Magnesium is an essential mineral for general good health and is crucial to nerve transmission, blood coagulation and energy production. An abundant element on our planet, magnesium is also present in every organ in the human body. In fact, it is considered a vital mineral for over 300 biochemical reactions in our body, that regulate our health and wellness. Sadly, many of us simply don’t get enough magnesium in our bodies to the point that we unknowingly suffer from a magnesium deficiency. A shortfall of magnesium can limit energy production, leading to fatigue, lethargy, muscle twitches or cramps. Frankly, we also aren’t getting as much in our diets thanks to water filtering and decreased minerals in the soil because of pesticide use and over-farming.
Magnesium has many benefits throughout all the body’s critical functions. From nerves to cells to muscles, magnesium is hard at work regulating and promoting proper function.
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Helps Increase Energy
Magnesium is used to create “energy” in your body by activating adenosine triphosphate, also known as ATP. This means that without enough magnesium, you may not have the energy you need and could suffer from fatigue more easily.
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Calms Nerves and Anxiety
Magnesium is vital for GABA function, an inhibitory neurotransmitter that produces “happy hormones” like serotonin. Certain hormones regulated by magnesium are crucial for calming the brain and promoting relaxation, which is one reason a magnesium deficiency may lead to sleeplessness or insomnia.
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Treats Insomnia and Helps You Fall Asleep
To fall asleep and stay asleep, your body and brain need to relax. On a chemical level, magnesium aids this process by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, the system responsible for getting you calm and relaxed. Our circadian rhythms shift, especially as we age because of our decreased nutrient consumption and a lower nutrient absorption, which puts many of us at risk for insomnia.
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Helps with Digestion by Relieving Constipation
Magnesium has shown to help relax muscles within the digestive tract, including the intestinal wall, which controls your ability to go to the bathroom. Because magnesium helps neutralize stomach acid and moves stool through the intestines, taking magnesium supplements is a natural way to help you poop!
Keep in mind, however, that if you experience a laxative effect when taking magnesium supplements, you may be taking too high of a dose. Taking the proper dose of magnesium should help you go to the bathroom easily on a normal schedule but shouldn’t cause discomfort or diarrhea.
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Relieves Muscle Aches and Spasms
Magnesium has an important role in neuromuscular signals and muscle contractions. When our bodies don’t acquire enough magnesium, our muscles can go into spasms. Magnesium helps muscles relax and contract. Additionally, magnesium balances calcium within the body, which is important because overly high doses of calcium, usually from supplements, can cause problems associated with muscle control, including controlling the heart.
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Regulates Levels of Calcium, Potassium, and Sodium
Together with other electrolytes, magnesium regulates diverse biochemical reactions in the body. Magnesium plays a role in the active transport of calcium and potassium ions across cell membranes. This makes magnesium vital to nerve impulse conductions, muscle contractions and normal heart rhythms.
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Important for Heart Health
Magnesium has been shown to be very important for heart health. The highest amount of magnesium within the whole body is in the heart, specifically within the heart’s left ventricle. Magnesium works with calcium to support proper blood pressure levels and prevent hypertension.
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Prevents Migraine Headaches
Because pure magnesium oil is involved in neurotransmitter function and blood circulation, it can help control migraine headache pain by releasing pain-reducing hormones and reducing vasoconstriction, or constriction of the blood vessels that raises blood pressure. Several studies show that when sufferers of migraines supplement with magnesium, their symptoms improve.
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Helps Prevent Osteoporosis
Magnesium is needed for the proper bone formation and influences the activities of osteoblasts and osteoclasts that build healthy bone density.
Please note: This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Results may vary from individual to individual.
