A walk down the aisle at any pharmacy or drug store will show you that there is a huge market for nutritional supplements. While it’s best to get as many nutrients as you can from food, sometimes it’s necessary to add in a supplement or two.
Not all supplements are the same and you may not need them. Doing a little research on your own and speaking with your doctor can go a long way to helping you find the right supplements and saving you from purchasing supplements that are ineffective.
One supplement that I am a huge fan of is magnesium. If you don’t know what magnesium is, it’s a mineral that is found in the earth, sea, plants, animals and humans. In humans, 60% of our magnesium can be found in our bones, while the other 40% is in our muscles, tissues, blood, and bodily fluids. Magnesium is actually used by every organ in our bodies – so clearly it’s super important!
Look at all the ways that magnesium benefits our health:
The bad news is is that an estimated 80% of us are deficient in magnesium.
But how do you know if you are magnesium deficient? Have you ever had that annoying eye twitch where it felt like you were winking at someone? That’s likely a sign of magnesium deficiency. Here are more signs that you may experience:
Signs of deficiency:
- numbness/tingling
- personality changes
- muscle cramps
- abnormal heart rhythms
- seizures
- tics
The good news is that magnesium is readily available in many foods. These foods are particularly plentiful in magnesium and good sources to easily add in to your diet:
- pumpkin seeds
- spinach
- dark chocolate
- black beans
- quinoa
- almonds
- avocado
- salmon
If you aren’t able to add enough with food, you may consider supplementing. Supplements are available in several different forms including tablets, capsules, liquids and powder.
Do you get enough magnesium in your diet? Is this a nutrient that you need to supplement?
Alli says
I didn’t realize magnesium had so many health benefits. It’s a good thing I eat salmon, spinach, black beans, avocados and almonds on a regular basis. I didn’t know so many of my favorite foods contained magnesium.
Alli recently posted…Honey Glazed Roasted Salmon and Vegetables
Chrishelle Ebner says
Isn’t it crazy what delicate balance our bodies have in order to work properly. Even though I knew we needed Magnesium, I was not aware of the diet choices I had to get the adequate amount my body needs. Thanks.
Clara johnson says
Thank you for this information it really helps to know how much you need magnesium in your diet I suffer with hypothyroid thanks again+ and I suffer with anxiety and joint problems I’m hoping this will help
Franc Ramon says
I use to have magnesium supplements to prevent muscle cramps when I run. It really helped me in my runs.
Jenn @ EngineerMommy says
I’ve heard great things about Magnesium, but I’ve never tried it. I’d be interested in the anxiety-reducing effects of Magnesium. I will look for this on my next trip to the pharmacy.
Liz Mays says
I hadn’t really considered how much magnesium I was getting. This is really interesting! I need to start keeping track of it.
Sarah says
I had no idea about all of this, thanks for sharing it with us all!
Sarah recently posted…Top 5 DIY Plumbing Fixes
Angelic Sinvoa says
Very interesting. I had never considered if I was getting enough magnesium in my diet prior to reading this. I’ll definitely have to find new ways to add it to my diet.
Angelic Sinvoa recently posted…Celebrating Summer with a Pup-Peroni Picnic
Heather @ Kraus House Mom says
I eat quinoa all the time, my kids love it. I had to have a magnesium drip after I had my daughter to try to bring down my blood pressure.
Mimi Green says
This was an educational read. I don’t take any supplements of any kind but I didn’t know what I should take. It helps to know what is for what and how I can tell if I need more of it.
Mimi Green recently posted…Tech & Travel at the Willard InterContinental #TNTDC
Bonnie @wemake7 says
I didn’t realize they had Magnesium supplements available. I am going to have to get some.
markandkate8 says
This post is very educational. I didn’t know magnesium deficiency are that many. Magnesium benefits are also an eye-opener. I’ll surely up my intake of magnesium-rich foods from now on, too. Thanks!
Stephanie Pass says
I had no idea magnesium did so much for the body. I will definitely look into taking it.
Stephanie Pass recently posted…Light Up Mason Jar Aquariums
heather s-g says
So much great information in this post, thank you! And I’m happy to see all of the amazing ways to add magnesium to your diet. Saving!
heather s-g recently posted…5 Foods to Complement Your Coffee!
Robin Ruehrwein says
I had no idea that magnesium could have this many added benefits. Thanks for sharing this so that I can start taking the supplements.
Kate Nox says
This is such a helpful article! I always pay attention to my health, but one usually forgets about something – magnesium is definitely the ingredient we must not forget!
Peachy @ The Peach Kitchen says
I didn’t know Magnesium could cause all those and thaat it has many health benefits! I guess I should be eating more of those on your list food.
Wildish Jess says
Its so crazy how imbalanced our bodies become when we are deficient in something we need.
preventive says
Great Post about magnesium & its importance , Thanks for sharing with us
Eddie says
What kind of magnesium? There are so many different types.
April Mims says
I use magnesium citrate and have found that extremely helpful.
Rocky says
Magnesium glycinate or malate would be a better choice..fyi..gotmag.org