Why is proper daily intake of Magnesium important?
Magnesium is needed for muscle actions and is therefore important to cardiovascular health, as the heart is a large muscle.
Magnesium is also of great importance regarding healthy hormonal activity. For this reason women have a greater need for magnesium than men due to their greater hormonal operation as compared to men, therefore the tendency of women to be more drawn than men to magnesium-rich salad greens and whole grains should not be surprising. Magnesium is also an underlying factor to a host of other health issues including diabetes and high blood pressure.
About 75 per cent of magnesium is removed by food. About 50 years ago, magnesium was shown to dramatically reduce follow-up heart episodes in those presenting with angina or thrombosis. About 20 years later, with a little help from the Bayer Corporation, doctors got the foolish idea that aspirin would help. The first several studies testing this crazy idea had no results. It was only when they used buffered aspirin that positive heart benefits were recorded. The buffering agent was a significant dose of magnesium! Magnesium will address high blood pressure symptoms more quickly than restoration of other minerals.
Magnesium is important for hormonal health, premenstrual, pregnant, post- partum and menopausal women.
Guy Abraham, M.D., an obstetrician and gynecologist and a former professor at the University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine has accomplished extensive research and has been widely published in medical and scientific journals yet, sadly, his work remains little known.
Abraham was one of the pioneers who helped establish premenstrual syndrome (PMS) as not “just in your head”. His work established specific nutritional protocols regarding PMS and other female hormonal issues of which magnesium is a central tenet. His work established the biochemical explanation for the superior need of magnesium over calcium for bone health. His opinion is that increasing calcium intake can impede bone health. In short, increased magnesium intake, not calcium, stimulates the production of calcitonin which causes calcium to be deposited into bone.
The recommended daily intake of magnesium is not set too low as much as the recommended daily intake of calcium is set too high. When people follow the calcium recommendation more than following the magnesium recommendation, the problems of magnesium deficiency can be more exaggerated.
High magnesium intake with low calcium intake encourages deposition of calcium into bone, whereas higher calcium than magnesium intake discourages deposition of calcium into bones. Increased calcium intake stimulates the production of parathyroid hormone, which causes calcium to be deposited into soft tissue.
There is little need for calcium in soft tissue, which is what happens if you increase calcium intake – as almost all of the so-called experts of both medicine and nutrition recommend. Is it any wonder that osteoporosis continues to spiral out of control? Atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis and arthritis are names for excess calcium in soft tissue. Magnesium is more abundant than calcium in the environment. It is only natural that magnesium would be more important than calcium.
According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, studies show that as many as two thirds of all Americans do not consume enough magnesium. The latest government study shows a staggering 68% of Americans do not consume the recommended daily intake of magnesium, which is already set too low. Even more frightening is data from this study showing that 19% of Americans do not consume even half of the government’s recommended daily intake of magnesium.
The primary dietary sources for magnesium are whole grains of which hardly anybody eats enough and dark leafy greens that are being consumed less and less by more and more.
Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency
- Sensitivity to stress
- Not sleeping well
- Problems with menstruation, pregnancy or menopause
- Leg cramps
- Muscle spasm
- Bone problems
- Kidney stones
- Kidney problems
Why is calcium promoted as being more important than magnesium?
Chalk (calcium carbonate) is cheap. Chalk is the primary source of calcium supplements that is also substantially controlled by Big Pharma. The primary science supportive of calcium is the science of economics. Calcium is cheap to produce, so the profit margin is greater.
In the case of osteoporosis, the cultures around the world with the lowest rates of osteoporosis are those with the lowest intake of calcium and those cultures with the highest rates of osteoporosis are those with the highest intake of calcium.
What is the proper ratio of calcium to magnesium?
The general belief has been for a 2 to 1 ratio of calcium to magnesium. As in the case of most any myth there is a basis in reality. The blood has a 2 to 1 ratio of calcium to magnesium, which is the primary basis for the general belief, however, the blood maintains that ratio as a matter of survival.
The body maintains blood calcium levels in order to maintain life. The blood must maintain a fairly rigid pH. If it becomes over-acidic then death follows. The calcium to magnesium ratio in blood is great for survival, but it is not a good indicator for nutritional need.
There has always been the opinion, held by many, that the proper supplementation ratio of calcium to magnesium should be 2:1 in favor of magnesium, not calcium, but this opinion has not had the support of the majority. My opinion is that the ratio should at least be 1:1 and I do lean toward favoring the “more magnesium than calcium” opinion. I have seen thousands of hair mineral analyses and I see many more sick people having high calcium than with high magnesium. Calcium has the tendency to “plug up the works” as my grandfather used to say.
Eating habits common to Americans such as consumption of refined, bleached white sugars and flour as well as excessive protein intake can cause increased acidity. The body pulls calcium from bone to offset this acidity, however, the correct response is not more calcium but is to reduce white sugar and white flour and to avoid excessive protein intake.
What is the best form of Magnesium?
I prefer magnesium chloride. You do not see this used very much because there are less expensive forms of magnesium. Magnesium chloride is only 12% magnesium, whereas magnesium oxide is almost 60% magnesium. Thus, you get more magnesium in magnesium oxide, but the real issue is how well is it absorbed and utilized by the body. My experience is that magnesium chloride is the best choice.
What is the best way to take Magnesium?
The best way to take magnesium is with a glass of water the first thing in the a.m. and the last thing before you go to bed. Magnesium intake is intensified when not having to compete with other nutrients or with digestive processes.
Healthy Habits has a great immunity boosting product called Immuni-D that contains both Vitamin D and Magnesium Chloride.
PLEASE NOTE: Dr. Gary A. Martin is a DSc and PhD. He is not a medical doctor. He has retired from his busy wellness clinic practice of 20 years. He is still active with his Foundation (Biological Immunity Research Institute) and assisting Healthy Habits in the proper formulation of their fine products. This information is presented for educational purposes only. It has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not meant to cure, treat, prevent disease, nor prescribe or to be used for diagnosis. Please consult with your licensed Health Practitioner before following any of the protocol mentioned on this website. Please be aware that you accept all risk associated with using any of the protocols suggested by Dr. Martin.