Magnesium Deficiency Linked to Chronic Disorders – Your Health Detective

Scientifically Speaking…

The National Academy of Sciences reported that Americans are critically lacking in adequate amounts of magnesium; men receive only 80% of the recommended daily allowance and women only 70%.

Most people basically associated magnesium only as an important mineral necessary for proper utilization of calcium. What they don’t know is that magnesium is required for well over 350 different enzymes, not to mention the hundreds of other essential functions within the body.

How the Depletion Happened…

I’ve written about the serious consequences of industrial farming and food processing in articles and my books. Now there’s another consequence due to depleted soil that lacks essential minerals like those where the following crops are grown like vegetables, grains, fruits, seeds, legumes, beans, etc…click to continue reading…

Food processing also depletes a large amount of naturally-occurring magnesium in the refining processes. The baby-boomer generation is now paying the high price of chronic disorders from these processed foods and farming practices mostly implemented after WWII – magnesium deficiency being a major disorder that translates to chronic illnesses.

Magnesium Depletors…

Excessive stress (physical or mental)
Caffeine (more than one cup per day)
High protein diet
Excessive calcium intake (very common)
High sodium diet
Refined sugars
Medical drugs of all types (includes over-the-counter drugs)
Alcohol
Tobacco
Diuretics (water pills)
High perspiration or sweating
Diarrhea
White sugar and flour
Diabetes (causes magnesium loss rapidly)
Soft drinks (especially cola type)
Surgery (anesthetics, medications, etc.)
Chronic pain (the body uses magnesium quicker than its replaced)
High carbohydrate diet
High cholesterol or triglycerides

Consequences of Deficiency…

According to Carolyn Dean, M.D., the decline of magnesium in our diets has been gradual – from a high of 500 mg/day at the turn of the century to barely 175-225 mg/day in 2010. The recommended dose for women over age 30 is generally around 320 mg/day.

The ironic part of this magnesium depletion dilemma is that pharmaceutical drugs used to treat the conditions listed below only serve to further deplete magnesium and other essential minerals. If you or someone you know experience any of the following conditions, consult with your health professional and ask to have your magnesium levels checked.

Yes, taking supplemental magnesium and eating foods high in this mineral can help reverse these conditions. However, you may have to try several magnesium supplements before finding the one that best agrees with your body and doesn’t cause abdominal cramping, loose stools and intestinal gas and/or bloating. Remember, if you aren’t absorbing it, it’s doing more harm than good!

Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency Include:

Allergies Anxiety and panic attacks

Asthma Attention Deficit Disorder

Bowel disease Blood clots

Back/neck/joint pain without strain Constipation/incomplete evacuation

Cystitis Depression

Diabetes Fatigue

Fibromyalgia Gynecological problems

Heart disease Hypertension

Hypoglycemia Insomnia/restless or unrestorative sleep

Kidney disease Musculoskeletal conditions

Mitral valve prolepses Migraine headaches

Nerve problems Osteoporosis

Reynaud’s syndrome Tooth decay

Food as Medicine – Foods High in Magnesium…

Each of the following mg are based on a 3 ounce serving.

Kelp- 760 mg
Wheat bran- 490 mg
Molasses- 258 mg
Brewer’s Yeast- 231 mg
Buckwheat- 229 mg
Brazil nuts- 225 mg
Dulse (sea vegetable)- 220 mg
Filberts- 184 mg
Wheat germ- 336 mg
Almonds- 270 mg
Cashews- 267 mg
Peanuts- 175 mg
Wheat grain- 160 mg
Millet- 163 mg
Pecans- 145 mg
English walnuts- 131 mg
Rye- 115 mg
Tofu- 111 mg

The Way I See It…

In order to insure you receive adequate amounts of magnesium, the following is the professional supplement I use and recommend, it is not available in retail stores.

TriMag – contains three forms of magnesium; Citrate, Malate, and Glycinate – assuring the highest level of absorption currently possible. Each capsule is 100 mg; therefore, you could supplement with one at each meal or simply take one in the morning and two in the evening. Another added benefit of this product is the avoidance of alkaline carriers such as oxides or carbonates. These forms of magnesium tend to be less absorbable and can interfere with healthy digestion by blocking the normal action of stomach acids on proteins.

This formulation does not appear to have the same propensity for lower G.I. distress often accompanied with other forms that include gas, bloating, diarrhea and cramping. It should always be taken with food for maximum absorption. If you take calcium supplements, take at the same time.

Your Health Detective:

Uncovering Clues to Add LIFE to Your Years…NOT Merely Years to Your Life, Naturally

Dr. Gloria Gilbère (aka Dr. G), D.A.Hom., Ph.D., D.S.C.,

EcoErgonomist, Wholistic Rejuvenist

Dr. Gilbère is renowned worldwide for her work in identifying and finding natural solutions to chemically-induced and inflammatory disorders, multiple chemical sensitivities, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, Gulf War Syndrome, and digestive disorders that defy conventional diagnosis and treatment. She consults worldwide via telephone and at her Institute in north Idaho. Visit her website at www.gloriagilbere.com for details about consulting with her.

Creator of certificated courses to become a Wholistic Rejuvenist™ (CWR) and for post-graduate education for health and spa professionals. Go to www.gloriagilbere.com and click on Wholistic Skin & Body Rejuvenation (WSBR™) for course outline. Available on-site at worldwide locations, and via distance-learning at your convenience globally.

Information in this newsletter is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by medical professionals, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent a disease or disorder. The FDA has not reviewed or endorsed the contents of this educational publication.

Copyright is held by Gloria E. Gilbère, to which all rights are reserved. Other than personal, non-commercial use or forwarding, no material in this newsletter may be copied, distributed, or published without the expressed written permission of its author and copyright holder.

Resources:

P.F. Gillham, The Miracle Nutrient, Free Horizons Pub; 2001