If you feel tired, weak, or nauseated… You might have a magnesium deficiency. And you’re definitely not alone. In fact, most people don’t have enough.1
And talk about dangerous… This powerful mineral keeps us healthy and prevents serious ailments. Things like hypertension and osteoporosis. But there’s even more to it than that.
Here are five reasons to get more magnesium.
1. Stops Anxiety: Magnesium supports your nervous system. Low levels cause a disruption. This can lead to anxiety and depression. Some experts even believe a magnesium deficiency is a direct cause of depression…2 And about half of the people diagnosed with depression also have anxiety.
Most doctors throw dangerous drugs—like benzodiazepines—at people with anxiety or depression. But just three months of use can raise your Alzheimer’s risk by 51% (among other dangers). Yet numerous studies show that magnesium eased depression and anxiety where these drugs failed. Without any side effects.3
2. Eases Stress: It doesn’t just support your nervous system. Magnesium stops cortisol levels from getting too high. It also helps your body produce melatonin which makes it easier to relax and fall asleep.4 Magnesium may help you fight headaches and fatigue. These are two of the most common signs of stress.
When you’re under stress, your body uses up magnesium faster.5 The result? Even more stress. It can also steal this mineral away from your bones and heart. This is why getting more magnesium from your diet alone may not be enough.
3. Prevents Diabetes: Magnesium can help keep your glucose levels under control. Just look at pistachios. They’re rich in magnesium. One study revealed eating 100 pistachios a day helped lower blood sugar levels by 78%.6
Another study found high magnesium intake cuts risks of diabetes by 33%.7 It can also reduce insulin sensitivity. Diabetics who took 365 mg a day significantly lowered insulin resistance after six months.8
4. Fights Cancer: Magnesium helps lower your colorectal cancer risk. About 95% of cases are adenocarcinomas. They begin with a tumor growth. Eventually, these growths can turn cancerous. Yet every 100 mg of magnesium you add to your diet each day lowers your risk of a growth ever developing by 13%. And if you already have a growth, you can reduce the odds of it becoming cancerous by 12%.
Magnesium may also help you avoid pancreatic cancer. One study found just two handfuls of magnesium-rich nuts a week can reduce your risk by 35%.
5. Keeps Telomeres Long: It’s the key to looking younger and living longer… Telomerase is the enzyme that controls the length of your telomeres. Without enough, you may age even faster. And this enzyme depends on magnesium. The mineral helps replicate and stabilize DNA.9
This might be the reason why people die of a magnesium deficiency… Researchers found low levels of magnesium increases death risk by 85%.10 Not getting enough of this mineral could kill you in as little as 10 years.
A magnesium-rich diet contains about 400 mg a day. This might sound like a lot. But it’s not as hard as it seems. Salads are a great start. Try spinach, chopped almonds, avocados, and shrimp. One square of organic dark chocolate contains 95 mg of magnesium.11
You can also find a magnesium supplement. Just make sure you read the label before purchasing. Look for one that gives you at least 200 mg per serving of natural magnesium.
Like this Article? Forward this article here or Share on Facebook.
References:
1http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/
2http://george-eby-research.com/html/magnesium-for-depression.pdf
3http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201106/magnesium-and-the-brain-the-original-chill-pill
4http://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/health/magnesium-the-missing-mineral-20140117
5http://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/drugs/magnesium
6http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/early/2014/08/07/dc14-1431.abstract
7http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14693979%20
8http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/articles/diabetes-news/15873-type-2-diabetes-risk-lowered-with-magnesium-intake
9http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22379366
10http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21703623
11http://www.healthaliciousness.com/articles/foods-high-in-magnesium.php