Magnesium seems like it’s one of the most recent health trends on the market right now. Is it all that it’s cracked up to be, or does it fall short? Your Frisco Chiropractor is here to help find out!

What is Magnesium, exactly?

Magnesium is a mineral that is used heavily by our body as a cofactor by enzymes to keep everything moving. It helps with many activities in your body and is necessary for the transport of calcium and potassium across cell membranes.

If these activities were affected, it could result in adverse side effects. Obviously, this would require a massive imbalance in the body that almost no one will experience; it shows that it’s important to keep at optimal levels if it influences essential structures such as your heart.

How do I get Magnesium?

There are a couple of different ways to get more Magnesium: food, supplements, Epsom salt baths, and even topicals!

The simplest way is to eat! Many foods people eat in their daily diets have Magnesium in them. Nuts are a great source of Magnesium with almonds leading the pack and cashews and peanuts not far behind. Spinach, whole grains/shredded wheat, and black beans are other sources.

If you need a little extra pep in your step, you can use magnesium supplements. They’re available in solid and liquid forms like most other supplements. Magnesium is even available in different active types of citrate, chelated, or glycinate, among others. Be careful! Large doses of magnesium can have a laxative effect, so start low and work your way up. Glycinate is the best version to try and avoid this side effect.

Epsom salt baths are technically MgSO4, magnesium sulfate, but have the same result. This delivery method allows the body to absorb it through the skin all over. There are mixed results on the amount that reaches the body. The jury is split on the baths, either being a lifesaver or it being not very useful, but in our mind, it can’t hurt!

Topical ointments/oils have the same effect as the Epsom salt, but they allow you to concentrate it on one specific area, and it will stay on the skin longer than you would spend in the bath.

Why is it important and what does it do?

Magnesium is crucial in many reactions that occur in your body to take place. It regulates serotonin and, as a result, melatonin, as well as dopamine production, so it can affect sleeping habits and mood. It is also needed by the enzyme that helps create the active form of vitamin D so your body can use it. It is thought it may also influence insulin production and cell’s sensitivity to insulin.

As a whole, Magnesium is a muscle relaxer that promotes vasodilation. This vasodilation is what helps with muscle cramps and headaches. Headaches can come about by the fluctuation between constriction and dilation of blood vessels at the base of the skull. The promotion of the blood vessels to be open helps prevent this constriction and helps headaches calm down. The same principle is what helps with muscle spasms. The increased blood flow to the area helps shunt out some of the lactic acid buildups and improve the exchange of materials in the muscles to go about unhampered.

Who is Magnesium good for?

Magnesium can help almost anyone; it’s a mineral that everyone’s body uses daily. People that are more prone to having a lower level of resting Magnesium are people with type 2 diabetes, athletes, and people with gastrointestinal issues. Individuals with type 2 diabetes have more glucose in their system, so they use the restroom more and lose Magnesium that way. Athletes naturally are more active, so deplete their reserves of all vitamins and minerals through extra work and even the increased sweat. Gastrointestinal issues can change the way Magnesium is absorbed or not be as efficient at absorbing all the minerals and nutrients from your food.

For more information on Magnesium look right here!

It’s hard to keep track of all the essential vitamins and minerals your body needs to be able to work optimally. In this series over the next couple of months, we’ll be exploring a couple different of these and what makes them valuable and why they should be included in your diet or potentially supplemented into your diet if you’re being affected negatively.

At Express Chiropractic of Frisco, our goal is to help maintain the health and wellness of your spine. We have a lot of information to share and would love to be able to help you with any questions you have. On your first visit, there will be a consult where we can answer any questions you have as well as an exam and adjustment (if warranted) and a 10-minute massage with a licensed massage therapist! You can even take $10 off with this certificate to help jump-start the process. We look forward to joining you on your journey to improved spinal health and wellness. So if you are looking for a chiropractor near me, look no further!