Importance of eating foods rich with magnesium

Magnesium is a trace mineral which helps to protect against a cluster of risk factors linked to cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The risk factors of not including enough magnesium-rich foods in your diet are: elevated blood pressure, low levels of HDL “good” cholesterol, elevated triglycerides (blood fats), elevated glucose (blood sugar) levels and abdominal obesity.

A lack of magnesium manifests itself physiologically in the form of migraines, attention deficit disorder, fibromyalgia, asthma, and allergies. Many of the following conditions have commonly been linked with each other in conjunction to magnesium deficiency: anxiety and psychiatric disorders, aorta strength, and the calcification of soft tissues including heart valves.

50% of the magnesium we consume is found in the bones; the rest is located in the muscles, tissues and organs. After exercise, muscles spasms and leg cramps are caused by dehydration and the lack of magnesium. Magnesium calms and relaxes the muscles. Magnesium aids the body in controlling nerve conditions, muscle function, bone and tooth formation, protein metabolism, general health and circulatory health. When your body lacks magnesium it shows up in fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and weakness. If the deficiency worsens it leads to muscle cramps, spasms, numbness, and cardiac arrhythmia.

Foods that are rich in magnesium include: beans, peas, unrefined grains such as whole wheat (bread, pasta and pizza), soybeans, spinach, potatoes, cereal, oatmeal, green vegetables, roasted almonds, and halibut.