Magnificent Magnesium
Can you name a fruit that contains between 25 and 49% of the recommended dietary allowance for magnesium (400 milligrams/day)?
The answer is dried figs. Other fruits and vegetables that are high in magnesium include: Acorn squash, dates, artichokes, raisins, avocado (2 tablespoons mashed (28g)), spinach, butternut squash, and watermelon. Other magnesium-rich foods include: dairy products, meat, seafood, bananas, black eyed peas, blueberries, chickpeas, kidney beans, lentils, navy beans, pinto beans, potatoes, rice, sesame seeds, spinach, split peas, zucchini.
Why is magnesium so important? It may counteract stress, help build bone, tone muscles (and prevent weakness, cramps, twitching), prevent and treat migraines, may help ease the discomfort of fibromyalgia, and is essential for the prevention and treatment of heart disease and high blood pressure. Athletes need extra magnesium for endurance and perimenopausal women need extra magnesium to help prevent osteoporosis. Magnesium supplementation may also help asthma, diabetes, and alcoholism. A magnesium deficiency may cause irritability, nervousness, and muscle weakness. Too much magnesium may lead to diarrhea. Magnesium glycinate is a highly absorbable magnesium that is less prone to cause intestinal discomfort and is designed to enhance absorption. Most adults could benefit from 400 mg to 800 mg supplemental magnesium daily.
March 23, 2010
by Optimum WellnessComments
One Response to “ Magnificent Magnesium ”
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I found out about the wonders of magnesium from an article in one of the wonderful magazines, better living, delicious living, etc. After I started supplementing I was noticing better sleep without medications, not needing my asthma inhalers, my lower back pain got better, my mood seemed to improve, my always being the cold person in the room stopped and I was all of a sudden warmer! So many things are regulated by this wonderful mineral. I was able to get off all prescription medications I was on. Wow, I am so glad I found out how deficient I was. I also have Lupus, RA, fibromyalgia and asthma as well as lower back pain from 3 herniated disks. I did have kidney disease because of the Lupus but have recovered from that despite my two physicians telling me not to cut down on my protein! I wish that I could find doctors like you in the Aurora area. Thank you for all the info in the Optimum Wellness magazines! I am also gluten free due to a wheat allergy. Plus, I am lucky enough to get the lactose intolerance with the wheat allergy. Keep doing what you do! Thanks.