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Last Updated: Jan 10, 2023
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Magnesium Deficiency - How it Affects Your Body?

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Dt. Nehha AhujaDietitian/Nutritionist • 16 Years Exp.PG Diploma Nutrition & Dietetics, B.Sc - Home Science
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We all know about magnesium as a mineral, but what most individuals do not know is the fact that it is a very important mineral for our bodily health. Magnesium is involved with more or less 300 complex metabolic processes in our body, thus earning the title of ‘master mineral’.

Here is a list of reasons why magnesium holds an important place in our body.

It is responsible for transportation of calcium across cell membranes. As such, it helps calcium get into the bone matter. Like we all know, magnesium is anti-inflammatory. It helps in waiving conditions mentioned below:

  1. Arthritis
  2. Alzheimer’s disease
  3. High blood pressure
  4. Respiratory issues
  5. Diabetes

So magnesium deficiency can definitely cause numerous problems in the human body. This element works in our body at a cellular level. It is important to have a check up done with the doctor to ensure the magnesium level, however, a simple a blood test cannot determine the presence or absence of it. Here are a few signs that might suggest that an individual is suffering from magnesium deficiency.

  1. A lot of calcium deficiency which means brittle bones
  2. Very poor heart health
  3. A lot of unnecessary weakness
  4. Very frequent muscle cramps at unusual situations
  5. Tremors, nausea and unnecessary anxiety
  6. High blood pressure and type 2 diabetes
  7. Difficulty in swallowing the food
  8. Poor memory
  9. Lots and lots of useless confusion

Although individuals with magnesium deficiency suffer from these symptoms, it is not necessary that any individual suffering from such symptoms might have magnesium deficiency. So, the only way to improve magnesium amount in the body is by changing your diet and including magnesium rich foods or by supplementing your food with magnesium-based food products. You can also get a personalized diet chart by a dietitian that would include the proper amount of foods containing calcium needed for your body.

Magnesium overdose is close to impossible and so many would not check their magnesium intake. However, consuming too much of anything can never be a good idea. Excessive magnesium intake might end up causing the following issues:

  • Irregular heartbeats in individuals
  • Slow breathing
  • Diarrhoea

This excess amount of magnesium in the body might be due to the fact that not all supplements can be easily absorbed by the body. So it is a better idea to eat inexpensive food to keep the magnesium levels at par with the bodily requirements.

Here is a list of items that can relieve the deficiency symptoms of low magnesium.

  1. Seeds of pumpkin
  2. Seeds of sun flower
  3. Soya bean
  4. Black beans
  5. Sesame seeds
  6. Almond
  7. Spinach and many more 

    If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a doctor and ask a free question.

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