Why Magnesium Is a SUPER Powerful Anti-Inflammatory Mineral
Author: Luke Douglas
Wondering about the wonders of magnesium? From the ever popular magnesium “calm” drink to epsom salt foot soaks, this mineral certainly is buzzy right now in the wellness scene! Here is guest author Luke Douglas to explain why he thinks magnesium is one of the most powerful minerals of all.
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Ever since the health and fitness industry began it’s rapid growth, most of those who work out have learned what macronutrients are, and the perks of monitoring the intake of your fats, carbs, and proteins. However, there’s so much to be said about micronutrients as well. Micronutrients play an equally pivotal role in our overall health and raising awareness can help us all improve the quality of our lives and that of our athletic performance.
Whether you’re a pro athlete or a gym junkie with a vigorous exercise regime, your body experiences inflammation every day. The micro-tears in your muscle tissue cause your body to flare up with acute inflammation in order to help you heal, which is, in essence, a healthy reaction that enables muscle growth and tissue repair. However, when your body experiences chronic inflammation, then this otherwise natural process can wreak havoc on your body – and this is where magnesium steps in to save the day.
Recognizing the deficiency
Chronic inflammation caused by magnesium deficiency or another lifestyle factor can rear its head in a wide range of unpleasant symptoms. Some of the easiest ones to recognize include frequent muscle cramps, twitches, and tremors, while those that sneak up on you often relate to your mental and emotional states.
Anything from a general apathy all the way to overwhelming fatigue can be caused by a lack of magnesium. It can be a culprit even of a seemingly unrelated condition such as asthma, which only further shows how deeply intertwined magnesium and inflammation can be. Since magnesium is a key micronutrient in your muscles’ ability to contract and relax, it’s also vital for allowing your heart and other muscles to work properly. Simply put, chronic pain of any sort can be yet another signal your body craves for magnesium.
Boosting your intake
Before you rush to your nearest health food store, make sure that you conduct proper medical tests to confirm that you, in fact, have magnesium deficiency. Once you do that, depending on your current levels of physical activity, age, gender, and general lifestyle, your doctor will tell you what your ideal daily amount of magnesium should be.
You can start by including more magnesium-packed foods into your diet, such as a variety of nuts and seeds (almonds, peanuts, and pumpkin seeds are great candidates), while fatty fish and dark chocolate are also great sources of this nifty mineral. However, introducing magnesium supplements is often the recommended route in addition to altering your diet, in order to allow your body to recuperate from deficiency as fast and as efficiently as possible.
The perks of magnesium
Now that you know that you’ve been dealing with a mineral deficiency and have a battle plan to improve your intake, you’re probably wondering what you can expect to change down the road. Since inflammation is the root cause of numerous diseases, from diabetes and asthma to arthritis, improving your magnesium intake will not only help with the symptoms, but also help heal the underlying issue.
As one of the most abundant minerals in the human body, magnesium is essential for every single one of your cells to function optimally. With regular intake, you’ll notice that your muscles will relax with greater ease, muscle cramps will be reduced, other aches and pains will dwindle, making it a great solution for reducing muscle soreness or even migraines. It also regulates the production of certain hormones such as cortisol, reducing your stress exposure.
Studies have shown that magnesium decreases the levels of CRP and other markers of chronic inflammation in your body, which leads to lowered blood pressure, decreased insulin resistance, and proper heart functioning. For people who exercise, that means that you can manage your recovery much better, while you also improve your sleep, and help keep your health in check with this powerful mineral.
A lifestyle factor
With all of this information in mind, it’s essential both people suffering from chronic diseases and active folk out there that without an all-encompassing healthy lifestyle, magnesium has little power to fend off chronic inflammation. In other words, if you stick to an unhealthy diet, a sedentary life, and only kick up your magnesium intake, you’ll most likely see little to no improvement in your condition.
Magnesium may not be a magic pill that will determine your weight loss or your athletic performance, but when paired with other healthy choices in your everyday life, this micronutrient will be among the key factors of your overall wellbeing – so don’t underestimate its potential and do your best to keep your body magnesium-packed!
The content of this article is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended as, nor should it be considered a substitute for, professional medical advice. Do not use this for diagnosing or treating any medical or health condition. If you have or suspect you have a medical problem, promptly contact your professional healthcare provider.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Luke is a fitness and health blogger at Ripped.me and a great fan of the gym and a healthy diet. He follows the trends in fitness, gym and healthy life and loves to share his knowledge through useful and informative articles.
Follow him on Facebook here and on Twitter @mrlukeidouglas.