Magnesium is an important mineral. Many people are deficient in this essential nutrient.

Up to 90 percent of Americans do not get the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of magnesium from their diet alone.

If you aren't getting enough magnesium, you might be experiencing symptoms of magnesium deficiency.

There is a special blood test- a magnesium on RBC (red blood cell) level that can be obtained to determine if you are deficient.

Symptoms can include:

leg cramps

migraines

heart palpitations (skip beats)

fatigue

loss of appetite

constipation

anxiety

panic attacks

depression

muscular aches and pains

high blood pressure

worsening of premenstrual cycle syndrome symptoms

cravings for chocolate (excellent source of magnesium).

The RDA of magnesium is 320 mg/day for women and 420 mg/day for men.

In order to get the recommended amount, you would have to consume large quantities of foods high in magnesium.

Green vegetables such as spinach are good sources of magnesium. Chlorella, the single cell algae, is an excellent source of magnesium. Chocolate is a source of magnesium and a deficiency of magnesium is one reason that women crave chocolate.

Please note that Renal failure patients and people with kidney disease should not take a magnesium supplement.

As with any supplement, you should consult your physician and it is best to be tested to determine if you have a magnesium deficiency before using supplementation.

It is estimated that up to 80 percent of those with type 2 diabetes have a magnesium deficiency.

This happens when high glucose levels make the body flush magnesium from its system.

In a recent study, people with diabetes who took magnesium supplements had improved insulin and glucose levels.

Magnesium is also good for the heart. People with heart conditions, including heart attacks, high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms and coronary artery disease, are more likely to be magnesium deficient.

In fact, studies show that people with low amounts of magnesium in the body are twice as likely to develop coronary heart disease, and that magnesium supplementation can lower cholesterol by as much as 20 percent.

Magnesium supplementation can increase individuals' magnesium levels and minimize the risks associated with heart disease.

Women of all ages can benefit from magnesium-it's been shown to help build and maintain strong bones, relieve symptoms of menopause and premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and minimize the risk of premature labor.

A recent study showed that pregnant women with pre-eclampsia (a condition marked by water retention, high blood pressure, and protein in the urine) taking magnesium supplements had a 58 percent lower incidence of eclampsia, which are seizures associated with pre-eclampsia.

Magnesium is an essential mineral to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

People with certain medical conditions, as well as anyone who may have a magnesium deficiency with symptoms, including leg cramps, migraines and fatigue may benefit from taking a magnesium supplement.

Magnesium can be therapeutic in treating the following medical conditions:

Anxiety and panic attacks- because it helps keep adrenal stress hormones like cortisol under control

Asthma - both histamine production and bronchial spasms increase with magnesium deficiency

Blood clots - magnesium prevents blood clots and thins blood without side effects

Bowel disease - magnesium deficiency is one of the main causes of constipation

Cystitis - bladder spasms are worsened by a magnesium deficiency

Depression - serotonin (mood elevator) is dependent on magnesium for its production and function

Heavy metals - magnesium is essential for the removal of heavy metals such as aluminum and lead

Diabetes - magnesium facilitates the production of insulin and the transfer of glucose into the cells

Fatigue - magnesium deficiency affects hundreds of enzymes, and fatigue is one of the first signs of a magnesium deficiency

Heart disease - The heart requires magnesium as does all muscles

Hypertension, hypoglycemia, insomnia, kidney disease, migraines, nerve problems, PMS, osteoporosis, Raynaud's syndrome, and tooth decay are all aggravated, and sometimes caused by a magnesium deficiency

If you are interested in learning more about Magnesium, you may be interested in reading these two excellent books.

These books may be available at your local library or online- both new and used- through retailers such as www.amazon.com.

They provide invaluable information and references regarding this very important nutrient.

The Magnesium Miracle by Carolyn Dean M.D.,N.D.

Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: Ballantine Books; Updated edition

In The Miracle of Magnesium, Dr. Carolyn Dean, an authority on this mineral who has used it with dramatic success in her own practice, explains the vital role that magnesium plays in the control of many serious ailments-from painful muscle spasms and bladder problems to traumatic brain injury and complications of pregnancy and childbirth.

You will discover:

· How diets and lifestyles can create a dangerous magnesium deficiency

· Which magnesium-rich foods keep your vital organs healthy and which to avoid

· Why other nutrients, including calcium, need magnesium to become potent

· What vitamins and minerals work with magnesium to treat specific ailments

· Why prescription medicines, such as birth control pills, can deplete magnesium

· Which magnesium supplements are best for you

The Magnesium Factor by Mildred Seelig M.D., M.P.H. and Andrea Rosanoff.

Publisher: Avery Trade

This important book brings to light an often overlooked but central factor in some of the most prevalent and serious disorders that affect Americans today: magnesium deficiency.

Written by a medical doctor and researcher who is considered to be the world's leading expert on the actions and uses of this vital mineral, The Magnesium Factor explains how magnesium deficiencies develop, why they are so widespread, and how they translate into metabolic disruptions that ultimately threaten the health of virtually every bodily system.

The author then details how to determine whether you have, or are at risk for, this problem-and what you can do about it.

Backed by the latest scientific research, yet written in a clear, accessible style, this is the authoritative source for information on a topic of critical interest for all health-conscious individuals.

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