Are You Getting Enough of the Heart-Health Mineral?

Before you pop that calcium supplement you might want to consider the importance of its partner mineral, magnesium. Excessive amounts of one mineral can decrease absorption of another. That’s important to know since many people pop calcium supplements like candy.

Calcium and magnesium are best taken together since they are synergistic. Typically wherever calcium is needed in the body, magnesium is also required. Magnesium is the relaxation and anti-stress mineral, since it plays an important role in helping our bodies combat stress. It is necessary for healthy artery, blood, bone, heart, muscle, and nerve function, yet experts estimate that approximately 80 percent of the population in North America may be deficient in this important mineral.

Magnesium is so important to our health and well-being that it is even involved in the production of energy for most of our bodily processes and even the structuring of our basic genetic material is dependent on adequate amounts of magnesium. Your body also requires adequate supplies of magnesium to manufacture the approximately 500 enzymes needed for basic life and metabolic functions.

Chocolate is high in magnesium. Cravings for it often indicate that your body is deficient in magnesium. Other foods high in magnesium include: fish, asparagus, broccoli, kidney and pinto beans, quinoa (a delicious ancient grain), sweet potatoes, almonds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, figs, lemons, apples, dark leafy greens, celery, alfalfa sprouts, brown rice, and many other sources.

If you’re prone to heart problems, headaches or muscle tension, you may find that supplementing with magnesium is helpful. Most people take between 400 to 800 mg of magnesium. Always check with a qualified health practitioner before taking any supplement.

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