This mineral deficiency has become epidemic, with an estimated 80% of Americans being low. The most recent findings have concluded that taking this mineral in supplement form and eating foods containing it will help protect you from the most deadly diseases. Are you getting enough?

There is an 80% chance you are low in magnesium which is putting you at greater risk for disease. The latest research is finding a connection between magnesium deficiency and the following diseases: 

Heart Disease and Stroke. Magnesium is required for proper electrical signaling for normal heartbeat and rhythm. 

If you are deficient, your arteries will become less elastic and more stiff (diseased arteries) causing high blood pressure. This will make your heart work harder, increasing your risk of heart attack and death. Researchers have found that increased intakes of magnesium in your diet may reduce your risk of cardiovascular death by 50 percent and reduce the risk of death from stroke.

Cancer. The most recent studies have shown increasing magnesium intake may reduce your risk of colorectal and pancreatic cancer.

Diabetes. Magnesium regulates insulin and blood sugar. Studies have found people with the highest magnesium intake reduce their risk for blood sugar and metabolic problems by 71 percent and improve their insulin sensitivity, reducing the risk for type II diabetes.

Magnesium is Anti-Inflammatory!  Low magnesium can cause elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the blood, an indicator of systemic inflammation. Systemic inflammation is one of the hottest health topics talked about today in terms of its impact on causing disease. Increasing your magnesium intake is an important strategy to reduce your inflammation levels and risk of disease. 

Situations Where You Need More Magnesium 
The more stress you are under, the more magnesium you need.
The more you use your brain in thinking, the more magnesium you use.  
The more active you are, the more magnesium you use up.  
The larger frame you have, the more magnesium you require.  
If you take prescription drugs, recreational drugs, or drink alcohol, you will require extra magnesium.

What Foods To Eat and What Supplements To Take
The way to ensure you and your family are getting enough magnesium is to eat green vegetables, dark chocolate, and raw nuts and seeds (not containing sunflower, peanut, cottonseed or other inflammatory oils).

It is also important to take a magnesium supplement.  One of the best forms is magnesium citrate.  The recommended dosage is 400 to 800mg per day divided and taken with food. 

Magnesium does have a laxative effect. If you begin to notice loosening of your stools, you can take a little less.

Magnesium. A small mineral with BIG BENEFITS!

Sources:
https://www.atherosclerosis-journal.com/article/S0021-9150(12)00067-6/abstract
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22854408
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20022893
https://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2005/sep2005_awsi_01.htm
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/05/10/magnesium-type-2-diabetes.aspx