Mg the Magnificent!

Today, I begin teaching a new (to me) course called Vitamins, Herbs, and Nutritional Supplements.  This is kind of fitting–as I’m prepping to write a succinct (hopefully) user friendly review of Magnesium, since it appears many people may be interested in this topic. (If you’re not, skip down to the bottom for a few pics!)

Magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, sulfur, and potassium are very important to how we feel and to our body structure. They need to be in balance for optimal performance and structure (think: metabolism, blood, oxygen, energy, bones, tissues, etc).

Our food supply, unfortunately, is lacking in minerals like magnesium because soil is less mineralized than it used to be, and food is more processed (and stripped), grows in blah dirt, and travels further to get to us. Additionally, processed and acidic foods in the body cause minerals like magnesium and calcium to be used up rapidly. This is a double whammy! We get less, and we waste more!

A side note: the reason some foods that are digestively acidic (citrus fruits, etc) become alkaline in the tissues (yes, you want to be alkaline in your tissues) is because of the presence of minerals like magnesium. If you’re deficient in minerals, the digestive acidity transfers to tissue acidity.

Other details of Mg:

• Ca and Mg bind heavy metals, chemicals, chemical drugs and allow them to be washed out in urine
• Mg helps stress management via increasing supply to brain and causing calmness and relaxation
• Too much can lead to over-alertness, or the Draino effect if taken orally (enough said)
• Long-term lack of Mg contributes to demineralization of the body (acidity of the tissues) which causes chronic disease
• Stress causes the body to use minerals faster
• Chlorophyll’s (blood of plants) primary mineral is Mg, so combination of green leafies and Mg causes increased energy
• Mg leads to heart health– the heart’s concentration of Mg is 18 times higher than that of the blood, so adequate Mg leads to heart health
• Mg is just as important in bone health (and teeth) as calcium, and to counteract acidity in the body (which leaches minerals in the bones), an increased Mg intake helps (1) alkalize tissues and (2) mineralize bones

In general, people who are deficient in minerals, especially Mg, find themselves feeling blah and tired, and they also fatigue quickly from exertion (exercise). Too little Mg causes the body work harder (including increased heart rate). Plus, being low in Mg can cause ickier PMS symptoms. Mg is known for preventing osteoporosis, heart attacks, hypertenstion, constipation, migraines, leg cramps, kidney stones, gallstones and lots of other things.

Why Mg Oil and Flakes?

The body’s largest organ is the skin, which is highly permeable (many people will say you shouldn’t put anything on your skin that you wouldn’t put in your mouth!). Additionally, the body’s lymph system has several direct entry points via the skin. Lymph is pretty awesome—it is a system of fluid, nodes, organs, and cells that work closely with the circulatory system (but the lymph fluid in a 150lb adult is around 22lbs! This can be double the amount of blood in the body). Lymph bathes organs and tissues with nutrients—so why not give the nutrients directly to the lymph system and bypass digestion (where all types of things can get in the way of it reaching the tissues)?

My personal reason for using the Mg oil?

1. Osteoporosis runs in my family

2. I like the energy boost

3. I’m guessing I’m no different than the average (highly veggie eating) person whose food is deficient in minerals

4. I have a lot of joint pain and muscle soreness/tightness, and it helps me recover from workouts and relax some of the tightness

Do you take or use Magnesium or other minerals? Why? Does it help?!

**I’m not a doctor. I have a PhD in health, so I hope you value my professional opinions, but I would encourage you to consider this: Never take one source of information (person or resource) and follow it blindly. Every person is unique and has unique needs, so your best bet is to find a doctor who can be your Partner in Health, and then do your own in-depth research too!

Do you throw food away (like that Mt. Dew?) or would you give it away?