A Tiny Mineral With A Big Purpose: Why Your Magnesium Levels Are Critical

It’s been linked to issues ranging from sleepless nights to type 2 diabetes, but most people aren’t even aware of the importance of their magnesium levels. It’s not a headline-grabbing topic to be sure, but you may be surprised by how big a role this tiny mineral plays in your well-being. At Any Lab Test Now we realize the critical role magnesium plays, and since helping you take control of your health is our goal, we want you to know about the magic mineral, magnesium.

Magnesium-the magic mineral

If your body has worker bees, magnesium is one of them! Your body needs it in order to perform more than 300 different biochemical reactions — things like protein synthesis, muscle and nerve functions, blood glucose control, and blood pressure regulation. But magnesium doesn’t get a break when all that work is done. It’s also required for energy production and contributes to bone building, calcium and potassium transportation, and the synthesis of our DNA! Because of magnesium’s many roles in the body, it plays a major role in disease prevention and overall health.

Lowdown on low levels

So how much magnesium do you need? Well, that depends on your age and your gender. What many health officials seem to agree on is that, particularly as we age. Researchers are beginning to consider the potential link between the lower intake of magnesium, to the increased rate of chronic disease. And it appears that when it comes to magnesium deficiency, a deficit of marginal to moderate proportions could be related to chronic inflammatory response conditions. So basically, scientists suspect that your magnesium tank doesn’t have to be flat empty for your body to start making bad choices. found that this marginal to moderate magnesium deficiency, through aggravating chronic inflammatory stress, may be contributing to a host of life-threatening diseases:

  • Atherosclerosis and stroke
  • High blood pressure
  • Osteoporosis
  • Type 2 diabetes mellitus
  • Certain types of cancer

But that’s not all. Some experts believe low levels of magnesium are linked to even more problems including; migraine headaches, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, premenstrual syndrome, and impotence.

Signs and symptoms

Some people are going to be more susceptible to magnesium deficiency. Having a bad diet is a pretty obvious cause. Not so obvious causes include; alcoholism, chronic stress, uncontrolled diabetes, and even some medications including certain diuretics and heartburn medications.

What makes diagnosis so difficult is the wide range of symptoms, many of which can be attributed to other causes. Things like; hyper-excitability, irritability, muscle cramps, restless legs, fatigue, depression, insomnia, tingling or numbness, rapid heartbeat, poor memory, anxiety, even hallucinations in severe cases. On a side note, having too much magnesium isn’t good either, though this condition is less likely to occur.

Take Control of Your health

You see how critical magnesium is to your health, that’s why it’s so important for you to know that you have the proper levels. The Magnesium Test available at Any Lab Test Now is quick and easy. It’s a simple blood test that generally takes between 24 to 72 hours for results. In particular, we encourage people with existing cardiovascular disease to have their magnesium levels checked to ensure they are getting enough to prevent cardiac arrhythmia. And since magnesium and calcium levels in the body are closely linked, the test can also be used to determine underlying causes of chronic, unexplained low calcium or potassium levels that are not improving with supplements.

If you find your levels are low, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor. In the meantime, try to increase your intake of whole grains, leafy green vegetables, nuts and beans. They are all rich in magnesium and other good-for-you stuff.