ReMed Natural Medicine – Are You Magnesium Deficient? 

My love for Magnesium is two-fold. For one, I love what a difference replenishing someone’s Magnesium levels can make on their health and feeling of wellbeing and two, it was my own Magnesium deficiency that first introduced me to the world of Naturopathy.

I’d been experiencing twitching muscles which over time progressed to constant eye twitching which was driving me crazy! I asked some nurse friends and doctors about it, but no-one could tell me why it was happening or how to stop it. I then met a Naturopath- an industry I didn’t know much about and if I’m honest was a little sceptical about given I studied and worked in Western Medicine- and asked her about my eye twitch. She quickly identified that I was Magnesium deficient and within three days of taking the recommended Magnesium supplement my eye twitch disappeared- my Magnesium Miracle! It wasn’t just my muscle twitches that went away, I also noticed that my body aches and pains had improved, my headaches had lessened in frequency and severity and my body no longer felt like a tight rubber band ready to snap. So what is Magnesium and what happens if we don’t get enough?

Magnesium is a mineral that is crucial to the body’s function, in fact over 300 enzymes require Magnesium to function. In Australia, up to 72% of people don’t get adequate amounts of Magnesium in their diet and this is before we talk about the things that reduce the absorption and increase the excretion of Magnesium. 

Cooking and processing deplete Magnesium from foods while alcohol, coffee, sugar, soft drink, high levels of protein in the diet and some medications such as diuretics, cytotoxic drugs, antibiotics and Beta Blockers (blood pressure medication) cause Magnesium to be excreted through the kidneys. High stress levels also increase the excretion of Magnesium. Even before we start destroying Magnesium in the kitchen, we’ve depleted Magnesium in the soil so the food we’re eating has lower levels of Magnesium than it used to. If you have any sort of digestive disturbance such as coeliac disease, Crohn’s, low stomach acid, dysbiosis or loose stool or have high stress levels then your body will also have trouble absorbing enough Magnesium from foods. 

Signs that you may be deficient in Magnesium include: low energy and fatigue, muscle weakness, muscle aches, twitches and cramps, high blood pressure, asthma, headaches and migraines, period pain and hormone problems, osteoporosis, sleep problems, stress, anxiety, depression and heart ‘flutters’ or palpitations.

How to increase your Magnesium levels

Eating foods high in Magnesium is a great way to improve your Magnesium status so make sure you’re including some of the following foods into your diet every day: dark green leafy vegies like spinach, kale and collard greens, quinoa, nuts eg. almonds, cashews and brazil nuts and seeds eg. flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds and chia seeds, avocados and whole grains. 

For some people just increasing their dietary intake of Magnesium is not enough so taking a Magnesium supplement may be required. There are a number of different types of Magnesium supplements on the market which come in different forms and doses and not all supplements are created equal! In order to ensure you’re taking the most suitable and bioavailable form of Magnesium for you and at the right dose make sure you consult a health professional such as a Naturopath or Nutritionist. 

Take this quick 1-minute survey to identify whether you are at risk of Magnesium deficiency

https://magnesiumguide.com.au/magnesium-minute/

If you think you may not be getting enough Magnesium or want to know more about the role Magnesium plays in health and disease I’d love to talk to you. Call 1300 173 633 or visit www.remed.com.au to book an appointment or a complimentary 20-minute consultation.

Melbourne Naturopathic Clinic

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