocolate
If you're a lover of chocolate, you'll be pleased to learn that it is high in magnesium and aids good mood. 100g of dark chocolate provides a whopping 320 milligrams of magnesium, so go ahead and indulge!
Sources include:
NewsMax.com
http://www.naturalnews.com/z054279_magnesium_deficiency_warning_signs.html