Carolyn Dean MD ND, Medical Advisory Board Member, Nutritional Magnesium Association Magnesium is a crucial mineral that allows the proper functioning of over 325 enzyme systems in the body. The most touted aspect is the ability to relax muscles to prevent heart attacks and high blood pressure. The list of health benefits of magnesium is very lengthy. In my book, The Magnesium Miracle I give two sets of lists. The conditions proven scientifically to be caused or triggered by magnesium deficiency. The 100 factors that can promote magnesium deficiency. Magnesium deficiency triggers or contributes to the following 22 conditions: 1. Anxiety and Panic attacks 2. Asthma 3. Blood clots 4. Bowel disease induced by constipation 5. Cystitis and bladder spasms 6. Depression 7. Diabetes 8. Fatigue 9. Heart disease 10. Hypertension 11. Hypoglycemia 12. Insomnia 13. Kidney stones 14. Migraine headaches 15. Musculoskeletal conditions- Fibrositis, fibromyalgia, muscle spasms, eye twitches, cramps andchronic neck and back pain 16. Nerve problems- migraines, muscle contractions, gastrointestinal spasms, and calf, foot and toe cramps, vertigo and confusion 17. Premenstrual Syndrome, dysmenorrhea, infertility, premature contractions, preeclampsia, and eclampsia in pregnancy. 18. Osteoporosis 19. Raynaud’s Syndrome 20. Sudden infant death syndrome 21. Tooth decay 22. Toxicity The most frequent questions I’m asked about magnesium is “How do I know I need more magnesium?” And “Should I take magnesium supplements?” I have come to the conclusion that everyone could benefit from extra supplementation. However, there is a long list of possible symptoms that can identify your need for magnesium. The following 100 factors in 67 categories can help identify magnesium deficiency. There’s no way of knowing how many factors correlate with any one person’s magnesium deficiency, but if you find yourself ticking off a few dozen symptoms, you may want to see how many symptoms improve when you takemagnesium supplements. 1. Alcohol intake—more than 7 drinks per week 2. Anger 3. Angina 4. Apathy 5. Arrhythmia of the heart 6. Asthma 7. Anxiety 8. Blood tests Low calcium Low potassium Low magnesium 9. Bowel problems Undigested fat in stool Constipation Diarrhea Alternating constipation and diarrhea IBS Crohn’s Colitis 10. Brain trauma 11. Bronchitis-chronic 12. Caffeine-coffee, tea, chocolate—more than three servings per day 13. Chronic fatigue syndrome 14. Cold extremities 15. Concentration poor 16. Confusion 17. Convulsions 18. Constipated 19. Depression 20. Diabetes Type I Type II Gestational diabetes 21. Fibromyalgia 22. Food Intake: Limited in green, leafy vegetables, seeds, & fresh fruit High protein 23. Food cravings: Carbohydrates Chocolate Salt Junk food 24. Gagging or choking on food 25. Headaches 26. Heart disease 27. Heart—rapid rate 28. High blood pressure 29. Homocysteinuria 30. Hyperactivity 31. Hyperventilation 32. Infertility 33. Insomnia 34. Irritability 35. Kidneystones 36. Medications—taking Digitalis Diuretics: Antibiotics, Steroids Oral contraceptives Indomethacin Cisplatin Amphotericin B Cholestyramine Synthetic estrogens 37. Memory impairment 38. Menstrual pain and cramps 39. Migraines 40. Mineral Supplements Take calcium without magnesium Take zinc without magnesium Take iron without magnesium 41. Mitral valve prolapse 42. Muscle cramps or spasms 43. Muscle twitching or tics 44. Muscle weakness 45. Numbness of hands or feet 46. Osteoporosis 47. Paranoia 48. Parathyroid hyperactivity 49. PMS 50. Polycystic ovarian disease 51. Pregnancy Currently pregnant Pregnant within one year History of preeclampsia or ecclampsia Post partum depression 52. Cerebral palsy 53. Raynaud’s syndrome 54. Radiation therapy-recent 55. Restlessness 56. Sexual energy diminished 57. Shortness of breath 58. Smoking 59. Startled easily—by noise 60. Stressful life or circumstances 61. Stroke 62. Sugar—high intake daily 63. Syndrome X 64. Thyroid hyperactivity 65.Tingling of hands or feet 66. Transplants Kidney Liver 67. Tremor of the hands 68. Water that contains: fluoride chlorine calcium 69. Wheezing Endless lists may not be an elegant way to present vital information about magnesium. However they serve to hammer home the importance of magnesium and hopefully encourage you to do more research on this topic. One place to start is the non-profit website, www.nutritionalmagnesium.org where you can obtain a free eBooklet that I wrote on magnesium; view videos; read articles and testimonials on how magnesium is saving lives. It’s difficult to get enough magnesium in the diet to even meet the minimum RDA requirements. It’s been farmed out of the soil and eliminated from most processed foods. The only side effect from magnesium is a laxative effect if you take a large amount at once. But that can only be a benefit to someone who’s chronically constipated. The only people who should avoid self-administering magnesium are those with heart block (thetype that requires a pacemaker), myasthenia gravis (because their muscles are already too relaxed), bowel obstruction and people on kidney dialysis. A 32-page guide to the benefits of magnesium and how to avoid osteoporosis, strengthen bones naturally and support a healthy heart is available as a free download at . Medical Disclaimer: The content of this article and any associated web site has not been evaluated by the FDA, is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease and is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health program.
