Health & Fitness
Could a Magnesium Deficiency Be Harming Your Health?
Magnesium is an essential mineral, which is used by every organ in your body, especially your heart, muscles and kidneys.
If you suffer from unexplained fatigue or weakness, abnormal heart rhythms, muscle spasms or eye twitches, low levels of magnesium could be to blame.
If you’ve recently had a blood test, you might assume it would show a magnesium deficiency. But only 1% of magnesium in your body is found in the bloodstream, making magnesium blood test not very useful.
Most magnesium is stored in your bones and organs, where it is used for many biological functions. It’s quite possible to be deficient and not know it, which is why magnesium deficiency has been dubbed the “invisible deficiency.”
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By some estimates, up to 80% of Americans are not getting enough magnesium and may be deficient. Other research shows only about 25% of US adults are getting the recommended daily amount of 310 to 320 milligrams (mg) for women and 400 to 420 for men.
Researchers have now detected 3,751 magnesium-binding sites on human proteins, indicating that its role in human health and disease may have been vastly underestimated.
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Magnesium is also found in more than 300 different enzymes in your body and plays a role in your body’s detoxification processes, making it important for helping to prevent damage from environmental chemicals, heavy metals and other toxins.
Early signs of magnesium deficiency include loss of appetite, headache, nausea, fatigue and weakness. An ongoing magnesium deficiency can lead to more serious symptoms.