The Miracle of Magnesium
My papa Jack lived to be 93, and by all accounts, enjoyed good health up to the day of his passing. One of grandpa’s nightly rituals was to take a teaspoon of Phillips’ Milk of Magnesia. He claimed it promoted regular bowel movements. But what he might not have known, while taking the mint-flavored milky liquid, was that the healing properties in his tonic had more to do with magnesium than with anything else.
Many people don’t realize how often they’ve relied on magnesium to heal themselves from aches and pains. One common practice among those who have foot or ankle pain is to soak their feet in Epsom salt. Once again, the main ingredient in Epson salt is magnesium. The bath salts can also work wonders on other sore and painful parts of the body.
Research also suggest that magnesium supplementation can help with acid reflux, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, asthma, and a host of other ailments. And the best part about magnesium supplementation, it’s inexpensive.
If you’re leery about taking magnesium, don’t worry, when combined with calcium, it rarely causes loose stools. You may already be taking both without knowing it. Many antacids contain both calcium and magnesium.
Most people aren’t consuming enough of the mineral. Also, people with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, those who struggle with alcoholism, and digestive ailments like Crohn’s or celiac disease, as well as those taking medications for heartburn or osteoporosis, are at much higher risk of magnesium deficiency.
Women should consume 300 milligrams of magnesium daily; men need approximately 400 milligrams. Adults over 30 should have a bit more. If you use a chelated magnesium, you don’t need to limit the amount of magnesium in your diet. Chelated magnesium is the preferred form of supplementation for many. A chelated magnesium pairs magensium with an amino acid to aid in absorption. One of the best forms of chelated magnesium is Magnesium Bisglycinate. It is readily absorbed and causes few gut issues.
For those wishing to get their magnesium from the foods rather than supplements, magnesium can be consumed by eating avocados, bananas, beans, fish, grains, greens, nuts, seeds, whole yogurt, and dried fruit. Magnesium might be the miracle you need.
