The Most Essential Mineral

magnesium rich foods

Something a bit more left brained today – looking at Magnesium, a mineral that is vital for so many aspects of our biochemistry and health. It plays a part in over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body – energy production, synthesis of fatty acids and proteins and transmission of nerve impulses amongst many others. 

The following symptoms may indicate a magnesium deficiency. However, it is advisable to check with your doctor that there are no underlying medical issues if a short course of a supplement is not improving matters.

Muscle cramps, not rested after a good night’s sleep, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, sensitivity to loud noises, salt cravings, anxiety, high blood pressure, brain fog, caffeine reliance, PMS, palpitations dark circles under the eyes, menstrual cramps, constipation, easily startled, headaches, lack of focus, inability to cope with stress, IBS.

As you can see, it is quite a list which shows how important this mineral is for our health. It is always better to get your nutrition from the food we eat. Sadly, mass-produced food can be low in magnesium (Mg) either through processing, a long time between cropping and eating, or the level in the soil in which the food has been grown is low, due to intensive cultivation. This means that not enough Mg can be absorbed by the roots and integrated into the plant. Mg rich foods include black beans, edamame beans, lentils, chickpeas and peas, spinach, kale, avocado and bananas; nuts such as almonds peanuts, cashews, brazil nuts (also a good source of selenium); seeds including flax, pumpkin and chia; mackerel, salmon and halibut. Whole grains are easily included in your diet – oatmeal, whole wheat, barley, buckwheat (not a ‘wheat’ so gluten free) and quinoa. Dark chocolate is a good source, but not milk chocolate. 

Ensuring adequate intake of Mg is especially significant now. Our lives are getting weirder and more intense as time goes on. It is all placing more pressure on our regulatory systems. Stress may contribute to increased inflammation, blood pressure, fatigue, depression and lack of motivation, poor quality sleep, bone health or asthma. Mg may help to mitigate these symptoms and help you deal better with the ‘weirdness’. 

It is not all about physical nutrition though. We are emotional, thinking beings so our mental wellbeing needs nurturing too. As much as is possible arrange to see people in real life, (even with distancing) rather than across a screen. Zoom and Facetime etc. are better than nothing, but such ‘contact’ doesn’t nurture us. It’s a show I rarely see, but I happened to catch the “One Show” when a poet was reading a poem called “People Need People’. It was beautiful and so true.

We are not robots. We are human beings. “Human Lives Matter” whatever our colour. Maintain our humanness through the heart – love, light, expansion of consciousness and awareness.

With blessings for a healthy, fulfilling, human life. Wendy

Information courtesy of Lamberts Health Supplements, supported by 51 references. www.lambertshealthcare.co.uk

Latest Blogs

To Book An Appointment At Health Resolutions:

Tel : 01594 832430
Mob: 07733 221941
Tues: 10am ~ 3:00pm
Thurs & Fri: 10am ~ 6pm

Social Media