Drs. DH and DE Liebscher - in a
paper published in American College of Nutrition suggest some simple
investigations to be conducted to check magnesium levels and to increase the
threshold of problems related to low blood magnesium.
As a start - magnesium supplements
and magnesium therapy are applied at the earliest, for a minimum period of a
month. By implementing these methods - long standing chronic low magnesium can
be addressed.
Conditions Related to Low Magnesium:
1. Depression
2. Insomnia
3. Migraines
4. Premenstrual syndrome
5. Hypertension
6. Chronic Fatigue Symptoms
7. Muscle Spasms and Twitches
8. Anxiety, Restlessness and
Hyperactivity
9. Constipation
10.
Heart palpitations
11.
Tightness in the chest
12.
Osteoporosis
There
are a few questions you can ask yourself as a self assessment:
• Do you drink too many colas or
carbonated drinks on a regular basis? Dark sodas have phosphates and these bind
with magnesium in the digestive tract - they are flushed out. Avoid having cola
with meals as this will flush out all the magnesium you are eating.
• Have a sweet tooth? Do you eat a
lot of candies, cakes and pastries? Refined sugar and refined flour have no
magnesium. Nutritionists believe sugar is an anti nutrient.
• Is your stress level very high -
or have you undergone a surgery? Severe stress depletes magnesium and deficit
magnesium in turn causes stress.
• How much caffeine do you imbibe
- in coffee, tea etc? Caffeine causes kidneys to excrete magnesium and other
minerals.
• How much of alcohol do you have
- more than 7 drinks a week? Alcohol decreases the efficiency of the digestive
system and absorption of vitamin D - which are responsible for magnesium
deficiency.
• Are you having too much of
calcium - in milk or supplements? Excessive calcium with low magnesium is
harmful for cells and muscles.
• Do you take medication like -
birth control pills, diuretics, heart medication or estrogen replacement? Some
drugs lower magnesium levels in the system as magnesium is flushed out.
• Do you face any of the neurological
signs like anxiety, insomnia, or hyperactivity? Magnesium maintains electrolyte
balance and deficiency can cause depression.
• Do you have spasms, cramps, tics
and fibromyalgia? When magnesium in the body is not adequate, muscles contract
all the while.
• Are you above 55years? After
this age and as you grow older a person is vulnerable to loss of magnesium. The
metabolic rates slow down as does the absorption of minerals - supplements are
very important.
There are also a few random
symptoms to indicate
magnesium deficiency, such as when a normally
relaxed and
easy going person becomes short tempered and pessimistic.
Some people develop a
craving for salt or chocolate.
Magnesium is a key to
good health;
it should not be under estimated. Symptoms of magnesium deficiency can be
confused with symptoms of other conditions. It would be wise to see a physician
and undergo some tests before increasing magnesium levels.
Vitamin B complex
taken along with magnesium supplements controls the amount of mineral absorbed
into cells.
Source: Medindia
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