Magnesium is an important mineral that serves numerous essential functions in the body. There are more than 300 biochemical processes in the human body that require the use of the mineral magnesium. From the center of the human body, the heart, to the framework, the bones, some of the body's most fundamental systems and structures depend on this very vital mineral. For a normal life and health, sufficient amount of magnesium must be taken and maintained by the human body daily.
Magnesium is important to bone health and structure. Indeed, fully half of the magnesium in the human body is found in the bones. One important contribution magnesium makes to the bones is to assist in the production of the hormone calcitonin which helps increases the level of calcium in the bones. Magnesium also controls the acidity of the blood, which is beneficial to bones, as high acid levels can weaken bone structure.
Magnesium is also believed to play a part in controlling the neuromuscular activities of the heart and helps to keep the heartbeat steady and regular. It helps to keep blood pressure levels within the normal range. For these reasons, researchers have been investigating the ways that magnesium could affect heart disease treatment and prevention. If proven positive, this could revolutionalize the treatment of the disease!
There is also interest in magnesium in relation to diabetes. That is because magnesium is necessary for insulin secretion and function and it also plays a big role in controlling blood sugar. Magnesium serves to assist in turning blood sugar into energy.
Working in partnership with a variety of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, magnesium serves a wide range of purposes. It is essential to the health and functioning of the body's neurological system and muscular system, serving ? among other purposes ? to enable the contraction of muscles and nerves.
Having so many uses, it is therefore important to maintain sufficient levels of magnesium in the body as serious health problems can result from deficiencies of this essential mineral. Adult males need about 350mg of magnesium per day and adult women requiring 280mg daily with an increase of up to 420mg per day while pregnant or breastfeeding. Children, depending on size and weight, need between 130mg to 240mg per day.
Deficiency in magnesium can cause a variety of symptoms of varying severity. These include significant calcium loss, heart spasms, irregular heartbeat, nervousness, confusion, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, muscle contractions and spasms, fatigue, and feelings of weakness, both in general and in the muscles.
Consuming the standard recommended daily intake levels of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients is essential to good health and the proper functioning of the body and its many systems. Unfortunately, most people do not achieve this through diet alone. Using nutritional supplements to make up the difference between what you should eat and what you really do eat is an effective and safe option provided that you do so with the understanding that the standard recommended dosage should be used unless advised otherwise by your personal health care provider. The body's systems are based upon a delicate balance of chemicals and too much can often be as harmful as too little. A licensed nutritionist can help you to make a supplement plan best suited to your individual dietary needs and health goals.
Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the AUTHOR'S resource box at the bottom of this article is included and and all links must be Active/Linkable with no syntax changes.
Charlene J. Nuble 2005. For up to date links and information about Vitamins, please go to: http://vitamins.b esthealthlink.net/ or for updated links and information on all health related topics, go to: http://vitamins.besthealthlink.net/
disinfecting cleaning services Winnetka ..Diet nutrition physiqueToday, learning about diet nutrition physique isn't all... Read More
Americans are literally running out of time. Achieving a work-life... Read More
While oxygen is the key to human survival, it is... Read More
Whether you're concerned about cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or simply... Read More
It would be fair to assume that almost everyone on... Read More
Fats (triacylglycerols) ...Some basic terminology ...fat or fatty acid ...In... Read More
Since the 1930's the western diet has dramatically changed. This... Read More
According to the Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis... Read More
A frequent misunderstanding about macrobiotics is that it is a... Read More
Most of us equate the word diet with calorie reduction.... Read More
They sit left behind on relish trays. They're often by-passed... Read More
The Immune System is probably the most important system in... Read More
You are what you eat is a simple, time tested... Read More
Everyone can benefit from understanding how food affects our... Read More
In order for a person to actually have a healthy... Read More
Today we're shifting our focus from wealth to health. First... Read More
Before we get to honey we have a question from... Read More
The Mediterranean Diet is now recognized as one of the... Read More
1880s - Characterization of monosaccharides by Emil Fischer.1952 - Fresh,... Read More
Did you know that the food you eat when you... Read More
About 12.6 million Americans currently have heart disease.1.1 million Americans... Read More
If you're looking for a power-packed entr?e or soup to... Read More
I know you've heard this many times - "Drink more... Read More
Instead of Butter: Use top quality, cold pressed, extra virgin... Read More
NutrientsFat, Sugar, Sodium and CarbohydrateThe sections on a food label... Read More
last minute cleaning help Highland Park ..Cholesterol finds its way into our bodies in two main... Read More
For some people it is really hard to give up... Read More
BASIC MEAL & MENU PLANNINGAs a basis for meals and... Read More
Glucosamine is readily produced in the human body and is... Read More
The topic of food additives is not quickly addressed in... Read More
As a low carb dieter, your diet is undoubtedly high... Read More
Did you know that there might be poison in many... Read More
I spent a few days at a resort in Mexico... Read More
Nutrition has everything to do with health. This isn't news,... Read More
After we have eaten a meal -- and often we... Read More
Most of us are "regular" people. We don't eat the... Read More
The secret of success is knowing how to deal with... Read More
There's no doubt--carbohydrates have taken center stage in public discourse... Read More
Diets don't work. If they did the U.S. of A.... Read More
Many of us sprinkle oregano on our pizza and stews... Read More
Enzymes are the workers in our body that make everything... Read More
In the last twenty years, a huge and growing body... Read More
I turned into my parents' driveway in Maryland and parked... Read More
One of the biggest mistakes many new bodybuilders make is... Read More
Dr. Arthur Agatston, the cardiologist who developed South Beach Diet... Read More
The typical American diet already provides plenty of protein and... Read More
I would like to raise a question: Is Rejuvenation possible... Read More
There are basically four major components, or essential molecular components... Read More
Can the colors on your plate tell you what health... Read More
PROTEIN DEFICIENT? CHANCES ARE YOU ARE!Did you know that 9... Read More
Nutrition |