
Magnesium: Health benefits, sources, and deficiency
What’s a Mineral?
Minerals play an important role in the human body, as they help convert
food into energy, and are important for building and maintaining strong teeth
and bones, in addition to their role in controlling fluid amounts inside and
outside cells.
Minerals have been classified as micronutrients.); It has been divided
into two main categories, the trace minerals, which the body needs in small
quantities, and they include iron, selenium, zinc, iodine, chromium, manganese,
copper, fluoride, and molybdenum.
The other category is the main minerals: Major minerals), which the body
needs in large quantities, and include sodium, sulfur, potassium, chloride,
phosphorous, magnesium, and calcium.
Magnesium
Magnesium is available naturally in many types of food, and it may be
available in the form of food supplements, and it is stored in the tissues of
the body, and it ranks fourth among the most abundant minerals in the human
body; Where the quantities in the body are estimated at 25 grams, knowing that
approximately 50-60% of it is stored in the skeleton, and the rest is
distributed between muscles, soft tissues, and fluids, and it is an important
element involved in the interactions of more than 300 enzymes in the body.
metabolic processes, the synthesis of fatty acids and proteins, and the
transmission of nerve messages.
The benefits of magnesium
Magnesium provides many health benefits to the body, including:
Promote bone health: Adequate magnesium intake has been found to reduce
the risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, promote bone building, and
increase its density; It helps deposit calcium in the bones, and also
contributes to the activation of vitamin D in the kidneys.
Contribute to calcium metabolism: Magnesium deficiency may reflect negatively on the body if it
increases calcium intake, which increases the risk of kidney stones.
Maintaining the health of the heart muscle: one study found that people who consume a higher proportion of
magnesium are less likely to develop coronary artery calcification by 58%, and
abdominal artery calcification by 34%, and magnesium contributes to the
treatment of heart failure. And heart arrhythmia, and eating it enough reduces
the risk of developing high blood pressure, and improves body fat.
Reducing the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, such as bloating, insomnia, and flatulence, if magnesium is taken in
addition to vitamin B6 sources.
Contribute to the secretion of the hormone insulin: Magnesium plays an important role in transporting glucose through the
bloodstream, and secreting the hormone insulin, which helps regulate blood
sugar levels.
Alleviate constipation: Since magnesium
has the effect Melina intestine (in English: Laxative), so when it is taken by
mouth.
Reducing the symptoms associated with heartburn: especially if it is taken orally, and many types of it can be used, but magnesium hydroxide is considered the fastest acting.
Magnesium sources
Magnesium is available in many foods, and its most important sources
are:
- Dark leafy green vegetables, most notably spinach.
- Dark chocolate, which contains 70-85% cocoa.
- quinoa;
- Black beans, peas.
- Almonds, walnuts, and cashews.
- Soy milk, cow's milk.
- Peanut Butter.
- Sesame seeds.
- pumpkin seeds.
- avocado salmon.
- Sunflower seeds.
- oatmeal.
- cauliflower;
- Shrimp.
- brown
- rice
- Banana.
Magnesium side effects
Magnesium is considered safe when taken in an amount not exceeding 350
milligrams orally, or through a prescription, and it is considered safe for
pregnant and lactating women if it is taken in no more than the previously
mentioned dose, and through intravenous injection, but excessive doses of it
may It causes hypermagnesemia when taking nutritional supplements, or some
types of medications, and may cause some side effects, including the following:
- Arrhythmia.
- Low blood pressure.
- coma.
- weak breathing;
- Increased risk of bleeding or bruising among people with bleeding disorders.
Magnesium deficiency
There are several reasons that lead to a deficiency of magnesium
(Hypomagnesemia), it may be due to not eating enough of it, or due to problems
absorbing it, and magnesium levels in the body can be known through a blood
test, and consult a doctor, and the elderly are considered the most vulnerable
to infection. Thus, due to its low absorption, and this may occur when a person
suffers from digestive disorders, or due to the use of certain medications, and
may lead to the emergence of some symptoms, including loss of appetite,
vomiting, nausea, and fatigue, and it can also cause muscle spasms, or
seizures, or paresthesia of the extremities.
Recommended amounts of magnesium
The National Institutes of Health recommends certain amounts of
magnesium per day, according to age groups, and it was distributed among them
as follows:
Age group |
Recommended amounts of magnesium
(milligrams) |
Children 1-3 years old |
80 |
Children 4-8 years old |
130 |
Children 9-13 years old |
240 |
Males 14-18 years old |
410 |
Males 19 years and over |
400-420 |
Females 14-18 years old |
360 |
Females 19 years and over |
310-320 |
pregnant woman |
350-400 |
breastfeeding woman |
310-360 |
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