More of us are looking for ways to stay healthy these days. We hear a lot about different pharmaceuticals that promise to keep us well. You may not know how our immune systems do incredible jobs of preventing illnesses. You most likely won’t hear about natural wellness in mainstream media outlets.
When you think of health and wellness, it is crucial to know that magnesium plays a role in over 300 processes in the body. Due to various reasons, most people are deficient in this critical mineral. Keep reading as we will explore ten warning signs that may show you have a magnesium deficiency and what you can do to maintain proper amounts.
One of the warning signs that you have a magnesium deficiency is a change in your overall mood. You could experience anxiety, depression, or other mood changes that are unusual for you.
After a time, some people visit their doctors when they notice these changes have not gone away. Unfortunately, some doctors don’t take time to get to the root cause and instead put the patient on antidepressants. These drugs carry some dangerous side effects that you should be aware of before taking the medications. Many can cause sleep disturbances, weight gain, nausea, and other problems.
Since magnesium affects synapses in the brain, being deficient can sometimes be the missing piece needed to stabilize mood issues. It also calms the brain and contributes to cognitive function. Taking magnesium can be beneficial for mood changes and may fix the problem without the need for medicines.
Many people suffer from poor sleep. Whether it’s an issue falling asleep or staying asleep, this can be debilitating. Loss of sleep makes it hard to function because your body doesn’t get the rest it needs. Sleep also helps your body repair and recuperate, so not getting the proper amount can affect your health.
Sleep issues can be one of the signs of a magnesium deficiency. If you’ve noticed problems with your sleep, taking magnesium right before bed may help. It can relax you and help you stay asleep. It also won’t leave you feeling groggy and exhausted the next day like some prescription sleep medications.
One of the first signs of a magnesium deficiency can be muscle cramping. Many people experience this in the night while trying to rest. When you don’t have enough magnesium, your nerves get overstimulated, causing painful contractions. Since magnesium helps relax the muscles, taking a quality magnesium supplement is crucial to relieve muscle cramps.
So many doctor appointments get made each year to help with muscle cramps and restless leg syndrome. Often, the problem is a magnesium deficiency that can get remedied with proper supplementation or more magnesium-rich foods.
Since your heart is a muscle, it stands to reason that not getting enough magnesium can affect heart health. If you suffer from irregular heartbeat disorders like palpitations or arrhythmias, that could be a crucial sign that you are magnesium deficient. If you go too long without enough magnesium, it could result in heart failure.
Anything that affects your heart can seem scary. The problem is that when you go to the doctor, another prescription medicine may get prescribed without getting to the root cause. When that happens, you cover up the problem and treat the symptoms. If the issue is a magnesium deficiency, you can fix it without getting on serious medications. Your heart needs vitamins and minerals to keep it functioning at optimum levels.
As we’ve mentioned, magnesium is involved in over 300 processes in the body. One of those functions is helping insulin lower sugar in the body. That’s because magnesium is a requirement for glucose metabolism. Studies have found magnesium levels are low in type 2 diabetics.
To get the proper insulin signaling in the body, you must have adequate amounts of magnesium. It acts as a messenger. Without it, insulin resistance can occur. Regulating your blood sugar is critical for wellness, and magnesium can contribute to healthy levels. Proper nutrition is vital for efficient insulin transport.
Over 36 million Americans are affected by migraine headaches. Some people get told it’s their genetics, and others think it’s how their bodies have always functioned. What they may not realize is that migraines can be a warning sign of a magnesium deficiency.
Most people think headaches are a normal part of life. Yet, many may not know that an increase in magnesium absorption could provide the remedy they need. Some already take medicines like ibuprofen and prescriptions for their headaches. The thought of taking a supplement doesn’t appeal to them because that is one more pill to remember. It is important to note that you can always get more magnesium in your diet. Consuming foods like leafy greens, fatty fish, nuts, and legumes can be an enormous help for getting more of this critical mineral. You can make simple changes to your cooking routines that produce dramatic changes in your health. Sometimes what you remove can be as effective as what you add to your diet.
So many people today get placed on blood pressure medications. They get told to lower their stress, exercise, and watch their diets. Those are all good things to remember, but sometimes high blood pressure results from a magnesium deficiency.
Studies have shown that magnesium can lower blood pressure by increasing nitric oxide, which is the molecule that relaxes the blood vessels. When blood vessels aren’t constricted, your blood pressure goes down naturally. Like a domino effect, since magnesium helps with stress and promotes better sleep, your blood pressure will reap the benefits.
Many people have issues with digestion and IBS. That can be constipation or frequent, irregular bowel movements. Some people get so frustrated that they ask their doctors for medicines to control the symptoms. Those often come with other problems that can make the issue worse.
Ongoing stomach problems can be a sign that you need more magnesium. You can also incorporate digestive enzymes into your diet to help with gut health. Digestive enzymes work by supporting functional digestion. They can help with acid reflux, Crohn’s disease, and stomach issues.
Women all over the world have PMS or Premenstrual Syndrome. For many, the pain can be excruciating. It can involve severe cramping and backaches. Others complain of mood changes, headaches, and fatigue. Some women who suffer from extreme cases of PMS may have a magnesium deficiency.
A magnesium deficiency causes smooth muscles to contract more, which can lead to worse cramping during PMS. It also increases prostaglandins, the inflammatory lipids that add to period pain. Increasing magnesium during monthly cycles may help ease PMS symptoms for many women. Taking a quality supplement that supports hormone balance can be incredibly helpful for pain and other PMS issues.
ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) is the primary molecule that stores and transfer energy in our cells. It gets considered energy currency by some because it’s like storing up energy for when it is needed most. Magnesium is necessary for ATP to get created.
Without enough magnesium, you won’t get the energy you need. If you’ve found that you are suffering from low energy, it could be a sign of a magnesium deficiency. Many people get diagnosed with depression when they report these sluggish feelings and lack of motivation. Sometimes, you may need to get more magnesium to ramp up the ATP process.
Many people try to consume excessive amounts of caffeine to beat the tiredness they feel. That could lead to more problems down the road. Instead, try an energy drink that won’t make you more fatigued later. While you work to get in more magnesium, you can also incorporate a healthy energy drink that focuses on vitamins and electrolytes that won’t wreck your body.
The first thing you should do if you notice any of these warning signs is to make sure you don’t ignore them. Always pay attention to what your body tells you because it will let you know when something isn’t right.
Changing your diet can be the first step to changing how you feel. When you incorporate more magnesium-rich foods into your diet every day, you will notice a massive difference. When you add in these healthy foods, you will eat less junk, and this simple change will make you feel better.
You can also supplement with 200 to 400 mg of high-quality magnesium per day. You can also get it in different forms, but you can combine these to get the best benefit.
If you’re not sure if you have a magnesium deficiency, you can get bloodwork that will show your exact levels. You can also try supplementing with magnesium and see how your body feels. Once your magnesium levels are what they should be, you will feel better naturally. Getting to the root cause of a magnesium deficiency can help you avoid unnecessary medications and get you back to enjoying an active, healthy lifestyle.
References :
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/antidepressants/art-20049305
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15319146/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15650-magnesium-rich-food
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322588#side-effects
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1855626/
https://www.womenshealth.gov/menstrual-cycle/premenstrual-syndrome
https://www.wellandgood.com/magnesium-for-cramps-pms/
https://www.hormone.org/your-health-and-hormones/glands-and-hormones-a-to-z/hormones/prostaglandins