Magnesium: For Good Health

This mineral is needed for the proper functioning of the enzymes in the body. Physical and mental stress, high sodium in diet, alcohol, tobacco and high sugar content in food, causes depletion of magnesium in the body. Deficiency of magnesium causes irregular heartbeats, blood pressure problems, reduced ability to detoxify, nausea, confusion, insomnia, hyperactivity in children and loss of bone density.

Food items like beans, broccoli, tofu, nuts and rocket fish are rich sources of magnesium. Apart from that, magnesium supplements can be taken under doctor’s advice.

The RDA of magnesium in human is:

Age	Male	Female
1-3 years	80 milligrams	80 milligrams
4-8 years	130 milligrams	130 milligrams
9-13 years	240 milligrams	240 milligrams
14-18 years	410 milligrams	360 milligrams
18 and above	400 milligrams	310 milligrams
		Pregnant and Lactating - 320-400 milligrams

Magnesium toxicity is not a major concern. However, high amounts of magnesium causes weakness, nausea, malaise, flushing of skin and low blood pressure.