Magnesium: The Life Saving Mineral

Magnesium is known as the “forgotten” mineral and if you are one that has forgotten about it you could be at risk for serious health issues. Magnesium protects the body against life threatening diseases like heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and stroke, amongst others. Every cell in your body requires this mineral and 80% of Americans are failing to get the recommended daily dosage of it.

A study was done on the magnesium levels of over 7,000 healthy people using urine tests for an average of 10 ½ years. Those who had low magnesium in their urine were 70% more likely to die from heart disease compared to those with higher levels. Having low levels of magnesium is a self-determining risk factor for heart disease. After decades of studies, reports show that low magnesium levels, not cholesterol or saturated fats, are the leading predictors of heart disease. Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in Americans, so preventing this may be simple - add more magnesium to your diet!

The recommended amount of magnesium one should intake daily is 400-420 mg for men and 310-320 mg for women. For pregnant women, the daily intake rises to 350-400 mg a day. You can purchase magnesium at your local vitamin shop, or you can eat foods that are rich in magnesium. Foods that contain high levels of magnesium are leafy green veggies, like spinach and beans, and fruits like bananas and apricots. Things like nuts seeds, whole gains, soy products and some types of mineral water are also high in magnesium.

Some warning signs that you may be deficient in magnesium include chronic fatigue, weakness, insomnia, poor memory, nausea, muscle cramps, tingling and numbness, just to name a few. More severe signs would be things like seizures and abnormal heartbeats. If you are worried about being deficient you should talk to your healthcare provider who can order tests that will check your levels. If you are deficient, talk to your doctor about other medications you take because magnesium supplements can interact with some medications.

You may be saving your own life by getting your levels checked as soon as possible. Stop heart disease before it takes over your body and have you magnesium levels checked. It may sound like a simple task, but this simple task could prolong your life and prevent dangerous disease!

Source:

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/mineral-could-save-your-life