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Magnesium: Why You Might Need More Of It In Your Diet

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One mineral that may be missing from your diet can ease the symptoms of anxiety, help you sleep at night and stave off constipation.

Magnesium is a mineral your body needs to function properly, however, physicians say millions of Americans aren’t getting enough of it in their diets.

According to Dr. Danine Fruge, Associate Medical Director at the Pritikin Longevity Center in Miami, Florida, approximately 25% of the population are at or above the recommended daily amount.

“Magnesium is important in more than 300 chemical reactions that keep the body working properly. People get magnesium from their diet, but sometimes magnesium supplements are needed if magnesium levels are too low. Dietary intake of magnesium may be low, particularly among women.

“Magnesium is also used for treating attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, leg cramps during pregnancy, diabetes, kidney stones, migraine headaches, weak bones (osteoporosis), premenstrual syndrome (PMS), altitude sickness, urinary incontinence, restless leg syndrome, asthma, hayfever, multiple sclerosis, and for preventing hearing loss,” WebMD states.

Signs you may not be getting enough magnesium in your diet:

Muscle Cramps
Trouble Sleeping
Anxiety
Constipation
Irregular heartbeat

Foods that are rich in magnesium:
-Almonds
-Sesame seeds
-Sunflower seeds
-Bananas
-Cashews
-Tofu
-Pumpkin seeds
-Fish
-Dark chocolate
-Avocados
-Dark, leafy greens

If you’re taking a vitamin supplement and eating foods rich in magnesium, it is possible to ingest too much. Symptoms of too much magnesium ingestion include diarrhea, low blood pressure or lethargy.

Doctors recommend 300 mg of magnesium per day for adults and 400 mg per day for young adults.

Please consult your doctor before taking any supplements or if you’re experiencing any irregular symptoms.

Sources:
Mind Body Green
WebMD

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