2 Habits That Can Be Depleting Your Magnesium

Nov 27

Magnesium, the wonderful mineral we hear so much about - with good reason.

Over 300 enzymes are dependent on magnesium, many of those enzymes are nervous system enzymes and it's the second most abundant intracellular cation.

Magnesium is involved in many cellular processes:

A cofactor to ATP production in the mitochondria
Metabolic pathways
Cell proliferation
Cell differentiation
Apoptosis
Membrane stabilization

Magnesium has also been found to increase BDNF - brain derived neurotrophic factor which is a neurotransmitter modulator and is involved in neuronal plasticity, essential for learning and memory. It stimulates growth of new neurons.

Its common that many of us are magnesium deficient - its been significantly depleted from our soils and is required for so many cellular functions all hours of the day.

The International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition did a study assessing the historical changes in the mineral content of fruits and vegetables in the U.K from 1940 - 2019 and found the greatest mineral reductions were in sodium, iron, copper and magnesium.

On top of that there are 2 very common lifestyle factors that burn through magnesium:

#1 - Stress

Magnesium status is highly associated with stress levels. The shift of magnesium from intracellular to extracellular space initially plays a protective role in order to diminish the negative effects of stress BUT over an extended period of stress, it results in magnesium deficiency.

Stress and low magnesium potentiate each other's negative effects in a vicious cycle, low magnesium increases the release of adrenaline. Magnesium deficiency has been shown to reduce stress tolerance.

#2 - Vitamin D Supplementation

Magnesium is needed for vitamin d absorption and activation as the enzymes needed for vitamin d require magnesium.

Supplementing with vitamin d will require more magnesium to be used by the body. Also, magnesium deficiency has been correlated with reduced active vitamin d levels.

Even though magnesium is commonly deficient and crucial for out cellular function this doesn't mean everyone should begin pounding back magnesium.

When some people are overburdened and in a depleted state, over supplementation can be over stimulating. Whenever supplementing, especially minerals, be intentional with the consumption.

Not all supplements are made the same quality matters, make sure your source is not largely composed of fillers.

Rather than taking magnesium internally you can take in topically through application of magnesium oil on arms, legs, feet, stomach.

Magnesium Rich Foods: