The Many Incredible Benefits of Magnesium

Think for a minute about all the amazing things that your body does on a regular basis. You walk and move your body in various ways, you use your fine motor skills to button your shirt or take notes with a pen, you blink, you breathe, you observe your surroundings, take in information, and form memories – the list goes on. You wouldn’t be able to do these actions without the help of several vitamins and minerals, especially one in particular: magnesium. Learn all about magnesium, its many benefits, and how you can up your daily intake!

Introducing Magnesium, the Body’s Unsung Superhero

Name any bodily function and you can bet that magnesium plays at least some part in it. As the fourth most prominent mineral in your body, magnesium is the real MVP. It helps muscles contract and relax, keeps your heart beating at a steady pace, helps convert food into energy, regulates your blood pressure and blood sugar, helps create and repair DNA and RNA, and so much more (we’re talking hundreds of biochemical reactions).

This electrolyte is essential for muscle function, cardiovascular health, and bone strength. It’s stored in your bones, muscles, and tissues, and every single cell in your body needs magnesium to function. Unfortunately, most people aren’t getting enough magnesium that their body needs and craves every day.

Magnesium’s Many Benefits

As a bariatric patient, you’re probably familiar with the benefits of calcium and multivitamins. Magnesium, too, has countless benefits! It’s a do-it-all kind of mineral that benefits your body as a whole. Here are just some of the key benefits that magnesium gives your body:

• It can improve your mood and fight depression. Magnesium plays a key role in brain function and the production and regulation of your hormones, which dictate your mood. This is especially true for cortisol, the stress hormone. Supplementing your diet with magnesium or eating more magnesium-rich food can help temper anxiety and improve your mood.
• It may reduce or prevent headaches and migraines. If you’ve been suffering from debilitating headaches or migraines, you might be experiencing a magnesium deficit. Some studies have shown that magnesium canhelp or reduce those painful symptoms.
• It helps boost your energy levels. Magnesium helps move blood sugar into your muscles’ cells, which both gives you an energy boost and helps eliminate lactic acid during your sweat sessions.
• It keeps your bones healthy and strong. Along with calcium, magnesium is essential for bone health. This mineral does an incredible job in helping prevent bone fractures and breaks, especially as you age.
• It’s great for anyone with type 2 diabetes. Magnesium helps regulate the body’s blood sugar levels and may improve insulin function, which is critical for anyone suffering from type 2 diabetes. Studies have also shown that magnesium can help lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the first place!
• It helps reduce blood pressure. Magnesium increases the production of nitric oxide, a powerful, naturally-occurring neurotransmitter that’s responsible for relaxing blood vessels.
• It can help you get a good night’s sleep. Along with melatonin, magnesium helps quiet the nervous system to prepare your body for sleep. For best results, take a magnesium supplement 1 to 2 hours before your bedtime.
• It improves symptoms of PMS. If you’re a woman of childbearing age, you might be familiar with the frustrating symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS): bloating, abdominal cramping, fatigue, water retention, and irritability. Increasing your magnesium intake has been shown to improve your mood, reduce your water retention, and more!
• It helps get things moving along. Sometimes people struggle with constipation after having bariatric surgery. Magnesium works as a natural laxative! It draws water into the intestinal tract to soften stool and stimulate motility.

Signs of Magnesium Deficiency

You may not experience many symptoms if you short-change yourself on magnesium every once in a blue moon, but an ongoing deficiency can manifest an array of symptoms. Signs of a minor magnesium deficiency might look like the following:

• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Weakness in the body

Accelerated or chronic magnesium deficiency may bring about other symptoms such as:

• Arrhythmia
• Chronic inflammation
• Coronary spasms and twitching
• Increased appearance of migraines
• Insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes
• Numbness and tingling
• Muscle cramps and spasms
• Osteoporosis
• Personality changes or mood disorders like depression or anxiety
• Seizures

While these symptoms may point to other issues occurring in the body, it’s always wise to ask for your doctor to test your magnesium levels.

Easy Ways You Can Increase Your Magnesium Intake

Want to get more magnesium in your life? Start by reevaluating what’s on your plate! There are several magnesium-rich foods for you to add to your grocery list. Here are some of our favorites:

• Almonds
• Avocados
• Black beans
• Cashews
• Cooked quinoa
• Dark chocolate (70-85% cocoa)
• Fatty fish like halibut, salmon, and mackerel
• Low-fat yogurt
• Peanuts
• Pumpkin seeds
• Soy milk
• Spinach (boiled)
• Swiss chard (boiled)
• Whole wheat bread

ProCare Health Makes Getting Your Daily Magnesium Easy!

Getting enough magnesium is crucial for good health, especially after you’ve had weight-loss surgery. ProCare Health makes it easy! Our Once Daily Bariatric Multivitamin Capsules (100mg magnesium) and Once Daily Bariatric Multivitamin Chewables (200mg) have all of the magnesium your body needs to perform at its best. Order yours today or call us at (877) 822-5808 to learn more.

Want even more insights about magnesium? Be sure to check out our past LIVE event here!