Staying healthy is a major concern for many, especially people growing older. Magnesium is required for the body for literally hundreds of its functions. One key feature of magnesium is that it is a co-factor with enzymes facilitating them to do their work. Enzymes are protein molecules that initiate chemical reactions inside the cells, orchestrating life’s processes in every organ, gland, tissue, and cell. Magnesium is vital for the nerves and muscles; it relaxes them and helps insomnia, hot flashes, bone strength, diabetes, migraine headache, regulates the heartbeat, and prevents heart arrhythmias.
Knowing these benefits, if you are thinking of incorporating magnesium into your diet, you can buy magnesium tablets. Though magnesium supplements are available in many different forms (including liquid form, injection, and oil form), tablets and pill forms of magnesium supplements are the most common form and are widely used as they are easy to consume. If you are genuinely thinking about incorporating magnesium into your diet, you will be glad you found this article. This article discusses some interesting facts about magnesium that you should know. Continue reading!
Who Needs to Take Magnesium Supplements?
A good healthy diet is, of course, sufficient to meet one’s needs for magnesium and other vitamins and minerals. However, a diet with high-fat content may cause less magnesium to be absorbed, and cooking may decrease the magnesium content of food. Furthermore, people tend to eat less healthy food that does not ensure the proper amount of nutrients in their diet with a busy lifestyle.
Some conditions that may necessitate a supplemental intake of magnesium include:
- Gastrointestinal disorders that decrease the absorption of nutrients of magnesium, such as Crohn’s disease, chronic and excessive diarrhea, and vomiting.
- The intake of some medicines that may result in magnesium deficiency, including medications used to treat cancer, Poorly controlled diabetes, chronic alcoholism, and even certain diuretics and antibiotics.
- Older adults with poor dietary intake
Aside from magnesium deficiency, these supplements are also used as a laxative for constipation and as an antacid for acid indigestion. It has also been used for treating multiple sclerosis, hay fever, urinary incontinence, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), migraines, fibromyalgia, leg cramps during pregnancy, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
Types of Magnesium Supplements
There are different types of magnesium supplements available on the market that offer different sets of advantages and disadvantages. For example, magnesium lactate is a form of magnesium helpful in preventing general magnesium deficiency. Magnesium citrate is prescribed for stool cleaning preparation for surgery or bowel procedures; Magnesium aspartate helps treat upset stomach, acid indigestion, and heartburn. Not all magnesium supplements get readily absorbed in your body; it depends on your medical condition.
Similarly, there is Magnesium chloride, Magnesium malate, Magnesium taurate, Magnesium oxide, Magnesium sulphate, Magnesium glycinate, etc. Each of these magnesium compounds plays a different role in various medical conditions. Therefore, choosing the right one can make a big difference.
To sum up
Before you head out to a health store and buy magnesium tablets for yourself, note that it is always better to get all magnesium you need by eating a varied and balanced diet. This is because if you take magnesium supplements in too much quantity, it is likely to cause harm. The usual recommended dose of magnesium is generally defined as follows:
- Children (4 to 10 years)- 100 to 170mg
- Adolescent and adult males- 270 to 400mg
- Adolescent and adult females- 280 to 300mg
- Pregnant females- 320mg
- Breastfeeding females- 340 to 355mg
Furthermore, it would be better to talk to your general health care provider before starting with magnesium supplements.
