Magnesium, The Critical Mineral

Magnesium may be our most important mineral. It is crucial for bone development. Bones need calcium, of course, but they also need magnesium. As flour and yeast are required for bread, calcium and magnesium are required for bones. The ratio of calcium to magnesium should be 2:1 (half as much magnesium as calcium.) Vitamin C, Vitamin D, zinc and the mineral boron are also required. Bone development requires many nutrients. It also requires exercise and weight bearing.

Magnesium is crucial for the heart. Heart attacks increased when bread was first "enriched or refined" and many nutrients were removed, about 1900. Then, during WWI and WWII, heart attacks decreased when wheat was no longer refined during food shortages. Whole grains contain magnesium. All people need whole grain wheat, rice, oats, etc.

I believe that magnesium is critical for blood sugar control. Magnesium deficiency leads to an increase in blood sugar levels. Unfortunately we don't have a really good system for measuring magnesium levels. Magnesium in the circulatory system can be measured, but this does not tell us whether magnesium is available for the heart, the pancreas, or the bones. The circulatory system is the life support system. It can have normal magnesium levels by draining magnesium from the other organ systems. Or it may hold the magnesium and not send it on to other organ systems in times of stress. Unfortunately no one has found a way to properly measure magnesium levels. I believe that medications for type II diabetes drain the system of magnesium. That is probably the reason that they have the side effect of causing heart attacks. Supplements like cinnamon and insulow (r-alpha-lipoic acid) also drain magnesium out of the system. One can combat this problem by taking at least 250-500mg. of magnesium with each dose of the above medications or supplements.

But magnesium is a difficult mineral as well as a critical mineral. First of all it is hard to absorb. I require pancreatic enzyme supplements (pancreatin) to enable me to absorb magnesium and other minerals. Second it has to be specifically channelled to the bones, heart, or pancreas. This is accomplished by eating whole grains and taking magnesium supplements with the whole grains. Some people think whole grains block magnesium absorption. This is not true. The whole grains channel the magnesium where it is needed. The effect of this is that the body takes in more magnesium, which may give some people the impression that it is not being absorbed. However, it is being better absorbed and better utilized. If one eats refined bread and cereal and takes magnesium, the magnesium simply goes through the system and is not absorbed or utilized. It may cause diarrhea. It has to be taken with whole grains. Third magnesium is drained out of the system by sugar, refined flour, and alcohol. Muscle cramps in the legs and feet are caused by magnesium deficiency. The muscles of the body need magnesium to function properly. (Remember, the heart is a muscle). Peripheral neuropathy, numbness in the feet, legs, and/or hands, is caused by magnesium deficiency. The nerves of the body need magnesium. (It may require intravenous magnesium to overcome neuropathy). The eyes need magnesium and B6. I suffered a torn retina in 1990. I now believe that was due to deficiencies of magnesium and B6. I take those supplements daily to protect my eyes.

In short, the entire body needs magnesium. But the problem is to absorb it and to retain it. It requires discipline to eat properly, limit sugar and alcohol, and to take supplements. One hundred years ago Americans had a totally different diet. Now we are innundated with sugar, processed foods, fast foods, everything that we should not have. It's very hard to avoid it all.

Magnesium has one final function. It takes out the trash on its way out. Magnesium moves the bowels. Anyone who is constipated needs more magnesium.