Magnesium is pretty important for your health, it’s the fourth most abundant mineral in your body and involved with over 300 metabolic processes. Magnesium helps to keep teeth and bones strong; it also helps in balancing hormones and supporting a healthy nervous and cardiovascular system.
The average healthy adult requires around 270-400mg of magnesium per day. Magnesium deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies in adults today, and this is associated with an increased risk of conditions such as diabetes, poor absorption, chronic diarrhea, coeliac disease, and ‘hungry bone syndrome’.
Here are some of the most common warning signs of Magnesium Deficiency to look out for…
Magnesium Deficiency Signs
Muscle Cramps and Spasms
Muscle cramps take place due to spasms; which are involuntary muscular contractions. Magnesium plays an important role in relaxing the muscles of your body. When your body is not getting enough magnesium, these contractions take place.
Chocolate Cravings
If you’re constantly hankering for a chocolate fix, it might not just be down to your sweet tooth. When our bodies crave foods, it’s often because they’re telling us that we’re lacking in a certain nutrient, and dark chocolate just so happens to be a brilliant source of magnesium; just one square contains about 24% of your daily requirement. To reap the benefits, however, skip the sugar-laden milk chocolate and opt for a bar that contains at least 65% cocoa. The darker the chocolate, the better the magnesium benefits.
Difficulty in Sleeping
Millions of people across the globe find it difficult to sleep, and sadly, a magnesium deficiency is one of the many causes of this. Magnesium has an important role to play in your central nervous system. The magnesium levels in your body drop when you go to sleep; so when you are deficient in magnesium, you find it difficult to sleep. Over time, you may develop insomnia due to this.
Headaches
Low brain magnesium levels could be related to migraine attacks, as magnesium is needed for proper nerve function. If you regularly suffer from migraine-like headaches, it could be a good idea to invest in a daily magnesium supplement, but speak to your doctor first if you’re already on any medication, and if your headaches are ongoing.
High Blood Pressure
Magnesium has an important role to play when it comes to keeping your blood pressure in check. It relaxes and dilates your arteries, thereby keeping blood pressure in control. Magnesium deficiency constricts your blood vessels, even more, thereby increasing blood pressure.
Anxiety
Magnesium is a mineral which has mental health benefits too. It is a powerful relaxation mineral. So when your body is not getting enough magnesium, you are likely to experience episodes of anxiety.
Constipation
The relaxing effect of magnesium applies for your digestive tract too. When your body is low on magnesium, your intestines tend to contract more. As a result, it’s harder for waste to pass which in turn can lead to constipation. But magnesium isn’t only important for the relaxation of the intestines, it also pulls water into you’re your intestines which allow waste to move along easier.