Magnesium plays a vital role in the body, and chances are, you’re not getting enough. An estimated 48% of Americans do not get sufficient magnesium from their diet, and that number is even higher among diabetics and postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. If you’re not familiar with the role magnesium plays in your health, or what foods you should be eating to boost your intake, keep reading!
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Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in your body. More than 3,750 magnesium-binding sites have been detected on human proteins, and it's required for more than 300 different enzymes in your body.
In short, magnesium plays an important role in a wide variety of biochemical processes, including the following: Creation of ATP (the energy molecules of your body), proper formation of bones and teeth, relaxation of blood vessels, regulation of blood sugar levels, activating muscles and nerves, helping to digest proteins, carbohydrates and fats, serving as a cofactor for RNA and DNA, and acting as a catalyst for neurotransmitters like serotonin.
As is the case with vitamin D, if you don't have enough magnesium, your body simply cannot function optimally, and insufficient cellular magnesium levels set the stage for deterioration of metabolic function that can snowball into more serious health problems.
Your best source of magnesium is real food. One way to increase your intake is to juice your greens. Another is to add the following foods to your diet: Spinach, avocado, broccoli, beet greens, Swiss chard, papaya, Bok Choy, turnip greens, dried seaweed or agar, Brussels sprouts, fatty fishes like wild-caught Alaskan salmon and seeds and nuts such as pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, cashews and raw almonds.
Other effective ways to boost your magnesium level include:
•Taking Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) baths, as the magnesium will effectively absorb through your skin
•Using a topical solution — Prepare a supersaturated solution of Epsom salt by dissolving 7 tablespoons of the salt into 6 ounces of water and heating it until all the salt has dissolved. Pour it into a dropper bottle then apply it to your skin and rub fresh aloe leaves over it to dissolve it.