Last week we started a discussion on the importance of magnesium as a part of your regiment to maintain good health. Let’s continue with more information.

Magnesium helps your muscles and nerves functioning properly; it keeps your heart rhythm steady, supports a healthy immune system and assists in keeping your bones strong. This essential mineral helps regulate blood sugar levels, promotes normal blood pressure and is required for producing and storing energy. Now knowing this, you can understand why so many researchers say that no single dietary factor is as critical as magnesium.

Let’s talk calcium for a minute. Calcium deficiency as the media has told us for many years can be a serious problem. It is truly a mineral that your body needs every day, but did you know that too much calcium can also be a serious problem?

The recommended adequate daily intake of calcium, per the National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements, is 1,000 mg for adults ages 19-50 and 1,200 mg for adults age 51 plus. There are many adults who are taking 1,200-1,500 mg daily of supplemental calcium in addition to their dietary intake of calcium. For example, an 8-ounce cup of low-fat fruit yogurt contains 345 mg of calcium and one cup of nonfat milk contains 306 mg of calcium.

Unassimilated calcium can end up in the soft tissues of the body where deposits and hardens (calcifies) or in the urine where it may result in kidney stones. Other soft tissue areas include the areas around the heart.

Unless calcium and magnesium are properly balanced, magnesium becomes depleted (too much calcium depletes magnesium levels). This can result in an inability to quickly recover from stress and can itself be a source of stress.

Many people do not get enough magnesium including those who supplement. There are two reasons for this; the amount required by the body is far greater than most know or think, and many magnesium supplement capsules or tablets are not properly absorbed by the body.

Other causes of magnesium deficiency in the body can be caused by emotional stress, prescription drugs including diuretics, antibiotics insulin and oral contraceptives.

Much of this information has been borrowed from Natural Vitality. As always, do not make any changes in your diet or lifestyle without first consulting with your preventive healthcare provider. We pray for your health and prosperity, 3 John 2, blessings, Donna.