Magnesium Deficiency
Responsible for over 300 biochemical reactions, magnesium is an essential mineral used by every organ in the body. Although readily found in a wide variety of foods, people who eat a mainly process diet with few vegetables and whole grains are at greatest risk of not getting enough dietary magnesium. Other lifestyle contributors to magnesium deficiency include:
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Chronic stress
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High saturated fat diet
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High sugar diet
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Drinking carbonated beverages
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Alcohol
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Medications such as diuretics, antibiotics, painkillers, cortisone
Regardless of the cause, the result of low magnesium can be linked to fatigue, muscle cramps, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, chronic fatigue, migraines, and sleep disorders.
Insufficient magnesium levels can cause a disruption in our sleep stages resulting in a deviation from their position on the sleep cycle. In addition, low levels can also be responsible for increased waking and difficulty falling back asleep throughout the night.
With the majority of emphasis placed on exercise and nutrition, It’s easy to undervalue sleep and the crucial role it plays in our health. Research is continuing to find far reaching implications to neglecting this foundation for overall health.
Ensuring your diet has adequate dietary sources of magnesium from beans, nuts, green leafy vegetables, whole grains and seafood, can help to reduce your risk of insufficient magnesium.