Magnesium is one of the seven essential vitamins dubbed macro minerals. That means the body requires over 100 mg a day for peak efficiency. 

The body requires magnesium for more than 300 biochemical reactions (biochemical reactions are reactions within your cells). Magnesium benefits the body by keeping muscles and nerves functioning normally, maintaining the rhythm of the heart, boosting the immune system and strengthening our bones.

We should get all the magnesium from the food we eat, but changes to diet, combined with lifestyle and environmental factors that deplete our levels of magnesium, can quickly make for a deficiency in this invaluable nutrient.

 

Top 8 Health Benefits Of Magnesium

1. Strong Bones

Magnesium plays a direct role in the density and strength of your bones. It’s an important mineral for women as it helps to prevent the development of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a disease that causes your bones to weaken.

Combined with vitamin D, copper and zinc, magnesium benefits the body and helps to regulate the levels of calcium in the body.

2. A Healthy Heart

A deficiency in magnesium can lead to heart disease and an increased risk of heart attack. 

The benefits it brings to the heart are many, from promoting regular rhythm, shielding the heart from muscle stress and preventing problems such as vomiting, abdominal pain, constipation and indigestion that all put the heart under stress.

3. Beat High Blood Pressure

Experts believe that one in three adults suffer from high blood pressure or hypertension. They also believe that magnesium, in combination with calcium, plays a vital role in reducing blood pressure to healthy levels.

4. Avoid Diabetes

Magnesium regulates your insulin levels and, in particular, how they react to sugar in your bloodstream.

5. Relieve Anxiety, Insomnia And Depression

Magnesium, a powerful antidote to stress, prevents anxiety, nervousness, and irritability, and plays a key role in treating more serious cases of depression. It can also restore sleep patterns to help beat fatigue.

6. Improve Nerve Health

Magnesium plays a role in nerve transmission, helping with the communication between nerve cells. The nervous system is vital for both voluntary and involuntary bodily functions.

7. Increased Muscle Functioning

Magnesium is essential for proper muscle function. It helps muscles contract and relax, making it crucial for activities such as movement, sports, and daily activities. 

Athletes often use magnesium supplements to aid in muscle recovery and reduce muscle cramps and soreness after intense exercise.

8. More Energy Production

This mineral is a cofactor in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the primary energy currency of cells. Having sufficient magnesium can help combat fatigue and boost energy levels.

 

How to Boost Your Magnesium Levels

Magnesium is an essential mineral that plays a crucial role in various bodily functions. Luckily, there are natural and artificial methods to boost your magnesium levels.

Natural Sources of Magnesium:

  • Diet: One of the best ways to increase your magnesium levels naturally is through your diet. Incorporate magnesium-rich foods like leafy greens, nuts and seeds, whole grains, seafood, dark chocolate, and legumes into your meals.
  • Mineral Water: Some natural mineral waters are high in magnesium. Check the label to ensure you choose one with significant magnesium content.
smiling woman drinking water from a plastic bottle

Artificial Methods to Increase Magnesium Levels:

  • Supplements: Magnesium supplements are readily available and can be a convenient way to boost your magnesium intake. However, consult with a healthcare professional before starting any supplementation to determine the right dosage for your needs.
  • IV Drips: Healthcare providers can administer magnesium intravenously either as a standalone therapy or as an key component of the Myers Cocktail. Doctors favour this approach because patients often show deficiencies in multiple nutrients and this allows them to administer high doses of multiple vitamins at the same time.

 

The Importance of Maintaining Your Magnesium Levels:

Maintaining the right magnesium levels in your body is important for overall health and well-being. This essential mineral plays a vital role in numerous physiological functions, and its proper balance is key to sustaining various bodily processes. 

Maintaining sufficient amounts of magnesium is crucial for several reasons:

  1. Energy Production: Magnesium plays a role in producing ATP, the body’s primary energy molecule. Without magnesium you’ll become sluggish and lazy.
  2. Muscle and Nerve Function: It helps regulate muscle contractions and nerve impulses. These are both important for movement and bodily functions.
  3. Bone Health: Magnesium works in tandem with calcium for strong and healthy bones. Without it your bones will start to deteriorate. 
  4. Heart Health: Adequate magnesium can help maintain a healthy heart rhythm and support cardiovascular health – after all, your heart is muscle.

Symptoms of Too Much Magnesium

Excessive magnesium intake, whether through supplements or other sources, can lead to a condition called hypermagnesemia. 

Symptoms of too much magnesium in the body can vary in severity and may include:

  • Diarrhoea
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Weakness and fatigue
  • Flushed skin
  • Low blood pressure
  • Irregular heartbeat (in severe cases)
  • Difficulty breathing (in severe cases)
  • Confusion and disorientation
  • Coma (in extremely rare cases)

A man sitting with his head in his hand

Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency

People often refer to a low level of magnesium as the ‘invisible deficiency’ because it is easy to attribute symptoms to the stresses and strains of modern day life. This can include aches and pains, anxiety, fatigue, muscle weakness, insomnia and loss of appetite. 

A pronounced magnesium deficiency can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and nausea, recurrent migraines, abnormal heart rhythms and muscle spasms.

To sum it up, if you are magnesium deficient, you may experience a range of symptoms and side effects, including:

  • Muscle cramps and spasms
  • Fatigue and weakness
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Loss of appetite
  • Abnormal heart rhythms
  • Numbness and tingling
  • Personality changes
  • Seizures (in severe cases)

As you can tell, the symptoms of too little Magnesium can get scary. Therefore we recommend eating a balanced diet and getting one of our IV drips to supplement your intake.