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Loading...Health Benefits of Epsom Salt Baths
- a Care2 favorite by Melissa Breyer
- 476 comments
Most of us know about the importance of iron and calcium for our bodies, but what about magnesium? It is the second most abundant element in human cells and the fourth most important positively charged ion in the body. It helps the body regulate over 325 enzymes and plays an important role in organizing many bodily functions, like muscle control, electrical impulses, energy production and the elimination of harmful toxins.
Most of us are deficient in magnesium, so I’m going to put on my wise-granny hat on here and tell you this: soaking in a bath with Epsom salt, which is high in magnesium, is one of the easiest ways to get a boost.
According to the National Academy of Sciences, American’s magnesium deficiency helps to account for high rates of heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, arthritis and joint pain, digestive maladies, stress-related illnesses, chronic fatigue and a number of other ailments. Who knew?!
Our magnesium levels have dropped by half in the last century due to changes in agriculture and diet. Industrial farming has depleted magnesium from soil and the typical American diet contains much less magnesium than that of our forefathers. And in fact, the modern American diet with its fat, sugar, salt and protein actually works to speed up the depletion of magnesium from our bodies.
Read more: Arthritis, Bath & Shower, Health, Natural Remedies, Osteoporosis, bath, epsom salt, magnesium
Melissa Breyer
Melissa Breyer is a writer and editor with a background in sustainable living, specializing in food, science and design. She is the co-author of True Food (National Geographic) and has edited and written for regional and international books and periodicals, including The New York Times Magazine. Melissa lives in Brooklyn, NY.
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
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Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
people are talking
Thanks for sharing.
Good tips
Love this stuff. It's so cool!!
Oh well had my trip around the world for today. TY
THANKS FOR SHARING.
476 comments
+ add your ownThanx...who knew? is right! I'm going for one right now...
had an epsom salt bath this morning! :-) Thanks for the info/reminder of the benefits.
Something so simple to help us with our health in our complicated & busy lives.
Highly recommend, as I have to all my friends - some of whom actually use it
Yes, I take at least 2x epsom salt baths a week, sleep better, ditch sore muscles, have really soft skin and generally feel much better.
Thanks!
Martin S.
What about this? According to the Epsom Salt Council, a certain amount of magnesium in Epsom salt is readily absorbed through the skin. Supporting this statement is a 2004 study conducted by the School of Biosciences at the University of Birmingham, which measured the magnesium status of participants before and after taking baths containing dissolved Epsom salt. From the results, researchers concluded that prolonged soaking in an Epsom salt bath indeed raises magnesium levels, and without any adverse effects. The ideal concentration for using Epsom salt baths to raise magnesium status, according to the study, is approximately 500 g, or 2 cups, of Epsom salt dissolved in about 15 gallons of water -- the amount that can fit in a standard-sized bathtub. Ideal amount of time spent soaking is 12 minutes two to three times per week.
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/444622-can-you-absorb-magnesium-from-epsom-salt/#ixzz20ot4J5OL
I've shared a link to this article about 20 different times in the past few days. Thanks for writing such an interesting and informative article about something so simple and natural! sarahlmt.com
Had my first bath in Epson Salts tonight, so relaxing cannot wait to see long term results.
I'll try this!
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