Everything you wanted to know about Magnesium

I ran the Toronto Sporting Life 10K on the weekend and before bed I took some Magnesium to help my achy muscles recover.   I thought today that I should really take the opportunity to educate others about all of the uses of Magnesium!

Magnesium is a naturally occurring mineral that is used in over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body including blood glucose regulation, bone formation, muscle & nerve function, heart beat regulation, blood pressure regulation, etc.

Magnesium is found in many foods, the top 5 sources are:

- almonds (by far the best!)

- cashews

- peanuts

- black beans

- avocado

It is rare to be Magnesium deficient, but a low Magnesium diet is linked with all sorts of problem including an increased risk of asthma.  A diet high in Magnesium has been shown to be protective against type 2 diabetes, protect against heart disease & high blood pressure, and help prevent osteoporosis.  Magnesium is a good, inexpensive supplement that can help fix many problems. 

Some of the conditions I may think of treating with Magnesium include:

- PMS

- headaches/migraines

- improving exercise recovery time

- constipation

- high blood pressure

- restless leg syndrome

- osteoporosis

- depression

- diabetes

If you're interested in learning more about whether Magnesium is right for you - please come in and see me or talk to your licensed health care practitioner!