Darryl Council HW Unit Assignment

 A staggering 68% of Americans do not get enough daily recommended amount magnesium (Faloon, 2005).  “Magnesium is needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body” (National Institute of Health, 2013).  50-60% of the bodies magnesium resides in the bones (National Institute of Health, 2013).  “Magnesium also plays a role in the active transport of calcium and potassium ions across cell membranes, a process that is important to nerve impulse conduction, muscle contraction, and normal heart rhythm” (National Institute of Health, 2013).

 Every single cell in the body requires magnesium to function; if it lacks it, it will die (Czapp, 2010).  Magnesium deficiency is one of the most significant causes of cardiovascular disease  Magnesium is also known to be involved in energy metabolism and protein synthesis (National Institute of Health, 2010).

 We live in a technologically advanced, high paced world that’s always on the go. This has created a stress prone world.  Elevated stress levels are the primary causes of dis-ease.  “Magnesium helps muscles relax and calms excited cells. It goes to work right away to ease stress and can help you fall asleep at night” (Galland, 2010).

 Leg and foot cramps, sensitivity to loud noises, muscle twitches and spasms, restless legs, heart palpitations and irritability are all symptoms that can be alleviated by increasing magnesium intake (Galland, 2010).

 Stress often causes an adrenaline response which depletes the bodies energy. Magnesium is used by the cells to combat this response; after which the magnesium is excreted through the urine (Galland, 2010).  A continuous lack of energy can also be caused by a Vitamin D deficiency. Even if you are taking a Vitamin D supplement, a lack of magnesium will prevent the supplement from reaching functioning optimally.

 There are several forms of magnesium that come in pill form such as: magnesium chloride, and magnesium citrate. Some powder forms exist as well  The dose each individual needs can vary from anywhere between 100 mg and 500 mg a day.

 Up to 60% of the bodies magnesium resides in the bones.  A lack of calcium may contribute to osteoporosis, however a lack of magnesium furthers this cause.  “Low calcium level will not respond to parathyroid hormone, to Vitamin D or to calcium supplementation, but is only corrected with magnesium therapy ” (The Way Up Newsletter, 2001)

 Broccoli has the highest levels of magnesium  Other great sources include:  Spinach  Swiss chard  Whole oats  Barley  Millet  Bananas  Black berries  Dates  Mangos  Watermelon

 Almonds  Nuts  Shrimp  Tuna  Navy beans  Kidney beans  Soy beans  Black eyed peas

 National Institutes of Health. (2010). Magnesium. Retrieved November 10, 2014 from HealthProfessional/. HealthProfessional/  Czapp, Katherine. (2010). Magnificent Magnesium: The Neglected Mineral We Cannot Live Without. Retrieved November 10, 2014 from Neglected-Mineral-We-Cannot-Live-Without Neglected-Mineral-We-Cannot-Live-Without  Faloon, William. (2005). How Many Americans are Magnesium Deficient?. Retrieved November 10, 2014 from  Galland, Leo. (2010). Holiday Stress? Try Magnesium, Nature’s ‘Chill Pil l’. Retrieved November 10, 2014 from galland-md/holiday-stress_b_ html#s193902http:// galland-md/holiday-stress_b_ html#s  Grisanti, Ronald. (2014). Low Vitamin D Levels Correlated with Magnesium Deficiency. Retrieved November 10, 2014 from with-magnesium-deficiency with-magnesium-deficiency  Slagle, Priscilla. (2001). Magnificent Magnesium. Retrieved November 10, 2014 from