Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Magnesium is Necessary for Optimum Health

Guest post by Neil ButterField

It is well known that minerals are vital to maintaining good health. Most people make sure to get enough calcium and iron. There are other less well-known minerals that have a tremendous impact on well-being. Magnesium is one such mineral. Sadly, 61% of adults do not meet the US RDA for magnesium. Receiving the health benefits of magnesium can be as simple as taking a magnesium supplement.

When it comes to treating and preventing osteoporosis, magnesium excels. In osteoporosis, the bones lose a lot of their calcium making them weak and prone to breakage.

Magnesium works to increase the absorption of calcium. Magnesium also helps to balance the various chemicals that the body uses to influence the bone density and how much calcium the bones use.

It increases the density of the bones by making the calcium more readily available for use. This is important because unused calcium can settle out in the kidneys to form painful stones.

It can also cause muscle cramps and pains. By balancing calcium intake with magnesium, the calcium is used more efficiently and problems like muscle cramps and kidney stones can be avoided.

Magnesium also helps control high blood pressure. Magnesium does this by relaxing smooth muscles in the arteries that cause them to dilate. Studies suggest that through this action and its ability to work with potassium to manage blood pressure, magnesium helps to prevent hypertension.
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Adult-onset or type 2 diabetes also seem to be be affected by magnesium deficiency. The break down of carbohydrates in the body requires magnesium.

If there is a lack of magnesium, insulin resistance can result. This is a state in which the enzyme used by the body to balance our blood sugar does not work properly.

More insulin becomes necessary to change the level of blood sugar. This often is a precursor condition to full type 2 diabetes. Getting sufficient magnesium increases the efficiency of carbohydrate metabolism and prevents the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

Since magnesium has such an effect on diabetes and hypertension, it only seems natural that it would be a factor in cardiovascular health as well. Indeed, it is.

Low magnesium is often associated with irregular heart rhythms. Sufficient levels of magnesium also help prevent abnormal clotting of the blood in the heart. Several studies have suggested that magnesium supplements can help lower the risk of stroke and heart disease and may help patients recover from strokes and heart attacks.

Much of the population does not get enough magnesium. This mineral influences a number of vital processes and in the body. This makes it one of the more important minerals of which to get an adequate amount.


Supplementation is an excellent way to receive the many health benefits magnesium provides. A recommended supplemental amount of magnesium is twice the amount as any calcium supplements. Another recommendation is to use liquid mineral supplements.

Liquid minerals are much more readily absorbed by the body and make a far greater amount of the magnesium available for use by the body's cells. Don't you owe it to yourself to make sure you benefit from the correct level of magnesium?


To learn more about the power of magnesium supplementsas well as other important mineral supplements, visit us online and download your FREE audio Minerals: What your body needs and why. Neil Butterfield is the owner of Mineralife and is also their mineral supplement expert, Mineralife is recognized nationwide for its quality mineral supplements.