A mineral found in many different foods, magnesium is essential for the production and repair of human DNA as well as the upkeep of healthy bones, muscles, and neurons. Although magnesium is readily available, most Americans do not consume enough of it.
The National Institutes of Health states that males over 70 and teenage girls are most likely to be deficient in magnesium. Even if you have any of the 12 symptoms listed below, you should consider getting your magnesium level checked.
1. Low vitality
Functional medicine dietitian Alison Boden told Reader’s Digest that magnesium is involved in “at least 300 different chemical reactions in our body, and many of them have to do with energy production.” “Low energy may be a sign of low magnesium levels.” Try these ten easy ways to boost your energy if you’re feeling depressed due to a lack of it.
2. twitching or cramping
Since magnesium is necessary for muscle relaxation, a deficiency may result in inadvertent muscle activation. Without magnesium, “our muscles would be in a constant state of contraction,” claims Ancient Minerals.
3. Frequent headaches
Deficits in magnesium affect serotonin levels, blood vessel constriction, and neurotransmitter function—all of which are associated with headaches, especially migraines. Fifty percent of migraineurs suffer from a magnesium deficiency, according to MigraineAgain.
4. Lack of sleep
Your inability to fall or stay asleep could be due to low magnesium levels, particularly if you are under a lot of stress. Dr. Ronald Hoffman claims that stress hormones cause the body to lose magnesium, which in turn causes an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. If the body is unable to replenish itself with adequate magnesium, sleep becomes troublesome.
5. An erratic heartbeat
Low magnesium levels might make it difficult for the heart to beat normally. Doctors often prescribe magnesium supplements to patients who complain of an erratic heartbeat.
6. Increased susceptibility to noise
Hoffman claims that low magnesium levels reduce the mineral’s capacity to balance the neurological system. This often results in hyperflexia, or an enhanced startle response.
7. Seizures
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), seizures may occur when a magnesium deficit causes significant neurological impairment.
8. Not enough bone mass
The bones contain the majority of the body’s magnesium, which is necessary for bone formation. “Those who consume more magnesium have higher bone mineral density,” the NIH states.
9. Constipation
Bowel movements often slow down when magnesium levels in the body are low. Magnesium is a common ingredient in over-the-counter laxatives.
10. High blood pressure
Magnesium is necessary to maintain a healthy blood pressure level; a deficiency can surely lead to too high blood pressure. According to WebMD, “Eating foods high in magnesium and other minerals can help people with prehypertension avoid high blood pressure.”
11. Type 2 diabetes
The breakdown of blood glucose is one of magnesium’s other biological functions. People who eat more magnesium generally have a lower chance of acquiring diabetes, according to the NIH. Research is still ongoing to determine whether magnesium therapy may be used to treat diabetes.
12. Shifts in personality, confusion, anxiety, or depression
Low magnesium levels in the brain can impact neurological functioning and result in a number of problems. According to research, several phobias, including agoraphobia, have been connected to low magnesium levels, Dr. Hoffman says. Magnesium has long been used as a good home remedy for comparable symptoms, according to an article titled “Magnesium and the Brain: The Original Chill Pill” in Psychology Today.
The healthiest way to get more magnesium is to eat foods that are abundant in this mineral. When too much magnesium is ingested through food, it is properly eliminated by healthy kidneys. Excess magnesium from supplements can be toxic enough to cause cardiac arrest, thus this approach is insufficient to remove it.
