Saturday, February 2, 2013

The Importance Of Magnesium

magnesiumMagnesium is a critical co-factor in more than 300 enzymatic reactions in our bodies. It also affects virtually every organ in the body, which makes it an extremely important mineral that is has been underutilized in this country.

Recently docs have been using magnesium to treat patients with acute heart attacks, chronic cardiovascular disease, heart arrhythmias, diabetes, asthma, and chronic fatigue syndrome which are just a few of its positive impacts.

A blood test for magnesium is not the best way to tell if you have enough magnesium in your system since magnesium is found primarily in the cells. This means you could be deficient in magnesium even though your blood levels are normal.

A better test is the magnesium loading test. In this test, you collect a 24 hour urine sample and the total magnesium is measured. Then the person is given an injection of a specified amount of magnesium and another 24 hours urine sample is collected. If the body retains more than a certain amount of magnesium, then it is concluded that the body is deficient in magnesium.

The best forms of magnesium supplements are chelated magnesium, magnesium glycinate, magnesium aspartate and magnesium taurate. The prescription form of magnesium chloride is also useful.

(The Importance of Magnesium to Human Nutrition, by Michael B. Schachter, M.D., F.A.C.A.M.)

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