By admin AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center Dr. Dalal Akoury Heavy Metal Toxicit Men's Health Wellness Retreat Women Health November 29, 2014

Magnesium Depletion and Chronic Diseases

The metabolism of carbohydrates and fats to produce energy (which includes ATP production) requires numerous magnesium-dependent chemical reactions. Magnesium is also required for a number of steps during DNA and RNA synthesis. Glutathione, an important antioxidant, requires magnesium for its production.

If that makes you think magnesium is such an essential metal then there is a host of more surprises for you. Magnesium is truly an essential mineral that your body requires for maintaining its normal nerve and muscles function. Magnesium helps keep the body’s immune system healthy. It is also essential in maintaining your heart rhythm and is necessary for the building of strong bones.

In addition, Magnesium is involved in a minimum of 300 biochemical reactions in the human body. This means that a deficiency in magnesium compound can lead to a wide range of disorders including muscle spasms, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, migraines, anxiety disorders, cerebral infarction and even osteoporosis.

A deficit in magnesium also referred to as magnesium depletion is caused as a result of dysregulation of the state of magnesium in the body. This is the result of dysregulation of the mechanisms that control the metabolism of magnesium. These could occur in the form of a failure of these mechanisms causing magnesium homeostasis. It could also be as a result of intervention of iatrogenic or endogenous factors which eventually disturb the magnesium status.

Some studies observe that this depletion cannot be corrected simply by nutritional supplementation alone. Rather, certain specific dysregulation correction mechanisms are crucial in remedying the condition.

Magnesium depletion should be clearly differentiated from magnesium deficiency in the body. Deficiency is a disorder of magnesium that simply results from an inadequate intake of the mineral in the diet. An oral magnesium supplementation is recommended and is enough to correct the disorder.

High Risk Groups For The Magnesium Disorder

There are certain groups of people that are more vulnerable to the magnesium related disorders given its primacy in a number of body processes. Studies have identified long distance athletes as a potentially high risk group with regard to magnesium deficiency. These are people who conduct strenuous long distance exercise. They tend to lose electrolytes through their sweat and need to replenish their essential minerals such as sodium, phosphorus and potassium, but most particularly magnesium levels.

People who drink a lot of alcohol may also need adequate replenishing of magnesium lost during dehydration. Those who suffer diarrhea as well as others who may be dehydrated through other means also need to replenish their magnesium levels as well as the levels of sodium metal, potassium and phosphorus.

The elderly and those who have poor functioning kidneys may be subject to loss of magnesium through urine. This happens when the kidneys cannot retain the magnesium in the blood or reabsorb it through its tubules resulting in dysregulation of this essential mineral. Consequently the person’s system will not be excreting less magnesium when the mineral stores are low. In addition, the elderly naturally need the mineral since the amount of magnesium absorbed by the body decreases with old age as the amount excreted increases.

If you have any form of gastrointestinal disorders, chances are that your colon will not be able to absorb enough of the mineral. Most magnesium in the gut is often absorbed through the large intestines. This means that people with gastrointestinal disorders such as Crohn’s disease are faced with the risk a possible magnesium deficiency.

The same goes for those who consume high amounts of Fiber. The bodies’ ability to make use of magnesium has been found to be affected by taking in a lot of fiber in the diet. The ratio of this effect is yet to be established through further research. Still on the question of diet, low protein consumption is also said to have an effect on magnesium in the body.

Magnesium Sources

Magnesium is found in a number of food products that can be found readily in the market. Foods high in magnesium include nuts, dark leafy greens, seeds, beans, fish, bananas, whole grains, dried fruit, avocados, yogurt and dark chocolate. This is however not the entire list of foods rich in magnesium. There are a lot of other products that contain magnesium in large amounts. These can be found at AwareMed. In fact, AwareMed is the best place where you can purchase magnesium.

Consuming too much magnesium may typically be dangerous and can make you diarrhea. This is why AwareMed emphasizes having the magnesium chelated.

Nuts, dark chocolate, molasses and seeds are high calorie foods and good sources of magnesium. They should thus be eaten in moderate amounts by those who have high body mass index (BMI).

Other sources of magnesium such as almonds, dark chocolate and spinach are rich in oxalates and these inhibit the absorption of some magnesium. The foods are however still good sources of the metal.

Noteworthy is, Brazil nuts are a rich source of selenium. Too much selenium may lead to unfavorable conditions like bad breath, diarrhea and even loss of hair.

The following factors may affect magnesium absorption

Absorption of the mineral may be enhanced by taking diet rich in fermentable carbohydrates such as those found in dairy, grains and fruits. Protein foods also may help with the absorption of magnesium while eating foods that are high in insoluble fiber is likely to deter magnesium absorption.

Grains, vegetables and seeds may contain phyrates that somewhat deter the absorption of magnesium. On the contrary, the soluble fiber as well as the fermentable carbohydrates that are found in the same foods are likely to counter this effect. This makes most plant foods a powerful source of magnesium.