Are you Magnesium Deficient?

Magnesium levels affect asthmatics

Asthma can be a direct result of magnesium deficiency. Dietary magnesium intake has been shown to be an independent factor that contributes to bronchospasm. This means that low magnesium levels can be responsible for the sudden constriction of the muscles in the walls of the bronchioles; magnesium can help by reducing this feeling that is termed a  ‘bronchoconstriction’ by relaxing those muscles. Taking a magnesium supplement can lessen the severity or frequency of asthmatic attacks.

Anxiety can be affected by magnesium levels

Feeling shaky? Nervous? Irritable? You may be lacking in magnesium. Low levels of magnesium can affect your everyday behaviour in the way that you handle stress and the way that you concentrate. Nervousness, irritability, panic attacks, aggressiveness and depression can be because of a magnesium deficiency.

Magnesium levels can reduce the risk of heart attacks in men

Did you know that men are more prone to heart disease as compared to women of the same age? Interestingly, heart attack sufferers are often found to be magnesium deficient. When magnesium is administered by injection into the bloodstream after a heart attack, the mortality rate from the attack is greatly reduced. In fact, many cardiovascular conditions are associated with low magnesium levels. Magnesium has antispasmodic effects on blood vessels, and lessens the constriction which is evident in cardiovascular conditions.

Magnesium levels can affect the frequency and severity of migraines

Migraines can occur as a result of low magnesium levels. It’s recommended to consume 600mg of magnesium per day to combat the dreaded migraine. Because magnesium helps your muscles relax, and some migraines are caused by stress or constriction of the blood flow to the head, maintaining your magnesium levels serves as preventive medicine.

Maintaining optimal magnesium levels can improve energy production

If your energy levels are lagging, listen up! Magnesium is a co-factor for many of the enzymatic processes which are involved in the production of energy. Magnesium can facilitate this energy production by enhancing the conversion of serum glucose to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by transferring the necessary phosphorus molecule to the ATP molecule. It’s important to remember that when using magnesium supplements, improvement often occurs after 4-10 days.

~Thanks to Makaela Wilson