If you’ve been experiencing eye twitches, you might have heard that magnesium is the answer. A lack of this essential mineral can indeed lead to metabolic syndrome or muscle cramps. But did you know that magnesium offers a whole host of other health benefits?
Prevention of high blood pressure
Magnesium relaxes blood vessels and helps prevent high blood pressure and heart disease. The Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that people who consumed less than 186 mg of magnesium per day had a 1.8 times higher risk of developing heart disease than those who drank more than 340 mg.
Furthermore, this miracle mineral also works wonders on your cholesterol levels, lowering the total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL while boosting HDL.
Bone Up on Health
Together with calcium, magnesium is one of the minerals that make up bones. Magnesium binds to the protein that transports vitamin D to bones and also activates vitamin D.
Taking magnesium, calcium, and vitamin D together can synergistically affect osteoporosis patients, as magnesium deficiency is thought to be a risk factor for the disease.
Alleviating Insomnia
Magnesium blocks NMDA receptors to relax nerves and alleviate insomnia. NMDA receptors play a role in maintaining memory and detecting pain in the hippocampus, and when they are overactivated, the brain nerves become excited, and sleep is lost.
That’s why magnesium is becoming a go-to for people living with insomnia. For a natural sleep aid, snack on magnesium-rich almonds or bananas before bed.
Stress Less, Relax More
Magnesium also helps to relieve muscle cramps and stress. Magnesium plays a role in producing dopamine and serotonin, which elevate mood.
It also helps lower blood pressure and stabilize muscles. Magnesium’s mood-improving and muscle-cramp-relieving effects can alleviate symptoms in people with severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Precautions when consuming
However, avoid exceeding the daily upper limit of 350 mg when consuming magnesium. People with sensitive intestines, kidney disease, or impaired kidney function should be especially cautious when taking magnesium.
Because the kidneys control the amount of water and electrolytes expelled in urine, consuming too much magnesium can throw off your body’s equilibrium if you have impaired kidney function.
Since magnesium is a component that activates the intestines, people with sensitive intestines and frequent diarrhea should avoid taking magnesium supplements.
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